The place Hogtown Creek rises north of downtown Gainesville, Hogtown Creek Headwaters Nature Park encompasses 84 acres previously utilized in half as a dairy farm.
In entrance of the 1890 farmhouse, now a nature training middle, a inexperienced area invitations play.
An interpretive loop aimed toward kids begins at its far edge, delving into a mixture of habitats resulting in the birthplace of Gainesville’s most well-known waterway.
The delicate aspect of Hogtown Creek Headwaters Nature ParkSources
Overview
Location: GainesvilleLength: 0.9 milesTrailhead: 29.696567, -82.343049Address: 1500 NW forty fifth Ave, GainesvilleFees: FreeRestroom: On the trailheadLand Supervisor: Metropolis of GainesvillePhone: 352-334-5067
Open 8-6 Nov-Apr, 8-8 Might-Oct. Leashed canine welcome; decide up after your pet.
Instructions
Hike
From the parking space, stroll as much as the kiosk for an summary map of the hike. On the high finish of the inexperienced area is the Hartman homestead.
The household established a dairy right here in 1888, with subsequent generations dwelling on the land via 2006.
A former homesteadBecoming a member of the concrete path in the direction of the restrooms, start a clockwise development on the publish with a footprint and arrow.
The compacted gravel path swoops previous a picnic pavilion. Circle an open inexperienced with a big playground in its middle, passing train gear stations.
Gravel path across the grassy open areaOn the far fringe of the circle, the Monitor Path begins at a big signal with a map of its half mile loop. A pure floor pathway, it enters the forest adjoining a brochure field.
A linear path below the oaks meets a T intersection firstly of the loop. Per the arrow, bear proper on the interpretive signal on invasive species.
Map at begin of footpathAdditionally marked with blue blazes, the footpath is well distinguished in opposition to the in any other case leafy forest ground.
Continuing via climax sandhills with many laurel oaks, go a pair of cabbage palms. Whisps of Spanish moss dangle above.
Brief-needled loblolly pines be a part of the combo, the understory turning into a thicket of younger oaks.
Blended uplandsCurving at a double blaze at 1 / 4 mile, meet what appears like a path junction with an previous entry level from a neighborhood, a publish and signal pointing away from it to the left.
Amid largely youthful oaks on this former grazing land for dairy cattle, go the sturdy bones of an aged stay oak, leafless however coated in resurrection fern.
Bear left on the signalAttain an interpretive signal exhibiting the complete circulation of Hogtown Creek via Gainesville, the tributaries feeding it, and a few of the parks alongside it.
Rising in these seasonally flooded pine flatwoods, it vanishes into the Floridan Aquifer at Haile Sink at Lake Kanapaha.
The circulation of Hogtown Creek throughout GainesvilleCross a wood bridge over a seasonal drainage of the flatwoods, edged by some mature pines and oaks.
The trail widens and the understory opens up, permitting for lengthy views. At a break up within the path, bear proper. This blazed spur descends barely in the direction of bigger bushes.
Picket bridgeNetted chain ferns indicators damper soil. Cinnamon ferns be a part of the combo. The density of cabbage palms and the looks of bluestem palm will increase.
This spur ends on the headwaters of Hogtown Creek at a half mile. On the base of a really giant pine, the creek is little greater than a shallow slough accumulating in a low spot.
It could don’t have any circulation in any respect, simply disjunct puddles. Nonetheless, it’s cradled in a lushly saturated forest.
The headwaters of Hogtown CreekReturn alongside this spur, noting the large double-trunked spruce pine, a species that thrives in karst. Flip proper to proceed alongside the principle loop.
By way of the open understory, the wetter a part of the forest stays seen. Cross one other low bridge, this one over a fern-lined despair.
Spruce pines and laurel oaks tower overheadAt 0.7 mile, a worn aspect spur results in a extra well-defined channel of Hogtown Creek twisting round a deeply eroded curve.
Again on the principle loop, it’s a fast return to the beginning of the circuit on the Invasive Species signal.
Hogtown CreekFlip proper to exit the Monitor Path to the graveled circuit across the playground. Make a left to finish that circuit previous extra health gear stations.
Stroll across the again of the farmhouse to return to the parking space by 0.9 miles.
Resuming the gravel circuit across the grassy play areaPath Map
Discover Extra!
Study extra in regards to the Hogtown Creek Greenway
Hogtown Creek Greenway As Hogtown Creek threads its approach via modern-day Gainesville, step into the previous alongside a string of city nature preserves.Video
Mountaineering Hogtown Creek Headwaters Nature Park
Slideshow
See our photographs from Hogtown Creek Headwaters Nature Park
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Official Web site
Writer of over 40 books, Sandra Good friend established FloridaHikes.com in 2006 to develop on the sector analysis she’d accomplished for her first six climbing guides. She has been honored with lifetime achievement awards from the Florida Path Affiliation and the Florida Out of doors Writers Affiliation.
