cedar key railroad trestle nature trail

Enjoyed this pleasant short walk. The trail is sand and grass with lots of native plants growing. There are several nice walking nature trails in Cedar Key.

Very nice hike to look for a geocache. It was really nice to see all the small markers on the plants and trees. That was much appreciated.

You have to be looking for the short trail just off route 24. Ask at the chamber of Commerce. The trail is short, about half a miles, and features information on the history of the railroad, plant life and provides a nice view of the various topography of Cedar Key without facing a long walk. Kids will enjoy this little hike. Benches for resting or just sitting and enjoying the peace and quiet.

I loved all the signs by the plants. It was a lovely path through the pines, live oaks and mangroves. I appreciated a bench or two along the way!

We discovered this trail by poking around the various tour magazines, guidebooks and websites related to Cedar Key. This little trail is a bit tough to find, and the parking lot holds about 4 cars, but it's worth looking for. It starts on a narrow little side street (Grove) off Route 24 (on the left as you head into town). I wanted to find it because the history of the railroad in Cedar Key fascinated me, and this trail runs along what's left of the track bed where the train that connected the east coast of Florida to the west coast used to run.The trail is about 6/10 of a mile long, and a straight line (because, well, it's a railroad track) out to the end of the island. Along the way, there are signs, and a little story, for the various types of plants and trees you can find on Cedar Key, including an actual cedar tree.At the end of the trail, you can see what's left of the pilings from the old railroad trestle, and see the effects of the ravages of time, salt water, and sea critters on those pilings.Personally, I found this place rather special. It was something about the beauty of nature, and the history of the railroad, all along the secluded trail that seemed to transport me to a different time. I found myself imagining what it must have been like to work the railroad in those days, when the train was the only way to get here, all the while appreciating the beauty around me. Overall, this trail was well worth the trip.