​A rare Florida waterfall beauty!…read more Falling Creek Falls is a stunning little park. The trail is a quick 0.6-mile loop that is mostly a beautifully maintained, elevated wooden boardwalk, making it highly accessible. You can hear the roar of the falls before you even see them! The water drops over a limestone ledge into a ravine, creating a beautiful contrast with the surrounding cypress and magnolia trees. ​Tip: The water volume depends heavily on recent rainfall, so it's especially impressive after a good storm! There's also a great playground and clean picnic areas at the trailhead. Just note that dogs aren't allowed on this trail.

It's very nice waterfall when there's enough water to actually fall. A cute little park for the…read morekids to play picnic area for parties and a nice walk in the woods to the fall.

Great hidden place for locals off the main road. Great for families. Sliding rock, jump off rock,…read moreand small pool for swimming.

Wow!! Small park. Big Fun!! If you are in the White Springs area you have to check this place out…read more About an hour and a half west and north of Jacksonville. Just a 1.5 mile trail. 3 miles in all. The scenery is amazing. Beautiful views of the historic Suwannee River all along the trail. Hike ends at the majestic Big Shoals. Your experience will depend on the water level of the river, but ours was pretty impressive. Park is pristine. Trails are well maintained and easily accessible. We went in the middle of the week and were the only people there. It's really hot in the summer,so make sure you have water available. Don't miss the bat house at the very beginning of the trail. If the bats hear your voice they will start moving around and making noise. Great old Florida experience.

Jennings State Forest is a gem in NE FL. I ventured out with a group yesterday to do the Dunn's…read moreFarm trail. I've also hiked much of the Pioneer Trail. The trails are well maintained and well marked with blazes. The trails take you through a wealth of biological diversity from pine forests to uplands that hug Black Creek and other smaller creeks. I haven't camped so can't speak to the campgrounds but the camp sites are well marked. Cost to visit is $2 pass that can be purchased online. The parking lot does not have good reception so better to purchase in advance. Parts of the trail is shaded but a lot of it is in the sun so be aware if visiting during the hotter months.

This was a stroller friendly trail. It was sandy, dirt, and gravel paths. You do have to pay a $2…read morefee to get in, and they only accept visa, MasterCard, and discover. The trail was partly shaded with lots of sunny parts. When you get to the pioneer trail and the waterfalls trails, it does start to get bumpy with roots, and there are stairs, which we turned the stroller around at because it would have been too hard to push a stroller down the stairs. There were cars in the parking lot but we didn't run into anyone until we came back and finished. There were benches and trail markers along the way, and there was plenty of signage to guide you. Overall, it was a nice quiet trail with lots of options.

Very cozy location with gazebo for picnic bbq. Close parking. To reach the water needs to use…read morestairs or down through trees roots very carefully. I find the water very cold for summer time. Very well oriented trained staff.

Great little spot. Tons of space to have a picnic. Looks to be a hot spot during the summer…read more There's a volleyball net, restrooms & trash cans placed throughout. Even little grills To cook out. We came after it poured down. Not the most ideal LoL it made for a mosquito haven. We went on the short nature trail but water had flooded a lot of the areas to look down at the water. Park ranger on duty at all times during business hours. Glad we came.

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!

Beautiful little morning walk. All on a board walk up to the overlook which I'm guessing was…read moreabout... 80 steps? Lost count with the up and down from the toddler. Views were stunning. Excited to come back. Local little gem from an appreciative military fam. 4 stars only because I wish I was able to read the signs. Gotta get more people going to support so they can!

I was told by a regular that this place had fallen into disrepair not too long ago but maybe it's…read morecome back around. We took our two kids here on a break from long road trip and while it's not right on 75, it's a perfect pit stop. I would recommend this to all as it's a really short hike with some beautiful views and it's free. We did not see any of the land/water wildlife while we were here such as alligators or lizards, snakes, and frogs, but we did see some beautiful birds and considering it was the dead of winter, we were happy. The boardwalk is in decent condition and you don't have to worry about a gator jumping up eating you. The tower you get to climb at the end offers great views and a nice finish to the short (approximately .5 miles each way) trip.

The Nature Coast Trail is 33 miles of paved & mostly canopied rail trail. I've ridden on it 3 times…read more& have enjoyed the experience. Each time, I've started at the Fanning Springs Trailhead. You can go in 3 directions from that point: south to Chiefland, east to Trenton or west to Old Town. The Old Town route takes you over an old railroad trestle that spans the Suwannee River. On 2 occasions, I saw sturgeon jumping! My most recent trip included a stop at Fanning Springs State Park, which is adjacent to the trailhead. I saw 4 manatees enjoying the spring! Unfortunately, no swimming was allowed due to the height of the Suwannee River. The trail is very well maintained and makes for a great day trip.

