Trails SCORR developed.
Boldlygo - Our most popular singletrack trail, starts at the Carlton Reserve parking area. Check out the map on the kiosk and then dive right in. Over 9 miles of fun, twisty riding make it the centerpiece of the trail network. There are signs to guide you forward, bailout points along the way, bypass trails, and picnic tables for taking a break. Riding out on the Boldlygo trail and returning on the marked Carlton Red trail will give you an 12 mile loop (with plenty of opportunities to add miles along the way!). Just follow the arrows on the Red trail back to the parking lot.Don't forget about our newer loop SOB just across border road.Its an additional 5 mile loop. You can find the Boldlygo trail on MapmyRide.com and on Strava.
Palmetto Trail - This singletrack is a 5 mile dash to the Myakka River (10 miles out and back) through the heart of the Myakka State Forest. The trail twists and turns under tall pines and through palmetto beds for a fun and enjoyably challenging ride, culminating with a wilderness view of the river. Allow 1.5 hours (depending on your speed). Start at the parking lot for the entrance to Myakka State Forest at 8938 E. River Rd, Venice, FL, 34293-7629. A modest donation of $2 at the trailhead helps the Rangers maintain the state forest. There are signs that will get you started and guide you out and back.
On all of the trails, you are responsible for your own safety; and, as always, helmets and good judgment are recommended. The trails (or sections of them) will flood during rainy season and will be impassable at that time. Bring all necessary food, water, supplies, etc. with you; and use these trails with care. Do not deface or modify trees, the trails or their features in any way. Enjoy, and please remember, these trails are maintained by volunteers - anything you take in with you should be brought back out by you! If you would like to volunteer to help us maintain and expand the trail network, please let us know!
– There are virtually limitless combinations of double track and singletrack trails to explore in the Carlton Complex to create a ride that suits your preferences.
Trail maps for Carlton Reserve are generally available at kiosks on site, and for Carlton Reserve and Carlton Ranch, are readily available by online search.
Live Long and Prosper Trails - These technical singletrack trails extend along the banks of the Big Slough Canal, which is a man-made canal dating to the 1940’s. They are located in the Carlton Ranch, which borders Carlton Reserve to the east as part of the Carlton Complex. Live Long, extending along the western bank of the slough, is a fun and challenging technical ride in mature oak and palm canopy on mogul hills and dips, all dating back to the construction of the canal. It is generally of intermediate difficulty, and features jumps, twists, tight turns, roots, logs, ledges and sections seemingly overhanging the bank of the slough. Prosper, running along the eastern side of the slough, is slightly less technical (still of intermediate difficulty), and a somewhat faster ride with features similar to Live Long. You can ride (or hike) each of these trails out and back separately for a total of nearly 8 miles of sweet singletrack. Or for the more adventuresome, when water levels are
suitably low (use your judgment!), the water crossing at the end of Live Long can be ridden for a return via the Prosper trail, for a four mile single loop ride.Don't forget both trails have a returning loop now extending the trails to almost 12 miles,the return trails allow for big loops on either side of the Slough.
These trails are easily accessed by crossing the new hike/bike/equestrian bridge that connects MCEP to Carlton Ranch and the rest of the Carlton Complex. Take a right turn off the bridge onto the South Power Line Trail (SPLT) (which is double track gravel) for a quarter mile to the entrance to each trail. Or, for those who are up for the rewards of a few more miles and scenery, the trails can be reached from the Carlton Reserve parking area by proceeding east for approximately 10 miles out the SPLT – an easy ride that often produces great wildlife views along the way.
POLR (Path of Least Resistance) - The POLR trail begins near the north end of Live Long (about 200 yards to the southwest). It provides a 1.5 mile singletrack connection to the North Power Line Trail (NPLT). POLR can either be ridden as an out and back or as part of a loop including double track trails that connect back to the SPLT.POLR is now connected to Livellong return connecting both powerlines. The POLR trail winds thru oak and pine canopy. Be aware that the trail passes through wild pig territory. You may catch a glimpse of them and though they are not generally aggressive toward people, you may encounter the damage that they can do to the trails.