Bike Trail Entrance Off 30A?

My bike path map indicates that there is a path North of 30A and east of 395, say near Deer Lake Park. It says one entrance is around Nature Walk and one off of 30A near Watersound. But, I cannot find the entrance off of 30A near Watersound. All there seems to be is a walking path (little hikers on the sign) and a "no admittance" place for park workers.

Does this bike path entrance actually exist? Or, do you have to go to 395 to pick it up?

I am not sure about the WaterSound entry, but there is one at Cassine Gardens. I am sure the trail head is probably there if it is on the map, but they can be hard to spot if you know not exactly where you are looking. You may be better able to find it by starting on 395 and making the loop. I usually walk that trail's short loop and have not made it all the way around the big loop.

Welcome back TTM. How have you been?

Welcome back TTM. How have you been?

I am good, thanks, 16 states later (road trip to NYC after Rita) and who knows how many miles on the car. Back in NOLA, doing volunteer work while waiting for work to start and doing repairs on the house, which did not flood. Damage will be about $2.00 above or below the deductible. So, very lucky but broke. Have my house and job, better than most I know.

Maybe it is the Cassine Garden entrance I see on the map. Will be out there for a few days to get away from Blue Roofs and FEMA and want to bike a lot.

I am good, thanks, 16 states later (road trip to NYC after Rita) and who knows how many miles on the car. Back in NOLA, doing volunteer work while waiting for work to start and doing repairs on the house, which did not flood. Damage will be about $2.00 above or below the deductible. So, very lucky but broke. Have my house and job, better than most I know.

Maybe it is the Cassine Garden entrance I see on the map. Will be out there for a few days to get away from Blue Roofs and FEMA and want to bike a lot.

:clap_1:

I am good, thanks, 16 states later (road trip to NYC after Rita) and who knows how many miles on the car. Back in NOLA, doing volunteer work while waiting for work to start and doing repairs on the house, which did not flood. Damage will be about $2.00 above or below the deductible. So, very lucky but broke. Have my house and job, better than most I know.

Maybe it is the Cassine Garden entrance I see on the map. Will be out there for a few days to get away from Blue Roofs and FEMA and want to bike a lot.

My brother is down there now working. He got bit by a german shepard yesterday.

Does anyone know if that map is online somewhere?

Does anyone know if that map is online somewhere?

It is online. I will try to find it.

I searched but cannot find it, although I have seen it online somewhere in the past.:idontno:

Found it. Here you go.

Pt Washington State Forest

Eastern Lake Bike Trail

FYI- For the record, Cassine Gardens is not a public entrance. It is privately owned property.

Found it. Here you go.

Pt Washington State Forest

Eastern Lake Bike Trail

FYI- For the record, Cassine Gardens is not a public entrance. It is privately owned property.

Hmmm. That seems to indicate that there is no 30A East entrance, as state lands cut off b/f the private property edging 30A (I think that would be "Prominence"?). But, I am virtually certain that the paper map from the tourist center in my drawer in SoWal had an entrance on 30A. Like, maybe an easement of the state to 30A (they must have one, since they have an entrance there for them). Maybe not....

Grrr. Just don't want to have to ride all the way up to Nature Walk, do the loop, and ride all the way back. Too much exercise! Plus, I hate riding on 395. Nicer to cut down to 30A and go home.

Hmmm. That seems to indicate that there is no 30A East entrance, as state lands cut off b/f the private property edging 30A (I think that would be "Prominence"?). But, I am virtually certain that the paper map from the tourist center in my drawer in SoWal had an entrance on 30A. Like, maybe an easement of the state to 30A (they must have one, since they have an entrance there for them). Maybe not....

Grrr. Just don't want to have to ride all the way up to Nature Walk, do the loop, and ride all the way back. Too much exercise! Plus, I hate riding on 395. Nicer to cut down to 30A and go home.

They are building a walk/bike path on 395 between 98 and 30-A. They have it almost ready for paving.

It is online. I will try to find it.

I searched but cannot find it, although I have seen it online somewhere in the past.:idontno:

It is on http://www.sowal.com/parks.html,
http://www.sowal.com/easternlake.pdf

Kurt, that is too funny. I was just thinking, Kurt should post the trail info on SoWal. :funn:Little did I know, you already were the link to the source. ;-)

Has anyone biked on the off-road trails? We're bringing our bikes to the beach after Christmas, but we've never ridden anywhere but the paved path that runs along 30-A. Are the surfaces hard packed enough for regular bikes or do you need a mountain bike to use them?

I was wondering that myself, Mermaid. I had the guys at Big Daddy's put some fat nubby tires on my ex-city bike, so I'm ready for a little off road action here and there.

So, though it gets close to 30a in parts, I'm not seeing an "official" entrance to the loop trail from near Deer Lake. if i were a fulltimer, I imagine I'd know of some hidden sandy path to get to it. Sure would use that trail if I could get to it from the east side though.

I have biked the trail that runs between Hwy 83 (Blue Mountain) and 283 (Grayton Beach) and it is well maintained and accessible by bike. They have placed burlap fabric over the softer sand areas so that you can ride without too much difficulty. Be advised that it is still an off-road ride and will take more effort than the 30-A path.

I would HIGHLY recommend the ride. You will pass through several different ecosystems along the way from upland pine forest to swampy areas near the coastal lakes.

Wear long pants as some of the vegetation near the trail can scratch if you are not careful.

Enjoy!

I was wondering that myself, Mermaid. I had the guys at Big Daddy's put some fat nubby tires on my ex-city bike, so I'm ready for a little off road action here and there.

So, though it gets close to 30a in parts, I'm not seeing an "official" entrance to the loop trail from near Deer Lake. if i were a fulltimer, I imagine I'd know of some hidden sandy path to get to it. Sure would use that trail if I could get to it from the east side though.

Yeah, I live on 30A East and have the same issue. Want to get on the trail from 30A. Just lazy I guess. But--riding all the way to the 395 entrance from the eastern part of 30A and back to do the loop really spoils things.

When there I am going to look at the map in my drawer again which I swore had a 30A entrance and experiment a bit or maybe ask anyone at Deer Lake if it is possible.

You can also find trail maps at www.beachtobay.org.

To my knowledge, they are all multi-use (bikes and pedestrians) trails.

Some great scenery back there on the Eastern lake Loop trail.

I forgot to answer the initial question. It's been over a year since I've been at that particular trail entrance/exit, but it's behind that electrical substation, located across from the Deer Lake area.

Thanks so much for the additional info on the trails! :clap_1: