Hiking Trails in Alachua County, Florida

Barr Hammock Preserve – Levy Loop Trail – 6.5 mile loop around a restored marshland. Great for hiking or biking with abundant wildlife and other nature-viewing.

Barr Hammock Preserve – South Trails – Dozens of miles of shaded canopy trails rich in wildlife. Free for use by hikers, bikers, and horseback riders. Closed until spring 2023.

Bivens Arm Nature Park – A nice spot in Gainesville for a family picnic gathering with a playground. But the nature walk is short and not much of a hike.

Cone’s Dike Trail – An easy 5-mile there-and-back at Payne’s Prairie (see below). Find a marsh with plenty of  flowers, birds, and other animals.

Lake Alto Park – Boating ramp, fishing, and picnic area plus two long trails, Tree Frog Trail and a LEAFS Society Trail,  are also linked from the page.

Lake Alto Preserve – Multiple trails form a 4-mile loop that includes extensive boardwalk over a swamp. Plus, find a pier with a very calm and refreshing lake view.

LEAFS Stewardship Forest – Forest with meandering and somewhat overgrown trails preserved by the Longleaf Ecology and Forestry Society.

Little Orange Creek Preserve – Kathy Cantwell there-and-back trail near Hawthorne offers one of the most fun short trails you can find anywhere.

Longleaf Flatwoods Reserve – Six to ten miles of hiking amid longleaf pines in this beautiful, 3000-acre reserve. With low traffic, you may have all to yourself!

Newnan’s Lake Conservation Area – Two connected loops provide 9 miles of hiking in mostly open sun with pines. Discover great birding opportunities including bald eagles.

Orange Creek Conservation Area – North Tract – Five miles of loops for hiking and horseback. See also the Orange Creek South Tract in Hiking Marion County.

Paynes Prairie Preserve North Entrance – A fun little hike with great animal views. You’ll never get this close to alligators and all kinds of marshland birds except at the zoo.

Paynes Prairie State Preserve – Hours of hiking trails with a great view of Paynes Prairie and picnicking at Lake Wauberg. See also Cone’s Dike Trail at this location.

Prairie Creek Preserve – Miles of rich trails including pines, old forest, and swamp and marshlands. And it’s well maintained by the Alachua Conservation Trust.

Price’s Scrub Greenway Loop – Hiking, biking, and equestrian trails at Price’s Scrub State Park provide a solid good time outdoors with wide trails and a choice of loops.

San Felasco Hammock – Creek Sink Trail – 2.3 mile hiking or running loop through dense woods with a creek and sink hole ponds. It shares parking as Spring Grove Trail, next >

San Felasco Hammock – Spring Grove Trail – Six-mile loop in sandy hills amid beech and oak for hiking and birding. You’ll really enjoy your time hiking here!

Sweetwater Preserve – Rich in wildlife, this preserve has two entrances near Gainesville, and a bench overlooking an active swamp steals the show.