BE ADVISED THIS PARK IS CLOSED UNTIL APRIL 2027 FOR RENOVATIONS…read more Nice trails offering easy trails to hike. Plenty of benches to sit and take in nature or take a break on the hot days.

Biven's Arm Nature Park is all the way down at the very end of South Main St. People speed down in…read morethis section, so be extra careful in coming and going! Once you get in the park, there is plenty of parking along with restrooms and a water fountain, as well. The picnic area, where you can rest or have a meal with friends and family, also has a large swing for recreation. This park feels somewhat isolated because of its location, and that adds a nice feeling of privacy. There is a large, covered deck with seating for about 50 people to have meetings, gatherings or even a wedding, if so inclined! The deck seems to have an overlook towards the end, but there is no view because of the overgrowth of vegetation. There is a lake there, but you have to go on the trails to get a good look at it. Bring a water bottle and fill it up, before you go hiking, as it gets pretty hot, depending on the season. It's not an amazing place, but it is quite peaceful and well-kept. If you are lucky, you might see a hawk or large woodpecker, as well as smaller birds.

Great place to spend some time. Nice shady spots, excellent trails, and the owners are sweet and…read moreaccommodating. Highly recommende.

We had the pleasure of visiting Kate's Fish Camp around Thanksgiving and have to say that owners…read moreMike & Monica were open, welcoming, & helpful throughout our visit. FYI- Monica,...not "Kate", is the current "proprietress", chuckling as folks tend to still address her as "Kate". Being Nature Lovers ourselves, we fully acknowledge the rationale for not having an on-site dump station, with such close proximity to natural waterways, and such. This information is freely shared when calling or upon arrival with the additional info provided of access to dump station at local Love's Travel Center in Hawthorne. Knowing this, arrive with empty tanks in your camper unit, to give you peace of mind & extra time. The water provided is great; Wifi Access -Kudos!; and the shower facility offers a wonderful, strong, steamy, hot-water flow with the added treat of seeing the moon & night sky above! The shower area and bathroom were always kept clean, well-stocked, and well-lit for evening visits. Our stay also followed the passes of both Helene & Milton...so things may have been looking a little rough... It was truly a pleasant surprise to have such easy access to the paved Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail, of which we made frequent use for biking; hiking; and all-around wild-life strolling....while greeting local fisherman along the way. Lots & Lots of wildlife!!...Actually saw 21 wild turkeys one morning, that came out of hiding right after Thanksgiving passed!! The entrance from the main road may be a bit bumpy from the pavement change, and possible weather impact, just be alert & as always,.. take your time. There are traffic sounds heard, due to easy access to & from the campground,...however, it served as white-noise during those times when we were inside the RV. The benefit of having a taste of "Old-Time" Florida with such ease of access to Restaurants; Services; Healthcare; Parks/preserves; Entertainment/Sports/Art venues; & shopping , pretty much gives the best of both worlds. Be sure to take a stroll to the Campsite Office be fore you depart & treat yourself by picking out one ( or more) of the many hand-made soaps; lotions; balms; shampoos; & "Swamp Juice" that Monica creates!....Don't forget to pick up a few extras for gifting those worthy friends & family members!!

Gainesville is so lucky to have such a wonderful shaded enviroment to visit, free of charge. The…read moretall trees with moss blowing in the breeze are a beautiful example of what North Florida has to offer. The boardwalks are fairly new and are still in pristine condition. My favorite place to park the car is over at Westside Park and walk over, carefully dodging the traffic that blasts down 8th Avenue. If you enter the boardwalk on the North side of 8th Avenue there are breaks in the boardwalk to wonder the footpath trails and streams and sometimes you will end up on standing in people's backyards.

