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The Cape Haze Pioneer Trail is an
The trail begins at the intersection of State Road 776 and Pinedale Drive in western Port Charlotte. It runs south along Pinedale Drive briefly before shifting east on to the former railroad corridor. It then proceeds south along the railroad corridor, passing near Rotonda West and crossing over Coral Creek near Coral Creek Airport.Two Florida Trails, Worlds Apart
/ref> At the Coral Creek Country Club, the trail leaves the railroad corridor and runs alongside County Road 771 to Placida, terminating just north of the
The Charlotte Harbor and Northern Railway, which served Gasparilla Island, existed from 1907 until 1981. Charlotte County gained ownership of the right of way in 1985, and the first portion of the trail was built in 1999 from the Mercer trailhead to Rotonda Boulevard. It was extended over Coral Creek to the Coral Creek Golf Club in 2005. The southernmost portion along County Road 771 from Coral Creek Country Club to Placida was completed in 2010.
Originally, the trail was planned to continue along the railroad corridor all the way to Placida before the Coral Creek Country Club was built, which used up a portion of the corridor. The remaining portion was built along County Road 771. A new bridge carrying CR 771 over Coral Creek was built to accommodate bicycle and pedestrian traffic as part of the trail extension in 2010.
Cape Haze Pioneer Trail Park (Official Web Page)TrailLink profile for Cape Haze Pioneer Trail
a
100 Florida Trails
{{coord missing, Florida Hiking trails in Florida Rail trails in Florida Bike paths in Florida 1999 establishments in Florida
rail trail
A rail trail is a shared-use path on railway right of way. Rail trails are typically constructed after a railway has been abandoned and the track has been removed, but may also share the right of way with active railways, light rail, or streetcar ...
in Charlotte County, Florida
Charlotte County is a U.S. county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 186,847. Its county seat is Punta Gorda.
Charlotte County comprises the Punta Gorda, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is ...
on the Cape Haze
Cape Haze is a peninsula located in Charlotte County, Florida
Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north b ...
peninsula running from western Port Charlotte to Placida
''Placida'' is a genus of very small or minute sea slugs, marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusks in the family Limapontiidae.Charlotte Harbor and Northern Railway
The Charlotte Harbor and Northern Railway is a historic railroad line that at its greatest extent serviced Gasparilla Island in Charlotte Harbor (estuary), Charlotte Harbor and a major shipping port that once operated there. The railroad's princi ...
.
Route description
The trail begins at the intersection of State Road 776 and Pinedale Drive in western Port Charlotte. It runs south along Pinedale Drive briefly before shifting east on to the former railroad corridor. It then proceeds south along the railroad corridor, passing near Rotonda West and crossing over Coral Creek near Coral Creek Airport.Two Florida Trails, Worlds Apart/ref> At the Coral Creek Country Club, the trail leaves the railroad corridor and runs alongside County Road 771 to Placida, terminating just north of the
Boca Grande Causeway
The Boca Grande Causeway is a causeway located in Charlotte County, Florida, connecting the community of Boca Grande on Gasparilla Island with the mainland near Placida. The causeway crosses Gasparilla Sound and consists of three bridges, and ...
.
From here, bicyclists can continue across the causeway to Gasparilla Island and the Boca Grande Bike Path
The Boca Grande Bike Path is a 6.5 mile multi-use path in Boca Grande, Florida on Gasparilla Island. The northern portion of the path runs on the former right of way of the Charlotte Harbor and Northern Railway, which operated on Gasparilla Islan ...
(which runs along the island portion of the railroad corridor).
History
The Charlotte Harbor and Northern Railway, which served Gasparilla Island, existed from 1907 until 1981. Charlotte County gained ownership of the right of way in 1985, and the first portion of the trail was built in 1999 from the Mercer trailhead to Rotonda Boulevard. It was extended over Coral Creek to the Coral Creek Golf Club in 2005. The southernmost portion along County Road 771 from Coral Creek Country Club to Placida was completed in 2010.
Originally, the trail was planned to continue along the railroad corridor all the way to Placida before the Coral Creek Country Club was built, which used up a portion of the corridor. The remaining portion was built along County Road 771. A new bridge carrying CR 771 over Coral Creek was built to accommodate bicycle and pedestrian traffic as part of the trail extension in 2010.
See also
* Wildflower PreserveReferences
External links
Cape Haze Pioneer Trail Park (Official Web Page)
a
100 Florida Trails
{{coord missing, Florida Hiking trails in Florida Rail trails in Florida Bike paths in Florida 1999 establishments in Florida