Nature, waterfront, nice downtown area — Palatka has all three. In fact, Palatka is the center point of the Lake Butler to St. Augustine Rails-to-Trails, which I recently discovered when …
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Nature, waterfront, nice downtown area — Palatka has all three.
In fact, Palatka is the center point of the Lake Butler to St. Augustine Rails-to-Trails, which I recently discovered when cycling 11 miles from downtown to the Putnam County border in Hastings.
The big difference between when I last bicycled there in 2016 is the people. Nine years ago, I saw only five people but this time I saw 25-30, and most of them cyclists.
In true Southern fashion, almost everyone greeted me. The hospitality spilled over to the drivers because several times at cross streets, even when they had the right-of-way, they waved me on.
Another great feature about the trail is that most of it is separate from the road. Other than a few blocks downtown, there are several feet of grass or concrete between you and vehicle traffic to the eastern county border, which is where I encountered the most cyclists.
About a third of this stretch is shaded and parallels power lines, which as bird watchers know often attract hawks, falcons, and other raptors. I even saw a rabbit on the trail (I spend a lot of time outdoors and hadn’t seen one in years). There are benches where you can stop and enjoy the view of creeks, woodlands and farms during your ride or walk.
Heading back into Palatka, I stopped at the top of the Memorial Bridge over the St. Johns River to get a good view of the James C. Godwin Riverfront Park. Home of the Clock Tower, it also hosts various community events and festivals throughout the year.
The park welcomes you to a walkable downtown Palatka, where you’ll find numerous shops, restaurants and accommodations, several of which are right on the trail.
Whether you walk, cycle or drive, come experience the big three in Palatka/Putnam County.
When you go:
Check out Ravines State Park, which is only 1.4 miles from downtown. Make sure you get there early; when I went last year, the parking lot was filling up. Leashed dogs are welcome there as well as on the trail. For more information, go to: Ravine Gardens State Park | Florida State Parks
Stop by the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce/Visitors Bureau. Brenda, the receptionist, is friendly and helpful. If not for her, I would have left my helmet and phone behind on a recent visit.