Hogtown Creek Greenway is one of my favorite smaller wild areas in Alachua County and, what is…read moremore, it is close enough to the UF campus and several neighborhoods to make it easy enough to get to without a car. In fact, its trails--while not that long and sometimes flooded out in wet weather--are awesome for mountain biking. The Greenway came about because Hogtown Creek and its various tributaries flow through this lowland area of Gainesville and while there is a lot of development surrounding what has become the Greenway, the lands that compose the Greenway itself would not be suited to development and, more importantly, are essential to not develop given the fragile and unique ecosystems they provide. The City of Gainesville should be praised for its efforts not only protect these lands but to make them open to the public. Just controlling the flow of water in this area-brokering its ability to remain true to the natural course of these creeks while also ensuring that flooding in nearby neighborhoods isn't likely-must have been a huge challenge. To the south-west of the Greenway off of University Avenue, Hogtown Creek is directed through a grouping of canals and other engineered mechanisms to regulate its flow but when it emerges in the Greenway, it returns to its pristine natural status. The Hogtown Greenway, if you enter it via the Loblolly Facility, provides a broad trail that is adept for hiking or mountain biking. A boardwalk has been built to continue this trail over places that are normally (or at least very often) wet and it's a short hike through this area to the 8th Avenue entrance to the Greenway across from Westside Park. The stretch of 8th Avenue here is where the Gainesville Planet Monuments-one obelisk for each of the solar system's planets including Pluto and the Sun-are located so these are a nice diversion to examine up close if you've only driven by them before in a hurry. Within the woods of the Loblolly section, there's a lot to notice if you wish to take the time. An informative sign at the 8th Avenue side of the path notes that a diverse variety of wildlife from river otters to various birds to the rough green snake are found in this environment: You will have to be patient to see them, though. Mostly, like elsewhere in the region, you'll spot squirrels, birds, and perhaps a black racer or other snake. Lizards and insects are also omnipresent and on account of the latter, insect spay is a good idea as to keep the pesky ones off of your body and discouraged from sucking your blood. The boardwalk trail has a smaller off-shoot which leads down to the creek bed itself and makes for a great oppurtunity to examine a creek of this sort up close. The sandy banks, muddy yet peaceful waters of the creek, and canopy of trees above make for a very serene experience. If you continue across 8th Avenue to the opposite side of the street and walk a ways east, you will encounter another boardwalk that runs all the way from 8th Avenue to 16th Avenue, south to north. This boardwalk is a minor yet grand feat of engineering, having been perfectly crafted and took, I can only guess, a fair amount of cash to complete. For that reason if no other (and there are plenty of others) I hope that it's used by a lot of people. When I've been out on the boardwalk with my bike, I have nearly always encountered people walking their dogs or running here, so it seems I am not by far its only fan or user. The magic of the boardwalk is that it runs through a wetland environment which would be very hard to access otherwise and affords a pleasent walk with a great view of what much of this region's natural areas are like if you got right into the thick of them. One can, in theory, continue on 16th Avenue eastward to the Alfred A. Ring Park entrance and there explore even more of Gainesville's diverse ecosystems, depsite being a stone's throw from subdivisions and houses with swimming pools. The boardwalk therefore not only makes for a great means of getting from 16th Avenue over to 8th Avenue (or of course, the other way around) but also a nice diversion into the woods to just get away from your busy life for a moment or two.

You have to bring water!! It is a nice little trek over to…read morethe grassy part of this natural vista, but the summer Florida sun does not abate itself. There is even a stand with pamphlets and two very nice people manning it, to answer your questions. I imagine there are more alligators to see early in the morning, but I went around 10:30a. A nice long boardwalk with one place to sit and get shade from the great ball of fire in the sky. Beautiful trees, remnants of alligator eggs, and water fowl feeding and foraging. I can imagine that the Alachua sink would be more active, after a big rain. I will def go there a day after a big storm, to see the action of the earth!

La Chua Trail is hands down one of the many great spots in Gainesville for wildlife viewing and…read morestunning scenery. Whether you're a birdwatcher, a photography enthusiast, or just someone who loves a peaceful walk through nature, this trail delivers. We visited in February for one of the Rim Ramble ranger-led hikes, which started around 10 AM. Our guide, Ranger Wes, was fantastic--full of historical facts and insights about the landscape that truly enriched the experience. He painted a vivid picture of the area's past while pointing out key features of the ecosystem. The trail itself is easy to navigate and offers an incredible mix of open wetlands, boardwalks, and views of Alachua Lake. Wildlife was everywhere--majestic sandhill cranes & alligators basking in the sun. The early morning mist over the prairie gave everything a magical, almost prehistoric feel. If you're visiting between November and March, I highly recommend joining one of the ranger-led hikes (most Saturdays) to get a unique experience. Whether you go solo or with family and friends, La Chua Trail is an unforgettable slice of Florida's wild beauty. Tip: Bring binoculars, wear comfortable shoes & long pants , and bug spray. Come early for the best wildlife sightings!

