We were itching to take the bikes out this past weekend but it was predicted to rain both days. We had actually never ridden in the rain before, so we thought it would be a fun opportunity to play around and get a little dirty at Balm Boyette Scrub Preserve.  It was actually a great time to go because we were literally the only ones on the trails!  The weather was pretty nice at first, just a light drizzle and only mildly hot.  Eventually the rain started to come down pretty hard and we got rained out, but I was still able to get some pics and show you guys what the trails look like.

Balm Boyette is one of my favorite places to ride because they have lots of different technical trails mixed in between flat and hilly open areas.  While I like to ride the open landscapes between the technical runs, the 2 mile in and out is one thing that I’m not a huge fan of.  If you have been to Balm Boyette you know what I’m taking about, but for those who haven’t, there is a 2 mile stretch that you have to ride before you get to any of the technical trails.

After a hard ride I’m not always looking forward to riding 2 miles to get back to the car, but at least the scenery is nice. 🙂

In between the technical trails there are lots of areas where you can enjoy the “preserve” aspects of Balm Boyette Scrub Preserve.  I really love seeing all of the butterflies and wildflowers.  During berry season there are also lots of wild blackberries.

Another plus for Balm Boyette is the signage; Each trail is well labeled, making it easy to know the difficulty of each trail.  This is thanks to SWAMPclub, who maintains the trails.

 Once you get into the trails the atmosphere changes quite a bit and each trail has slightly different terrain. Inside a lot of the trails there is a Lord of The Rings forest vibe that I love!

Balm Boyette is not as “rooty” as some of the other trails in Florida, another plus in my opinion.  The smooth terrain allows you to really get some speed going through the turns.

We usually ride the intermediate trails, which have lots twists and turns with a few challenging hills and climbs.

Since we were so wet already we figured we would mess around and get a few puddle action shots on our way out.  You can’t tell in the pictures, but it was raining pretty hard when we took these.  It definitely made the 2 miles more fun! 🙂

A quick summary for those interested in visiting Balm Boyette –

• Currently, Balm Boyette Scrub Preserve has 14 Easy trails, 7.5 Intermediate trails and 3.5 Difficult trails

• There is 1 outhouse style bathroom and 1 parking lot that leads to the biking trails. Out of all biking trails that we have been to in Florida, Balm Boyette is the least accommodating as far as facilities. At least there is a bathroom, though!

• There is no entrance fee, but SWAMPclub maintains the trails so it is appreciated if you donate to help them keep the trails up.

Hope you enjoyed our pics as much as we enjoyed our day of riding in the rain!