How difficult is Palatka-Lake Butler State Trail?

Palatka-Lake Butler State Trail is rated difficult. It is 18.8 miles long with 194 feet of elevation gain. Difficulty ratings reflect a combination of distance, elevation gain, and terrain — your experience will depend on your fitness level and trail conditions.

Is Palatka-Lake Butler State Trail suitable for kids?

Palatka-Lake Butler State Trail is not typically recommended for young children due to length, exposure, or technical terrain. Older kids with hiking experience may be fine — use your judgment based on your family's comfort level.

Palatka-Lake Butler State Trail route map

DifficultPoint to Point

Palatka-to-Lake Butler State Trail/Florida

Palatka-Lake Butler State Trail

18.8 mi

Distance

194 ft

Elev. Gain

6h 15m

Est. Time

Point to Point

Route Type

Difficult

Difficulty

About This Trail

Palatka-Lake Butler State Trail is a point-to-point trail in Palatka-to-Lake Butler State Trail, managed by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, in Bradford County, Florida. It is 19 miles long and gains 194 feet. Per Florida State Parks, it is open to bikes. The nearest town is Keystone Heights, Florida, about 2 miles away in a straight line.

From the trail data on this page. For conditions and closures, see official sources.

Trail Conditions

Unknown

We have no current condition data for this trail. Check with the operator before you go, and submit a report below if you've been recently.

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Elevation Profile

Min:34 ft

Max:52 ft

Gain:43 ft

Loss:60 ft

Elevation at the labelled points along this route
Point	Distance from start	Elevation
Start	0.0 mi	52 ft
End	18.8 mi	34 ft

Trail Details

Bikes allowed

Bike access: Florida State Parks, checked 2026-10-14. Rules change, so confirm with the land manager before you go.

Route Type: Point to Point

Official sources & verification

Managed by Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Verify before you go

Source of truth

Agency source page
The page our published rules and notes are derived from.
Palatka-to-Lake Butler State Trail — official page
Park unit page with alerts and visitor information.

Where it is

Nearest town:: Keystone Heights, FL · about 2 mi away
County:: Bradford County, FL
Jurisdiction:: Palatka-to-Lake Butler State Trail · Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Nearest town and county from U.S. Census Bureau place records and county boundaries.

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Imported route

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