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Latest update: August 2022

Biking at Inglis Dam & Island Recreation Area, Florida

Paved Bike Trail Adds to Recreation Options

Near Florida's Gulf coast, west of Dunnellon and north of Crystal River, there are 3 State Recreational Areas here (see State brochures below), all part of the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway. Most popular is the Inglis Dam & Island Recreational Area, offering paved and unpaved biking, hiking, and other amenities. (Map link and photos below.)

Map Link...
3 Recreation Areas

View larger map

Location: Levy County
Mileage: 2.5 mile paved bike trail, plus 7.5 miles unpaved
Surface: Mixed (paved, grass)
Nearby Points of interest: Inglis Dam and Lock

Bike Shops/Rentals:
N/A

Page Summary:

A Quick History... from Barge Canal to Greenway
Inglis Dam & Island Recreation Area
- Inglis Island, Inglis Island Bike Path
Inglis Bypass Recreation Area
- Dam and Bypass Canal, Bypass Recreation Area
Inglis Lock Recreation Area
- Inglis Lock, Lock Recreation area
More Information and Resources

A Quick History... from Barge Canal to Greenway

The Inglis Dam was built in the early 1900's to provide hydroelectric power to the phosphate mining boom in the area. The dam blocked the Withlacoochee River, creating Lake Rousseau (12 miles long, 3,700 acres), popular for fishing. A hydroelectric plant operated from 1909 to 1965. A new (non-hydroelectric) dam was built when the lake was incorporated into the Cross Florida Barge Canal project in the 1960's. The Withlacoochee River was bisected by a section of the Barge Canal, so a smaller "Bypass Canal" and dam were built to allow fresh water into the north section of the river cut off by the Barge Canal. A lock system was added below the bypass canal to maintain water levels on the lake.

The canal project was halted in 1971 due to environmental concerns. In 1990, the lands were turned over to the State of Florida for conservation and recreation. In 1998, the land was renamed the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway in honor of the person who led opposition to the project. Due to the layout of the waterways here, the State created three separate Recreation Areas.

Inglis Dam & Island Recreation Area... Most Popular, Bring Your Bike

On the south side of the Barge Canal, this is the largest and the most popular of the three Recreational Areas. The main access is at the Bessie Smith Prescott Memorial, off W. Riverwood Drive, east of US19/98. Amenities include paved parking, 2 boat ramps (above and below the dam), restrooms, picnicking, and 3 small fishing piers. A walkway over the dam leads to Inglis Island, which offers a 2.5 mile multi-use bike trail, plus 7.5 miles of unpaved trail (mowed grass - a workout), and an equestrian staging area.

Inglis Dam Recreation Area, Florida eco-biking

The dam

Lake Rousseau

Bessie Smith Prescott Memorial Area

View of dam

Lake Rousseau

Fishing/observation dock

Boat ramp

Inglis Island

Starting from the Dessie Smith Prescott Memorial area on Lake Rousseau, take the walkway over the dam to Inglis Island. Note: while it appears to be gated, there is a pedestrian walk-through. The 1,200 acre island is bounded by Lake Rousseau, the Cross Florida Barge Canal, and the Withlacoochee River (see map).

Inglis Island Bike Trail

The 12' paved bike trail is 2.5 miles one-way. Leaving the dam at Lake Rousseau, the trail first goes through a pleasant wooded area, then parallels the Barge Canal to the end overlooking the juncture of the Withlacoochee River and Cross Florida Barge Canal. Another 7.5 miles of unpaved trail cross and parallel the paved trail

Start of bike path (right)

On the bike path

Gopher tortoise

Grassy trail

Powerline

Approaching trail end

To the overlook

Juncture river and canal

Picnic, back onto trail

More Views of Inglis Island

From the walkway over the dam are views of the spillway and Withlacoochee River on one side, and Lake Rousseau on the other. Shortly after getting onto the island is the equestrian staging area with picnic pavilion and portalet. A grassy trail off the paved bike path follows the Barge Canal to Inglis Lock and beyond.

Cross Dam, walkway to right

Withlacoochee River (again)

Lake Rousseau

Onto Inglis Island

Equestrian staging, picnic

Grass trail (recently mowed)

Old Lock from south side

Barge Canal looking west

Inglis Bypass Recreation Area... A Second Dam is Here

Two smaller State Recreation Areas are located on the north side of the Barge Canal, off SR40 east of US19.

At the Inglis Bypass Recreation Area, the bypass dam and spillway are the dominant features - picnicking and fishing are popular. There is a spot to hand-launch a kayak onto the Withlacoochee River (formed anew by water from the bypass canal). There are also miles of hiking trail (mowed grass, little shade) between the two canals (see map).

Dam and Bypass Canal

Inglis Bypass Recreation Area, Florida eco-biking

The dam

Crossing the dam

Bypass canal-upstream

Spillway

Bypass canal-downstream

Feeding the Withlacoochee

Inglis Bypass Recreation Area

Access road (north side)

Picnic

Down to the river

Withlacoochee River

South side-picnic, portalet, hiking trails

Inglis Lock Recreation Area

On the north side, situated between the Bypass Canal and the main Barge Canal, about 1/2 mile east of the bypass dam. Views of canal and lock (non-operational). A steel bridge at the lock crosses the canal to Inglis Island, where a grassy trail connects to the paved bike trail. The Recreation Area has parking, picnic, portalet, a large open grass field, and hiking (mowed grass) between the two canals. The Cross Florida Greenway West Zone field office and maintenance facilities are located here. A model airplane club operates adjacent. An annual music festival is held in the open field.