In the event you suppose the Gainesville-Hawthorne Path is just a rail-trail, suppose once more.
This paved path between the sting of Paynes Prairie and the guts of Hawthorne has some surprises to share.
Difficult terrain, for one. The western finish of the path is something however flat. You’ll be cranking by the gears for many of the first 4 miles.
Heading downhill to the north rim of Paynes PrairieCurves, as nicely. That western finish of the path is decidedly not on an outdated railroad mattress. Warning indicators for tight maneuvers by The Hammock clue you in.
Alongside the experience, uncover scenic overlooks on Paynes Prairie and different pure options.
There are additionally trailheads for trails on county pure lands you can’t attain every other manner however alongside the bike path.
The Prairie Creek Boardwalk is one in every of a number of stops off the trailAssets
Overview
Location: Gainesville to Hawthorne through RochelleLength: 15.3 miles linearAddress: 3400 SE fifteenth St, GainesvilleLand supervisor: Florida State ParksPhone: 352-466-3397
Open sunlight hours. Leashed canine welcome. Equestrians welcome east of the Rochelle trailhead.
Whereas most guests cycle the path, anticipate to come across folks strolling alongside it close to trailheads.
Solely the La Chua Path trailhead requires a parking payment.
Trailheads
Depot Park
200 SE Depot Ave, Gainesville. A rundown manufacturing facility district reworked into an city playground, Depot Park is now the biggest inexperienced area within the metropolis and a gathering place for buddies and households.
Cyclists who stay in Gainesville can experience to or get dropped off by bus on the park. Guests can discover parking right here as nicely. A retailer presents drinks and snacks.
A paved connector path leads from a poignant Share the Street Memorial to the official begin at Boulware Springs. Using out and again from Depot Park provides 4.6 miles to your general journey.
Depot ParkBoulware Springs Trailhead
3400 SE fifteenth St, Gainesville. Whereas the historic waterworks and a picnic space make up the majority of this park, there’s really a separate entrance for path customers.
It’s on the first signal as you’re headed south alongside SE fifteenth St in direction of Paynes Prairie. Comply with the slim street again to a parking space that adjoins the official begin of the Gainesville-Hawthorne Path.
Hikers strolling to Sweetwater Protect (0.4 miles north) or the Sweetwater Overlook (0.7 mile south), each accessed from the bike path, might need to begin right here.
Boulware Springs Park Gainesville’s unique metropolis water supply, Boulware Springs is dwelling to a historic waterworks the place turtles solar and a trailhead offering entry to preserves alongside Paynes Prairie.
Sweetwater Protect On the japanese aspect of Sweetwater Protect, hike a mild loop by the woods alongside Sweetwater Department. 
Boulware Springs junctionLa Chua Trailhead
4801 Camp Ranch Rd, Gainesville. This northern rim trailhead for Paynes Prairie Protect State Park tends to be very busy, due to the alligators all the time alongside the La Chua Path.
Park right here to stroll to the Alachua Path Overlook, a 3.6 mile round-trip, or take a straightforward 0.6 mile to the Sweetwater Overlook. The lot fills rapidly on weekends. State park entrance payment charged.
La Chua TrailheadPrairie Creek Trailhead
8416 CR 2082, Rochelle. The roomiest of the trailheads, it additionally supplies direct entry into Prairie Creek Protect at its Witness Tree trailhead.
In the event you don’t plan to deal with the total path without delay, it is a good place to begin from in both course, with much less street crossings westbound than eastbound.
Prairie Creek TrailheadPhifer Flatwoods Trailhead
12243 SE CR 2082, Gainesville. A small grassy trailhead positioned practically equidistant between entry factors to trails on two completely different tracts of Phifer Flatwoods Protect.
Each require a stroll or experience alongside the bike path to succeed in.
Phifer Flatwoods TrailheadHawthorne Trailhead
South finish of SE 218th Terrace, Hawthorne. Signage leads from US 301 to this moderate-sized paved trailhead with a transportable bathroom, busy on weekends.
Equestrians ought to use the Lochloosa Equestrian Trailhead off SE two hundredth Dr in Hawthorne, with parking for horse trailers and loads of room to show these trailers round.
Hawthorne TrailheadPath Particulars
Ranging from the Boulware Springs trailhead, flip left to start the experience. This properly canopied stretch of path skims alongside the forested fringe of the higher bluffs of Paynes Prairie.
Inside a couple of minutes, Sweetwater Overlook comes into view. A quick uphill on a aspect path results in viewpoint over the prairie.
Look west in direction of Sweetwater Wetlands Park and US 441. This cove is the place Sweetwater Creek, which rises downtown, flows into Paynes Prairie.
Sweetwater OverlookIt was the place the steamboat touchdown on the north shore as soon as stood within the Nineties, matching one which used to sit down the place the Bolens Bluff Path, on the south shore, is now.
Return to the bike path. The downhill is noticeable as you curve sharply east to cross the pedestrian walkway to the La Chua Path, a worthwhile aspect journey.
La Chua Path crossing the Gainesville-Hawthorne PathAs place the place all of the waters of Paynes Prairie drain, La Chua Sink boasts extra alligators per sq. inch than just about every other piece of public land in North Florida.
La Chua Path The place Paynes Prairie drains into the Floridan Aquifer, alligators collect. Watch them from above alongside the La Chua Path within the dwelling of the Gators, Gainesville.The bluff above Paynes Prairie is fairly rugged, and this subsequent half mile proves simply how a lot. Climbing out of the prairie basin, the path curves round deep sinkholes within the woods.
Downhill into the woodsThe marked aspect path to the Alachua Lake Overlook is price the additional 1.2 miles. The pavement is a bit rugged for street bikes because it descends to the sting of the bluff.
