Situated in the upper Hogtown Creek basin, 29th Road Park features nature trails through upland mixed forest, slope forest, and bottomland forest along the shady banks of Hogtown Creek, Gainesville’s largest stream. Breathtaking views of fern-covered slopes beneath towering trees…

Over a mile of trails wind through upland mixed forest and slope forest, tracing the course of Hogtown Creek. A scenic overlook provides visitors a view of the confluence of Glen Springs Run and Hogtown Creek where the clear water…

*Summer 2019 Trail Closure Alert* South entrance and south trails will be closed this summer because of timber harvest activities. We anticipate closing the entrance and trails beginning late June or July 2019. Updates will be posted as available. Levy…

Newly rebuilt boardwalks and overlooks, new hiking trails, new playground equipment, and other upgraded amenities now await visitors to one of Gainesville’s oldest nature parks. The lush greenery of the live oak hammock provides habitat for forest wildlife, while wading…

The nineteenth-century waterworks building, located at Boulware Springs, once provided the water supply for the City of Gainesville. Boulware Springs produces approximately 194,000 gallons of water a day, which flows into Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park. Picnic facilities are available.…

Bordering the extensive wetlands of Sugarfoot Prairie, Clear Lake Nature Park is quietly nestled between the old University Avenue communities and SW 62nd Boulevard. The trails in this small park invite the visitor to slow down and soak up the…

In the heart of urbanized west Gainesville, Cofrin Nature Park features a half-mile long hiking trail. Once a horse farm, much of this park is returning to forest through natural succession. Large hardwood trees are found in the forest along…

In the heart of urbanized west Gainesville, Cofrin Nature Park features a half-mile long hiking trail. Once a horse farm, much of this park is returning to forest through natural succession. Large hardwood trees are found in the forest along picturesque Beville…

In 1998, State Representative Cynthia Moore Chestnut sponsored a grant for a park to serve the residents of SE Alachua County.  Local businessman, Clark Butler, was called upon and he also donated funds. The park was opened to the public…

The nature trail is open as an out and back trail (not a loop) due to the trail bridge closure. Views into the sinkhole are still provided. Update: as upgrades to the trail bridge started, it was determined that more extensive safety improvements…

Newly opened to the public, this facility was bought with funds from the Florida Communities Trust and developed by the City of Gainesville Public Works Department with assistance from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Tucked away in East Gainesville's…

We are located just ten minutes from the University of Florida, on over 100 acres of secluded forest conservation land. We offer 1200 square foot Dharma Room; top teachers and programs in meditation, yoga, and more; full vegetarian kitchen; miles…

Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail stretches 16 miles from the city of Gainesville's Boulware Springs Park through the Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park and other local and state conservation lands. On this historic rail-bed turned greenway you will pass by native plants…

Park hours from dawn to dusk daily. Gum Root Park features trails through a variety of natural communities, including blackwater stream, floodplain swamp, xeric hammock, baygall, pasture, and pine flatwoods. Adjacent to hundreds of acres of state conservation land, Gum Root is…

On the Hogtown Creek Greenway, get lost in the woods in the heart of old Gainesville while getting in touch with the past.  

The Hogtown Creek Headwaters Nature Park will soon be getting a facelift! Other improvements that will begin in 2015 and will include a nature trail, playground, pavilion, and a tennis/volleyball court. Please be aware that the park will be closed…

Located just off Newberry Road, John Mahon Nature Park features a loop trail through the forest. Visitors can enjoy upland mixed forest, hydric hammock, and former upland pine forest as they hike the trail. The park serves as a memorial to Dr.…

Veteran's Memorial Park offers activities for everyone.  Sports facilities include a baskeball court, softball fields, soccer fields, and roller hockey facilities.  There are also 2 play areas, a fitness trail, and nature trails to explore.  Be sure to visit the…

​Lake Alto Park currently offers a boat launch and connects to hiking trails in Lake  Alto Preserve. Planned upgrades include replacing the boat ramps and dock and adding shoreline preservation observation areas for wildlife viewing.  Installation of restrooms, a play…

Trails and boardwalks provide shady routes for walking, biking, or jogging on this portion of the Hogtown Creek Greenway, considered one of the best birding spots in the county. Follow the trail connecting NW Eighth Ave. to NW 34th St.…

Lochloosa Park has nearly 450 feet of undeveloped shoreline, with a boardwalk and gazebo for wildlife viewing.  New shoreline preservation overlooks will be put in place so that park visitors can take advantage of the wildlife viewing opportunities and fisherman…

The property is a diverse area of intact natural communities. The uplands are comprised mainly of wet and mesic flatwoods and sandhill. Several small wetlands drain to the southwest into a larger basin swamp, which drains to the River Styx,…

Centuries after the last residents left the village along it, Lake Tuscawilla is now an open prairie. But this village site is sacred ground. Founded in 1821, the town of Micanopy is the oldest inland settlement in Florida, but this…

1,230-acre preserve with 5 miles of unpaved trails. Property is unique for its mix of southernmost extent of Applachian hardwood forest, small waterfall and pine flatwoods. American Beech trees can be observed here in their southernmost extent. Mill Creek Preserve…

8 a.m. – 6 p.m. daily (Oct.–April); 8 a.m.–8 p.m. daily (May–Sept.) 416 acres Please note, as part of Nature Operations’ land management practices, when prescribed burns take place, the park may be closed. Please check this website or call…

Newnans Lake State Forest contains over 1,000 acres of natural lands just east of Gainesville in Alachua County. This property has been in state ownership since 1921 when 3,000 acres were acquired to establish a residential farm community for Floridians…

Paynes Prairie is unique in many ways. Nowhere else in Florida can visitors experience wild-roaming bison and horses. Nearly 300 species of birds also frequent the park along with alligators, deer and many other animals. The park’s eight trails, including…