Me and my step daughter took the horseback tour and it was awesome. Meagan was excellent and the…read morehorse i had was so easy to ride. His name was Jimmety crickets. I called him big Jim. my step dayghter had Cholua , she was awesome as well. Highly recommend!!!!

My daughter and I came up from Sarasota-2.5 hrs south- to do the trail ride. The place is very…read moreclean, well run, and so scenic. The horses were beautiful and well behaved. The trail was definitely different and very scenic, with some steep and narrow paths; not your typical flat and boring. The guests loaded up on a golf cart type vehicle to get from check in to the barn. Then we all waited while Sadie (?) actually grilled and ate a hot dog in front of us!! Same girl upon giving her instructions told everyone "to make your horse go, kick it, and if it doesn't go keep kicking it.. harder". I was appalled!!! One the trail ride, the other girl would take a few photos. I did want pictures of my daughter and I together,so I bought the package. Which is everyone in your group, and that day I think there were 12 or so. The photos she took were not good,but what can ya do? I should have let a gentleman in the group who offered to take my phone and take pictures. Also, between waiting to get on a horse and then waiting for everyone to dismount and get back to the main building, the total ride time was just under an hour. It really is pretty though. I think there were just too many people who booked the same day and time leading to a slightly shorter ride.

This is a very large, comprehensive, trail system based on a former railbed. However, as the paved…read morerailbed trail is what is most-known of the Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail, I wish to draw attention to the fact that there are a number of smaller, unpaved, trails appropriate for hikers or mountain bikes intersecting with the main trail and located there for access from the main trail. The Susan Wright Trail is one of such and is very nice. There are also various viewing platforms along the way and the integration with Paynes Prairie is very good. It is perfectly possible to drive in a car to one of several trailheads, park, and go biking or running or hiking without doing the entire trail and I think that's what a lot of people use this trail for, especially runners. Bugs can be bad, even in cooler weather as much of the trail abuts swampy areas and for the same reason, the smaller, unpaved trails can be flooded or muddy after even moderate rains. You should also remain on the lookout for snakes as they tend to come to the paved trail to sun themselves. Overall, a nice experience and a great addition to the State Parks offerings in and around Alachua County.

Three weeks ago I was biking this trail for the first time. I somehow crashed and was knocked…read moreunconscious. I was taken by ambulance to the ER and sustained a brain bleed. I have absolutely no recollection of my ride that morning or how or why I crashed. I am since in touch with a local bike club and am learning crashes are not uncommon, due to several reasons, one of which is poor trail maintenance. Apparently there is also a bridge where many accidents have occurred. I don't know if my accident happened there. So just putting this out there to be careful if you decide to ride this trail.

This place had great reviews on Yelp so I went for it! It was slightly underwhelming for what the…read moreother reviews were saying. It was an experience to be in the rural country area of Florida. Time stops here so don't expect everything to be as the time slot shows. It's a dirt road out to a house with a little old sign that barely appears to be the business. We pulled in and looked around for the owner and eventually found him preparing everything for our ride. It took some time standing around waiting for some of this family to arrive to go on the ride with us. In the mean time we let the goats and chickens and horses. All the horses look well taken care of and all the animals seem happy so that was a good sign. There's a definitely a moment of "what did I get us into" when we pulled up to the barn and saw the behind the scenes and waited around a bit for them to load everything up into the trailer. We followed them to the trailhead in our car and then saddled up and headed out. I've been on better trails before for the ride so it was a bit underwhelming, but the Florida foliage was unique and pretty. Our guide was training a new lead horse so we had a few jumpy moments, but he knows what he's doing and showed us his training skills. All our horses were very well behaved and felt safe to be on. Overall, it's definitely a novice business and nothing special, but the opportunity to interact with some real country folks made it feel authentic and was neat.

Makin' Tracks Trail Rides is a family owned business and you truly feel the love and warmth of the…read morecommunity and love the workers and stable hands give to the rides. I really recommend this ride to anyone! they do a 75$ hour dry trail ride and a 120$ 3 hour ride where you spend one hour riding to the river an hour litterly swimming with the horses and an hour coming back ! We did the dry ride and will def be back for the swimming with the horses. Thank you for showing my mom and i a great time!!

This Farm is topnotch on service and great quality. My daughter took the Intro to Vet class; she…read morelearned so much. The learning part was great, but the best part is seeing my daughter have happiness doing the class. She had wonderful experience and can't wait to take many more classes offer here.

From the owner: Located in the serene setting of rural North Central Florida, Cypress Valley Farm, Inc. is a…read more501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing educational and recreational opportunities for children and adults. Our mission is to inspire through hands-on learning, animal care, and connection to the land. We’re proud to offer a wide variety of engaging programs designed to educate, empower, and enrich lives. Our Unique Offerings FarmSchool: A hands-on learning program focused on agriculture, homesteading, and life skills for ages 5–18. Intro to Veterinary Assisting: Join us for a hands-on introduction to the world of veterinary assisting! For ages 10 and up. Horsemanship Lessons:Horse care, groundwork, and riding tailored for all ages. Women’s Enrichment Program: Encouraging women to grow, connect, and learn through farm-based projects. Lil’ Ranchers Program: Early childhood education through fun, farm-themed activities for under-fives. Homeschool Co-Op: A farm-centered learning community exploring nature, animals, and sustainable living. Farm Fresh Eggs & Produce: Available seasonally from our family-run farm. Notary Services: Conveniently offered onsite. At Cypress Valley Farm, Inc., we take great pride in nurturing young minds, fostering a love for animals and nature, and inspiring individuals of all ages to learn, grow, and lead with confidence.