On the finish of this aspect path, park your bike for the brief stroll out onto a big deck overlooking the prairie.
When the prairie floods, it lives as much as its repute as Alachua Lake. That is one of the best overlook within the state park to see a panorama of it.
Alachua Lake OverlookBike again up the aspect path and switch proper on the Gainesville / Hawthorne signal. After a brief stretch of comparatively degree driving, attain an indication for The Hammock.
The path enters the deep shade of a hardwood hammock and begins making some sharp curves. Since you possibly can’t see riders coming in direction of you, keep in your aspect of the path.
Within the HammockPrevious the ability strains, the path straightens out, becoming a member of the rail line that ran from Gainesville to Hawthorne. From this level on, the experience is straight and degree.
Crimson Wolf Pond is a marsh on the north aspect of the path alongside the start of this stretch. It was as soon as linked to Newnans Lake, which is on the north aspect of close by SR 20.
A cease at Crimson Wolf PondCrossing SE thirtieth Avenue, the place there’s a small parking space adjoining the path, proceed on to the bridge over Prairie Creek and the Prairie Creek Boardwalk.
That is one other spot price parking your bike to stretch your legs. The brief boardwalk supplies serene views of the creek, which drains Newnans Lake into Paynes Prairie.
Prairie Creek Boardwalk Beneath the dense cover of a hardwood forest, the Prairie Creek Boardwalk supplies a novel perspective on the creek that hyperlinks Paynes Prairie and Newnans Lake. 
Prairie Creek BoardwalkAfter a straightaway, curve away from SR 20. Look ahead to a trailhead at Prairie Creek Protect with a bench on the fitting. It’s one other good spot within the shade.
Swampy on either side of the bike path, the following straightaway parallels each the protect and an deserted part of CR 2082, reducing by a cypress swamp earlier than gaining a bit elevation.
Prairie Creek ProtectPassing a second entrance into Prairie Creek Protect, attain its trailhead in Rochelle after 6.4 miles (plus 1.4 in case you rode to the overlooks).
Prairie Creek Protect Within the deep shade of the floodplain of Prairie Creek close to Gainesville, Prairie Creek Protect is a magnificence spot offered to the general public by the Alachua Conservation Belief.This can be a good turnaround level for a brief experience. 1 / 4 mile previous the parking space is a vault bathroom for path customers.
The path turns into a tunnel beneath oak timber, with a broad grassy strip on the fitting for equestrian use.
Shaded straightawayUsing previous the Third Bethel Baptist Church on a section with rather less shade, come as much as a cease sign up Rochelle. Visitors doesn’t cease for you. Cross with warning.
Curving right into a forest and not using a full cover over the path, paralleling a rural street to the left. On the far aspect of it’s Phifer Flatwoods Protect.
Its small trailhead is alongside that street. Cease at sometimes-busy CR 325 simply past it.
CR 325Regardless of the planted pines, the forest turns into more and more damp alongside either side of the path inside Phifer Flatwoods Protect.
For the sake of hikers, there are benches alongside this stretch. Go two walk-in trailheads on the left inside a half mile of one another. A swamp spans the area between them.
Phifer Flatwoods ProtectThe path positive factors a bit elevation earlier than crossing a small bridge. Quickly after is a cease signal on the crossing for SE 152nd Avenue in Grove Park, a tiny group alongside SR 20.
Adjoined by marshes after which by homes, attain one other minor street crossing with a cease signal.
Approaching Grove ParkQuickly after, the woods encompass the path as soon as extra. An extended picket bridge spans Lochloosa Creek, with indicators indicating equestrians should have their horses ford.
Rising from marshy forests east of Newnans Lake, this tannic waterway snakes its manner south to Lake Lochloosa.
Bridge over Lochloosa CreekEnter a properly shaded straightaway once more, with a number of extra street crossings to cope with. Nearing Hawthorne, anticipate extra folks strolling or working.
Curving by Lochloosa Equestrian trailhead (which has a bench however no restroom) rejoin the straightaway for the ultimate mile and a half.
Nearing the Equestrian TrailheadCrossing a small bridge over Dry Creek, there’s gentle on the finish of the tree tunnel. Curve round a fence alongside a college, arriving on the parking space at Hawthorne.
A big bench is constructed into the trailhead kiosk at this finish, adjoined by a rubbish can. You’ll discover a moveable bathroom on the parking zone.
A round-trip experience from Boulware Springs to Hawthorne – together with the aspect journeys to the overlooks – is 32 miles.
Kiosk with bench on the Hawthorne trailheadPath Map
Mileage
Gainesville to Hawthorne
0.0 Boulware Springs trailhead0.7 Sweetwater Overlook (0.2 mile RT)1.0 La Chua Path trailhead1.8 Alachua Lake Overlook (1.2 mile RT)2.4 The Hammock4.0 Crimson Wolf Pond4.3 SE thirtieth Street4.8 Prairie Creek Boardwalk5.3 Prairie Creek Protect Kelly Crossing trailhead6.4 Prairie Creek Protect trailhead6.7 vault toilet8.7 Phifer Flatwoods trailhead8.8 CR 3259.3 Phifer Flatwoods Protect West9.9 Phifer Flatwoods Protect East10.7 SE 152nd Street11.5 Lochloosa Creek13.8 Lochloosa Equestrian Trailhead15.3 Hawthorne Trailhead
Discover Extra!
Be taught extra about Paynes Prairie Protect State Park
Paynes Prairie Protect State Park Defending a large pure basin of prairie between Micanopy and Gainesville, Paynes Prairie Protect State Park combines panoramic views with wildlife watching alongside its trails.Slideshow
See our pictures from the Gainesville-Hawthorne Path
Close by Adventures
Official Map (PDF) Official Web site
