Belleview FL - Small Town Charm

Belleview, Florida

The City with Small Town Charm
Incorporated in 1885, Belleview began as a settlement around Nine Mile Pond nine miles south of Fort King along the military trail that led to Fort Brooke in Tampa. Nine Mile Pond is now Lake Lillian, and the city of Belleview has grown from its original 350 residents to more than 3,800 today. Still, the city's history can be seen in its core residences and public buildings, from City Hall, a Spanish mission-style structure built as a schoolhouse in 1926, to the Chamber of Commerce building and visitor center, a former railway station. Belleview's library, founded in 1886, is the second oldest in the state.

Belleview lies just 4 miles south of the Florida Trail crossing of US 441 at Santos, along the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway, and provides easy access to 6 major trailheads for day hiking and backpacking opportunities. Also close to Lake Weir - for water and recreational fun! Check it out on our Lake Weir Florida page at www.OcalaVisualTours.com

The Cross Florida Greenway
Originally intended to be the route of the Cross Florida Barge Canal first surveyed in the 1850s, the Majorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway is a broad swath of public land stretching from Palatka to Inglis. Managed by the Office of Greenways and Trails, the Greenway contains three sets of parallel trails for different uses: hiking (the Florida Trail), mountain biking (Ocala Mountain Biking Association) and equestrian. These trails converge at trailheads, road crossings, and across the famed Land Bridge over Interstate 75.

Officially dedicated in 2000, the Florida Trail along the Cross Florida Greenway includes more than 30 miles of continous hiking between Dunnellon and Silver Springs, with the most popular trailheads for day hiking being Santos (just north of Belleview) and the CR 475A / Land Bridge Trailhead (just west of Belleview near I-75).

Trailheads and access points

1. Baseline Trailhead. The Florida Trail crosses SR 35 (Baseline Road) at its intersection with CR 464 (Maricamp Road) to the northeast of Belleview. The trailhead entrance is located along SR 35 just north of the intersection, on the right. This trailhead provides potable water, restrooms, and a playground plus access to a paved biking trail leading northeast.

2. Historic Santos. The Florida Trail follows SE 41st Ct and SE 80th Ct through the historic African-American community of Santos that was displaced during construction on the Cross Florida Barge Canal.

3. Santos Trailhead. Located just west of US 441 on SW 80th Ct. The Florida Trail crosses US 441 just east of the trailhead behind the Santos Sheriff Station. This trailhead provides potable water, restrooms, and a campground plus access to the famed Santos mountain bike trails.

4. SW 25th Ave. Road crossing with trail access.

5. SW 95th St. Road crossing with trail access.

6. CR 475. Road crossing with trail access. Bench in the shade just to the east of the road.

7. CR 475B. Road crossing with trail access.

8. Land Bridge Trailhead. Located along CR 475A, 2 miles north of SR 484. Entrance on the west side of the road, trail crossing just north of the entrance. This trailhead provides potable water, restrooms, and access to equestrian trails. A loop trail along the Florida Trail - the Land Bridge Loop - provides an easy 2.7-mile day hike for you to visit the Land Bridge.

9. SW 49th Ave Trailhead. Located along SW 49th Avenue in Marion Oaks, north of CR 484. Trailhead is on the east side of the road. This trailhead provides a composting toilet and access to equestrian trails.

10. CR 484. Road crossing with trail access, east of SR 200 about 2 miles.

11. Ross Prairie Trailhead. Located along SR 200, 1 mile south of CR 484. Entrance on the east side of the road, trail crossing just 0.5 mile south of CR 484 and again just north of the trailhead entrance. This trailhead provides potable water, restrooms, shower facilities, camping, and access to equestrian trails as well as to access the Holly Hammock Trail at adjoining Ross Prairie State Forest. The trailhead sits on a 3-mile loop in the Florida Trail, the Ross Prairie Loop, which features blue blazes leading east and west to connect you with the main orange-blazed trail. The loop trail crosses SR 200 twice; use extreme caution in crossing this busy, high-speed highway.

12. Pruitt Trailhead. Located along CR 484, 8 miles west of SR 200 intersection. Trailhead has parking, composting toilet,potable water, and picnic tables, plus access to the equestrian trails as well as the Florida Trail. Wet conditions may be present along the first half mile of this trail.