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Sweetwater Wetlands ParkBryan Lindenberger2022-08-08T06:08:26-06:00
  • Great Blue Heron Taking Flight at Sweetwater Wetlands Park

Sweetwater Wetlands Park Bird Watching

Birding and Nature Viewing with Photos and Maps

Nature Walk at Sweetwater Wetlands Park
Alachua County
Gainesville, Florida
Entry Fee: $5 per vehicle
Traffic: Heavy
Sweetwater Wetlands Park Official Page

PDF Trail Map ^
Interactive Trail Map at AllTrails >

You won’t identify this many birds just anywhere!

White Ibis at Sweetwater Wetlands Park

White Ibis

You don’t come here for great hiking. What the park does offer is a three and a half of wheelchair accessible strolling with some of the best wetlands birding opportunities you will find in Gainesville or all of central Florida. Those couple of miles can take you hours if you stop to absorb the sites and take each of the visually absorbing and peaceful boardwalks.

Birding at the Park

Great Blue Heron Closeup

Great Blue Heron

No fishing, biking, horseback riding are permitted here. The wetlands and ponds of this 125-acre territory are designed for water preservations and ecological purposes by the Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs division of the City of Gainesville. I arrived on a weekend in January during the height of migratory bird season in Florida. Even then, with the parking lot nearly full, I could find myself meeting fellow nature lovers one moment but quite alone amid the wetlands and ponds the next.

Anhinga Closeup

Anhinga

This is purely an ecological park, seemingly open to the public at the discretion of the city. Walk, enjoy, take pictures, but do not attempt to otherwise interact with your surroundings or go exploring off designated areas. There are eyes on you.

Trail Images Below

More Alachua County Hiking Trails

Limpkin (Aramus Guarauna) at Sweetwater Wetlands Park

Limpkin

Anhinga

Anhinga

Green Heron

Green Heron

Black Bellied Whistling Ducks gather by the hundreds at Sweetwater Wetlands Park

Black Bellied Whistling Ducks

Black Bellied Whistling Ducks in Flight

In Flight

Great Egret at Sweetwater Wetlands Park, Florida

Great Egret

White Ibis in Nature at Sweetwater Wetlands Park, Florida

White Ibis

Wood Stork - Mycteria americana - with bald head and black tipped wings in flight

Wood Stork

American Coot or Mud Hen, out for a swim in the pond in Florida

American Coot

This limpkin with long, orange beak and speckled, brown plumage swoops down upon the boardwalk just to say hello

Limpkin Close

More Alachua County Hiking Trails

Hiking Trails

Hiking, biking, and riding trails with maps

flowering dogwood
Down South
tree in field
Live Florida Beauty
Organ Mountains
Mountain Time
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