This is a short list of the birds you can see at Lake Alice on any given day: great heron, snowy…read moreegret, white ibis, black-bellied whistling duck, pie-billed grebe, anhinga, little blue heron, great heron, common gallinule, osprey, bald eagle, cardinal, white-eyed vireo, Carolina wren, red-tailed hawk, red-shouldered hawk, turkey vulture, black vulture, cormorant, belted kingfisher, Northern parula, American crow, tufted titmouse, green heron, swalllow-tailed kite, spotted sandpiper, and/or red-winged blackbird! I have not only seen ALL of these birds here, around the lake, I got pictures of them too! How many have you seen?

Located on the UF campus, this lake across from the Bat Houses and next to the Baughman Center,…read morethis lake is a popular spot to study, picnic, or watch for alligators,birds, or turtles. Yes alligators, so if you bring a picnic, watch your surroundings and don't leave anything unattended. There are a couple boardwalks around the lake for better viewing. Area is mostly very tranquil even with Museum Rd running right near it. Worth a pop by if you are in the area and want to wildlife watch, relax, or even recharge. If you can time it right, visit the Baughman Center and then stay for sunset at the Bat Houses across the street, you won't be sorry.

21410 US-411 High Spring, FL…read more About the Santa Fe canoe outpost Santa Fe Canoe Outpost is located on the banks of the Santa Fe River in historic High Springs, Florida. This region, where Alachua, Columbia and Gilchrist Counties meet, is just south of where the river reappears after running two miles under ground through O'Leno State Park. The Outpost is located just 25 minutes from Gainesville and the University of Florida. Santa Fe Canoe Outpost offers fully outfitted canoe, kayak, stand-up paddle board (SUP) and camping trips -- or bring your own. They pick you up and bring you back (and do all the heavy lifting). Its one of Florida's most beautiful and pristine rivers. Depending on how far you choose to go, you may pass by such famous, crystal-clear springs as Poe, Lily, Rum Island, Blue, Devil's Eye and Ginnie. The slow moving pace of the Santa Fe makes the trip peaceful. The abundant wildlife, unique flora and crystal clear springs make the trip adventurous. You can see many turtles , birds and gators. One can go swimming, snorkeling but after seeing the gators forget it for me. Canoe Outpost can supply you with everything from ice to detailed maps. After 3 hours of being in the kayak I was pooped. Make sure you bring water and a hat.

Business is closed. No answer at phone number. There is no kayak shuttle available in the area.read more

Nice park with a view of the lake and a few picnic tables. This is a nice place to come chill for a…read morebit.

If you are driving around the local state roads you could be completely oblivious the massive Santa…read moreFe Lake which is on the outskirts of Melrose. Santa Fe Lake Park allows free access to the lake, an area to picnic, playground, and restrooms. There is a channel that goes from the boat ramp to the lake. I highly recommend if you do access the lake to make a note of where the channel to the boat ramp is as it is easily lost due to the many cypress trees that can hide it. Parking is ample as well. The park itself does not offer a view of the lake or any water activities other than the boat launch, it is a nice place to have a picnic. I launched my kayak from the boat launch, and enjoyed the park especially since it is free.

What an amazing place. It is very isolated once you get to the shore…read more There are no cars present, or pedestrian foot traffic and the big lake offers birds much to eat. Whether you like to fish, take bird pics (like me) or just like to sight-see. This place is golden. I bring a stadium chair, a lunch, plenty to drink and my camera gear. This place never disappoints!!

Interesting park at the end of a point of land, limited parking for four or five cars. lots of…read moreturkey vultures one or two osprey occasional cormorants (massive amount of mosquitoes more than you've ever seen in your life in one place) accessible files of building debris, making footstep hazardous near wateredge ,