Boca Grande Bike Path
{{Short description|Multi-use path in Boca Grande, Florida on Gasparilla Island}}
{{Infobox hiking trail
|name=Boca Grande Bike Path
|photo=Boca Grande Bike Trail 1.jpg
|caption=
|location=Boca Grande, Florida, United States
|length_mi=6.5
|trailheads=North: {{coord|26.8026|-82.2754|display=i}}
Behind the property at 5800 Gasparilla Road
South: {{coord|26.7196|-82.2613|display=i}}
Belcher Road and Gulf Boulevard
|use=
|elev_change=
|highest=
|lowest=
|difficulty=
|surface=Asphalt
|season=Year round
|ROW = Charlotte Harbor and Northern Railway
|sights=
|hazards=
|website =
|map={{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=290|type=line|from=Boca Grande Bike Path.map}}
}}
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 Island from 1907 to 1981.{{cite book
| last =Turner
| first =Gregg M.
| title =Railroads of Southwest Florida
| publisher =Arcadia Publishing
| series =Images of America
| date =December 1, 1999}} As Florida's first rail trail, it was repurposed principally for bicycles, but pedestrians also use it. Golf carts are also permitted on the path. Another trail exists on the mainland portion of the railroad line known as the Cape Haze Pioneer Trail.[http://www.railstotrails.org/resources/documents/magazine/p08-13_winter08.pdf Two Florida Trails, Worlds Apart]
History
File:Boca Grande Bike Trail 2.jpg
The former Charlotte Harbor and Northern Railway was abandoned in 1981 after the closure of the phosphate port on the south end of the island. Bayard Sharp, an heir of the Du Pont family who controlled the Gasparilla Inn, saw the need for a bike path after one of his employees had been killed on a bicycle on the island. Sharp managed to acquire the railroad's right of way and built the path on it. The trail was dedicated on February 23, 1985. The Gasparilla Island Conservation and Improvement Association, a non-profit organization based on the island, currently operates the path.[http://www.beachvacation4me.com/north-captiva-info.cfm?pageID=25 North Captiva: Boca Grande History] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116234338/http://www.beachvacation4me.com/north-captiva-info.cfm?pageID=25 |date=January 16, 2013 }}
Route Description
File:Boca Grande FL CH and NR depot01.jpg
The Boca Grande Bike Path begins at the north end of Gasparilla Island on the access road behind 5800 Gasparilla Road. It parallels Gasparilla Road from the causeway, passing behind the historic Charlotte Harbor and Northern Railway Depot a few blocks before reaching 1st Street. At 1st Street it runs west through the downtown area and turns south to continue along Gulf Boulevard past Gasparilla Island Lights, terminating at Belcher Road and Gulf Boulevard.{{Cite web |title=Boca Grande Bike Path {{!}} Florida Trails {{!}} TrailLink |url=https://www.traillink.com/trail/boca-grande-bike-path/ |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=www.traillink.com}}
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Points of interest
- Boca Grande Fishing Pier
- Charlotte Harbor and Northern Railway Depot
- Gasparilla Island Lights
- Gasparilla Island State Park
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.traillink.com/trail/boca-grande-bike-path.aspx?gce=201304_1 TrailLink profile for Boca Grande Bike Path]
- [https://100floridatrails.com/trails/boca-grande-rail-trail-gasparilla.htm Boca Grande Rail Trail] at [https://100floridatrails.com 100 Florida Trails]
Category:Hiking trails in Florida
Category:Rail trails in Florida
Category:Bike paths in Florida