Sylvia Zerbini, a 9th generation circus artist, puts on a great show in Williston, FL, a half an…read morehour NW of Ocala and the same distance SW of Gainesville. Beautifully trained horses and aerialists. Part Barnum & Bailey. Part Cirque du Soleil. Which makes sense since she performed with both of them for about 20 years combined. If you get the VIP tickets ($17 extra as of today), you get free wine (several choices) or bottled water, and a large, unlimited high-end charcuterie spread, including spiral sliced ham, salami, Brie, Swiss, pepper jack, camembert, and cheddar cheeses, cornishon pickles, figs, dried mango slices, walnuts, heirloom cherry tomatoes, stuffed olives, grapes, and assorted crackers. And, of course, popcorn just like you'd get at a circus. Go. Don't sleep on this amazing show. Every Saturday and Sunday at 4:30. https://sylviazerbini.com

The performance of the horses and the way the trainer handled them was impressive…read more The dancer and acrobat was elegant as were the violin players.

We booked our horse adventure for my wife's 70th birthday and had one of the best experiences ever…read more Jennifer & Jay were amazing hosts and are very knowledgeable about their horses and their personalities. Also, Jennifer took tons of photos that she later sent to us so we could enjoy the moments without concerning ourselves with being on our cameras. Highly recommend!!!!

Jennifer is a great guide. You can tell she takes such good care of her horses. We had age ranges…read morefrom 12 to 40+ with various riding experience and she made us all feel really comfortable. I highly recommend booking with Jennifer. She took SO many pictures that it was hard to choose a favorite.

What an amazing experience! Lived in Florida for six years and this has been by-far one of the best…read moreexperiences in Central Florida. We made an inquiry online and same day, Beki called us and helped us make a reservation online for the next day. The ranch was easy to find and very beautiful when you arrive. We were greeted by Hannah who was also our tour guide. She thoroughly explained how to properly ride the horse, gave us an agenda beforehand and made sure we were safe throughout the trail. She took some awesome photos of us too. Any question I asked, she answered. Hannah was very informative, kind and patient with us. Her passion for horses illuminated the tour. So glad she was our leader! The horses, May, Marigold and Willow - wonderful. They were professional and well taken care of. The horses on the ranch are super healthy and didn't give anyone problems. They are just as happy as us guests. Can't wait to come back.

Hidden Palms Ranch was truly an amazing experience. I had to change the date of our ride, and the…read moreperson who helped me over the phone was incredibly kind and accommodating. From the moment we arrived, we felt genuinely cared for and were guided through important equestrian etiquette, which made everything feel safe and welcoming. The ranch itself is simple and beautiful, letting the landscape speak for itself. The staff was wonderful in helping us get comfortable with our horses. who were so gentle and sweet. Riding at golden hour was magical; the light over the reservation was breathtaking, and our guide shared thoughtful insights about the area along the way. We celebrated our anniversary here and couldn't have chosen a more memorable setting. I would absolutely visit again and can't recommend this place enough

What a great way to spend an hour riding on the beach. Great price & guide was awesome &…read moreknowledgeable about her horses & scenery. Easy to find. Don't hesitate if you have no riding experience. The horse does all the work or stays in line. Book it while you in Amelia. Bring an apple to reward your horse and tip your guide.

We could not have had a more perfect day for our sunrise ride on the beach. Their beautiful…read morehorses are well taken care of and they have horses for all experience levels. Our guide Aidesen was pleasant and you could tell how much she loved her job. I would give this 10 stars!!!!!

My phone directed us to an incorrect address first (off Millhopper onto nw 90th St) and we…read morethankfully poked around and ended up finding our way to the Millhopper Rd trailhead. We just hiked Moonshine Creek today because it was pretty wet on Creek Sink after the rain. We then did a tiny taste of Spring Grove across the street before driving around to the other addresses associated with the park to try and find the Ranger station. After receiving a Junior Ranger packer at Devil's Millhopper State Park awhile back, my son was excited to bring along his passport to get it stamped at San Felasco. Unfortunately we could not find a Ranger or ranger station on our visit today. Nevertheless, we had a beautiful little hike, worked on Junior Ranger activities, and had fun exploring a State Park that was new to us! Admin Offices (NO trail/pub access) 12720 NW 109 Ln Alachua, FL 32615 Biking/Equestrian Trail Head 13201 Progress Blvd Alachua, FL 32615 Hiking Trail Head 11101 Millhopper Rd Gainesville, FL 32653 $4 per vehicle. Please use the honor box to pay fees. Correct change is required. Limit 8 people per vehicle. $2 Pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers

A great wilderness area not at all far out from Gainesville itself to explore, offering a rare…read moreinsight into how this part of Florida looked before human intervention. The trails stretch through the southern portion and then the vast northern portion and these hiking trails can be accessed from the Millhopper Road trailhead while mountain biking and horseback trails can be accessed from a trailhead further north near Alachua. Note that horses and mountain bikes are not allowed on the trails from the Millhopper Road trailhead, though. Horses must carry proof of a negative Coggins test and otherwise be good horses, of course. Although archeological studies indicate there were Native American and early Spanish settlements and roads through this area, you don't really see any evidence of human intervention historical or otherwise here aside from the parking area and the trails (and service roads) as the State Parks have done a great job of keeping this a preserve for animals and as rustic as possible. You are not allowed to camp here, either, so it's really a matter of humans exploring during the day a haven for wildlife. I have seen deer, wild hogs, snakes, tortoises, many birds, lizards and other animals here and you're almost certain to see deer or a tortoise if you hike for more than an hour and spread out a little. Dogs on leashes are allowed on the hiking trails, but please remember to bring some water for your dog. The trails off Millhopper Road on the north side are vast and not well-shaded in places. Dogs have died from heatstroke out there, according to the Park Service. Also, check for ticks because they are legion in their numbers here.