Bowlegs Mainline Loop
Location: 16812 US-19, Cross City, FL 32628, USA
A 76-mile loop ride from Cross City to the City of Horseshoe Beach, then north to Steinhatchee and back to Cross City. County Roads 351 and 358 do not have paved shoulders. Furthermore, the section of the route between Dixie County Roads 351 and 361 ( the Bowlegs Mainline) is an unpaved, dirt road. Some roads are subject to closure during wet conditions. Gated roads are closed to vehicles but are open to bicycles. Bring mosquito repellent and plan to have spotty cell phone coverage throughout the ride. Riders may wish to avoid the dirt road segment of the route during hunting season, which is generally November through January ( See Zone C) and return to Cross City via Dixie County Road 351.
The route starts at the Nature Coast State Trail trailhead in Cross City, where parking is available. Cross City also has restaurants to offer riders before or after completing the route. Horseshoe Beach is a small point of land which extends into the Gulf of Mexico and is home to a small town and some local restaurants. Riders can stop for a bite to eat at The Shrimp Boat restaurant or a cold drink at Horseshoe Beach Marina. Be sure to ride to Horseshoe Point and enjoy the view, or explore the small town and the area around it.
The second portion of this route passes through several scenic areas, including the coastal marshes and saltwater wetlands along Dixie County Road 361 near the Big Bend coast. It also visits the Steinhatchee river, where you can enjoy the scenery from a bridge or boat ramp. There are several convenience stores along this route with food and restrooms, especially in the Steinhatchee/Jena area. From Steinhatchee/Jena, the loop route returns to Cross City via Dixie County Road 358 and U.S. 98. For more information about the area, see Visit Dixie.
The Original Florida Tourism Task Force (dba Visit Natural North Florida) and the North Central Florida Regional Planning Council do not warrant the safety of the routes on this map for use by bicyclists. Bicyclists should use these routes only if they have the adequate skill level as bicyclists, and bicyclists must make that determination. All the roads shown are used by automobiles and trucks, and bicyclists assume the risks for their own safety when using the roads and/or routes indicated on this map. The Original Florida Tourism Task Force, the local governments in which these bicycle routes are located and the North Central Florida Regional Planning Council are not responsible for any damages whatsoever from its use.