Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail State Park
Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail State Park stretches 16 miles from the City of Gainesville’s Boulware Springs Park through the Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park and the Lochloosa Wildlife Management Area. As such, the trail takes you through some of the finest natural areas in north central Florida. It is wooded and quiet even though it travels close to busy highways and country roads. The entire trail is a pleasure to ride, and there are even a few hills to climb and speed down. If you take your time and visit La Chua trail in Paynes Prairie, you might even have an opportunity to see bison, wild horses and sandhill cranes.

Locator

Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail State Park Map
Click here for printer-friendly map and description (PDF 540 kb).

Major Activities walkinginline skatinghikingbikingmountain bikingequestrianwheelchair

Trail Length/Surface: 16 miles paved (asphalt 10’ wide)
Fee: None
County: Alachua
Nearby Towns: Gainesville, Hawthorne

Notes:
Parking is provided at three locations, Boulware Springs Park in Gainesville (Mile 0), Lochloosa Trailhead (Mile 15), and the Hawthorne Trailhead (Mile 16.2).

Bicycling and skating are permitted everywhere in the park except on La Chua trail.

Horses are allowed on the trail corridor except east of the Lochloosa trailhead. For most of the distance, a grassy equestrian pathway is available adjacent to the paved trail. Current Coggins papers are required as proof of a negative Coggins result.

Access/Directions:

Boulware Springs
From Gainesville, at the intersection of University Avenue and Main Street, travel east on University Avenue and take the right fork onto SR 20 (Hawthorne Road). Almost immediately, go south onto SE 15th Street. Travel until you find Boulware Springs City Park on the right before the 90 degree left turn. The park is located at 3300 SE 15th Street. From the park, follow the signs to the trail. As you approach the trail, look to the left for beginning of paved segment.

Hawthorne Trailhead
From Gainesville, at the intersection of University Avenue and Main Street, travel east on University Avenue and take the right fork onto SR 20 (Hawthorne Road). Follow SR 20 to US 301. Take a right and proceed into Hawthorne. Look for signs on US 301. The trailhead is located at 300 SW 2nd Avenue.

Contact Information:
Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail State Park
100 Savannah Boulevard
Micanopy, FL 32667
(352) 466-3397
Main Page - Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail » Florida State Parks

Related Websites:
Friends of Gainesville Hawthorne Trail