Several campgrounds along the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway provide scenic destinations for doing what you daydream about—camping … fishing … hiking … birding … riding a horse … riding a bicycle—when you are supposed to be working.? Stretching from the Gulf of Mexico to the St. Johns River, this 110-mile corridor encompasses a variety of natural habitats and offers numerous trails and recreation areas.

Rodman Campground, Palatka

On the east end of the greenway, Rodman Campground offers 43 campsites with electric and water hook-ups, 26 primitive sites, and a boat launch.? Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy hiking, mountain bicycling and equestrian trails. A short drive from the campground, visitors will find these attractions:

Located near Buckman Lock in Palatka, the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway Visitor Center recounts the history of the Cross Florida Barge Canal and its evolution into the greenway through displays, historic documents and photographs. The center provides information about present sites of interest and serves as the primary trailhead for equestrian and hiking trails on the Cross Florida Greenway’s east end.

The 4.5-mile St. Johns Loop Trail-South provides access to the Florida National Scenic Trail and winds through flatwood communities of longleaf pine, saw palmetto and wiregrass. Gopher tortoises, armadillos, raccoons and aquatic birds, such as osprey, eagle, kingfisher, heron and egret, inhabit the area.

The Senator George Kirkpatrick Dam is a good recreation area for catching Florida’s native freshwater fish.? Black bass, striped bass, crappie, bluegill, warmouth, gar, shad, mullet and catfish are likely catches. Boat ramps provide access to the lower Ocklawaha River below the dam and numerous bank-fishing sites on the upstream and downstream areas adjacent to the dam.

For camping information, call (386) 326-2846.

Santos Campground, Ocala

Amenities at the Santos Campground include 24 sites with electric and water hook-ups, fire rings, picnic tables, restrooms with showers, and picnic pavilions. The day use area includes restrooms, picnic pavilions and potable water, with a water trough for horses.

The Santos Trailhead is the eastern terminus for more than 100 miles of hiking, biking, equestrian and multi-use trails on the Cross Florida Greenway. Separate trails for hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians provide miles of travel through oak hammocks, longleaf pine forests and rock quarries.

Mountain bicyclists who thrive on challenge will enjoy the new freeride area at Santos. The skills development area offers low-penalty bridges; bermed turns; short, steep climbs; whoops; rock and root gardens; logovers; ledge ups; and small drops. The advanced skills development area features a quarter-pipe to curb, a log ride, several jumps and a bowl. A two-mile loop of advanced cross country trail has bench cuts, bridges, rock gardens, skinnys and lots of optional features. Dirt jump lines with a wall ride and chip jump are available for beginner, intermediate and advanced riders. Eight drops, ranging from a variable beginner drop to a 23-foot competition-only drop, and a playground area with beginner, intermediate and advanced rollovers complete the cycling amenities.

Santos trails connect to the Land Bridge Trailhead, Land Bridge over I-75, 49th Avenue Trailhead, Shangri-La Trailhead, Ross Prairie Trailhead and Pruitt Trailhead. For reservations at Santos Campground, call (352) 369-2693 or (352) 427-4172.

Ross Prairie Campground, Dunnellon

Ross Prairie Campground is an excellent location for a single-day trip or extended stay. As visitors wind their way through trails accessible from the Ross Prairie Campground, a backdrop of live oak hammock and pine scrub set the scene for viewing wildlife, including gopher tortoises, indigo snakes, turkeys and Florida scrub-jays.

The campground features 15 pull-through campsites with electric and water hook-ups for recreational vehicles and campers. The day-use area has a large paved parking lot with restrooms and a picnic pavilion. Horse grooming stations, a corral, tie-outs and access to miles of riding trails make this campground popular with those who like to camp with their horses.

The trailhead at the campground provides access to an equestrian and wagon-trail network, as well as equestrian and hiking trails within the Cross Florida Greenway, Ross Prairie State Forest and Halpata Tastanaki Preserve. For reservations, call (352) 732-2606 or (352) 427-4436.

For information about the Office of Greenways & Trails or to access an online trail guide with directions, maps and trail descriptions, visit www.FloridaGreenwaysAndTrails.com, or call toll-free (877) 822-5208.