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St. Francis Yellow Trail

4.1 ★★★★☆ 145 Google reviews · Running trail in DeLand, Florida · Hours vary

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Natural surface
Loop distance
8 mi
Shape
Loop
Shade
Tree cover
Access
Not reported

Confirmed from St. Francis Yellow Trail's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

Natural surface8 miLoopShadedScenicDog-friendlyTrailhead parkingMile markersQuiet

Loop trail totaling nearly 8 mi. with varied terrain including boardwalks and a log bridge.

What runners say about St. Francis Yellow Trail

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (145 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 4 mentions

“Be aware there are no bathroom facilities, no water sources, just a well-maintained trail.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 7 mentions

“Beautiful hike, the trail was pretty dry only one spot wet but there were logs through the water which is always fun.”

🌳 shaded & cool 5 mentions

“You can go straight through to the second place that the trail meets the river and that is all under tree canopy so lots of shade.”

🪧 well-marked 4 mentions

“I love this trail - well marked, quiet, and peaceful.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 3 mentions

“The Navy was praticing military drills so it wasn't as quiet as it would normally be but I would definitely do it again.”

Beautiful hike, the trail was pretty dry only one spot wet but there were logs through the water which is always fun. The trail is very well marked. We hiked the whole trail and did not run into to very many people, one group of guys were camping along the St.

★★★★★ — Andrea , Feb 2020

I love this trail - well marked, quiet, and peaceful. We followed the signs for the St. Francis trail and got in 8.6 miles with short trips to see the Dead River and the St. John’s River at the end of the dirt road. No wildlife and only one runner on the trail.

★★★★★ — Frankie , Feb 2022

Great trail ! Nice sceneries along the way. The only problem is ticks. Beware of them! We walked to St. Francis itself and spotted the first one at the riverfront. We kept hiking and then we saw them all over our shoes and even legs especially small ones.

★★★★☆ — Ilia , Mar 2025

Great trail to hike even after the rain it had minimal flooding. It’s kept well but not too well kept a if that makes sense. I would highly recommend this in any conditions even on a sunny cloudless day. The tree canopy provides great shade!

★★★★★ — Josh , Sep 2020

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 145 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 9 mentions

“Beautiful hike, the trail was pretty dry only one spot wet but there were logs through the water which is always fun.”

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🏃 Long-run distance (5mi+) 8 mentions

“Francis trail and got in 8.6 miles with short trips to see the Dead River and the St.”

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🌳 Shaded / tree cover 6 mentions

“You can go straight through to the second place that the trail meets the river and that is all under tree canopy so lots of shade.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 6 mentions

“Ticks are everywhere and can be a real problem for dogs.”

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🔁 Loop trail 5 mentions

“An almost 8 mile loop trail through several different ecosystems.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 4 mentions

“5 miles from the trailhead but there were no other indicators once you got there as to where it was.”

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📏 Mile markers 4 mentions

“I love this trail - well marked, quiet, and peaceful.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 3 mentions

“The Navy was praticing military drills so it wasn't as quiet as it would normally be but I would definitely do it again.”

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🌲 Natural surface / singletrack 2 mentions

“Could get pretty muddy if it rain a day before.”

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Plan your run at St. Francis Yellow Trail

The practical stuff

  • AccessHours vary — hours are not posted for this trail, so check before an early or late run
  • SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
  • Loop distance8 mi back to where you parked. Long enough for a real long run.
  • ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
  • At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websitefs.usda.gov
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Where to find St. Francis Yellow Trail

45914-45978 River Forest Blvd, DeLand, FL 32720

Get directions

Running trails near DeLand

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Hontoon Island State Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 183 reviews

DeLand, FL

Natural surfaceShadedScenicDog-friendly

Serene, family-friendly park on an island featuring cabins, trails, camping, bike rentals, and canoe rentals.

3.3 miles away

Hontoon Island Adventures

4.7 ★★★★★ 1,126 reviews

DeLand, FL

LitScenic

Natural park offers family-friendly activities for all ages including canoe rentals & a picnic area.

3.4 miles away

Lake Beresford Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 722 reviews

DeLand, FL

LoopPavedShadedScenic

Natural 210-acre park surrounded by a biking, skating & walking trail plus playgrounds & pavilions.

3.6 miles away

Pine Forest Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 81 reviews

Eustis, FL

Dog-friendly

Spacious park featuring basketball courts, ball fields, a baseball field, benches and picnic tables.

4.2 miles away

Scrub Oak Preserve

4.3 ★★★★☆ 19 reviews

DeLand, FL

Loop

4.2 miles away

Bill Dreggors Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 741 reviews

DeLand, FL

16 miLoopPaved

Exhibits on local history plus whimsical elephant & toy displays & a sensory butterfly garden.

4.7 miles away

All running trails in DeLand, FL →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.