LOVE LOVE LOVE The Nature Coast State Trail! 37 miles of…read moreFlorida's Gorgeous unspoiled Nature Coast. It connects the cute little communities of Cross City, Trenton, Fanning Springs & Chiefland. It's a historic train trestle, built along former rail lines that meet at Wilcox Junction. It's a very neat old abandoned railroad trail that runs across the Historic Suwannee River railroad bridge near Old Town. We love to visit here, hike, bike, get hot & sweaty then go jump in the 72-degree water in nearby Fanning Springs State Park. One of my fave springs to swim.. I do not think people realize how incredible this area actually is, as the trails & parks are never crowded. From Fanning "SPRINGS" to Homosassa "SPRINGS" all the way down to "SPRING HILL," the historic "Weeki Wachee SPRING" one of the top 10 largest fresh water springs in America.. This spring is so deep that the bottom has never been found. That is another review me gotta get to.. Anyhoo, most of it is protected Wildlife areas & State Parks with incredible fresh water springs excellent for swimming. The Seminole Indians though this area sacred, as their are many Indian burial grounds, "Indian mounds" throughout this area. There are also bears & gators. Last time we were there, Sir Hubbers was riding along in front of me & decided to hit the breaks & I crashed right into him. Yep, rear ended Sir Hubbers. I almost lost a finger. Then, another time, we were around the "Andrews Wildlife Management Area" when a baby gator came running across the path, Sir Hubbers totally freaked out almost ran him over. Poor little guy, little baby gator was so cute. I also read a very sad report last week some old man, like in his 80's, was on the trail walking his dog & got eat by a bear! Not even kidding, google it. I mean you make it all the way to 80 something years old & you get eat by a bear? Supposedly, they killed the bear.. Watch for the bear signage & arm yourself with pepper spray, just in case. Although, it has some dangers, it's a very lovely paved trail, you will see tons of wildlife. You will also encounter people walking their dogs. "Leashed dogs only" and a lot of cyclists. Not like us, amateurish crashing into each other & running over baby gators, like professional cyclists. You know the ones that all dress up alike in padded spandex. I'm more of a casual beach cruiser with a wicker basket in a sundress type, i'm not into matching spandex & helmets, but to each his own. No one is strange, we all just have differed taste. Anyhoo, there is no dress code, however, it's the Nature Coast so it's hot & humid. You can also get rained on at anytime, so I always wear summer linen for this reason. There are also tons of mosquitos so be prepared for that. I eat tons of garlic and/or drink tons of lemongrass tea before I go.. Be stinky for the bugs, they won't eat you OuiOui. It is all part of Florida's Greenways and Trails System & has also been designated as a national recreation trail. It's open 8am till sundown, 365 days a year & the best part, it's completely Free. Go to "Nature Coast State Trail" Florida State Parks for the map & to plan your visit. Added to moi list of "Zen places, peaceful parks." Highest Recommendations.

The little waterfall and serene bench to sit made the hike all worthwhile. Don't get me wrong, the…read moreactual hike is really just an easy stroll through some trees but without the "destination" of the waterfall we would have been a bit bored and it definitely wouldn't have been worth the drive. The waterfall is located near the leaf icon on the white trail. The east side of the blue and white trails were drier than the west half. I do hope to come back and try out the longer trails. The other added benefit of being out of town a bit is that there seems to be much less people on the trails compared to the trails inside the Gainesville city limits.

Great place to take a nature trail walk. I have walked out here many times. Nice area and quiet.read more

Alejandro Garces Camp Tomahawk Park is a small but very cool park located at the end of a quiet…read moreside street on the southside of Jacksonville, Florida. It has a small but pleasant nature walk, a kayak launch, a children's playground, an open field, adequate parking, and more. There is a private residence on the grounds, so please be mindful of that. All in all, Alejandro Garces Camp Tomahawk Park is a wonderful park and a great place in particular for the residents of this quiet side street. We need parks like this in our communities. This is a wonderful place to come in respite. I would definitely recommend a visit here, especially if you are in the neighborhood or anywhere in the general area. I will give it five stars as an overall rating. Go check it out for yourself, I am confident that you will not be disappointed.

I had an unusual experience here only the second time I have been I am new to the area. I brought…read moremy kids to the playground and a strange woman struck up a conversation and would not leave us alone asking me all sorts of questions and often repeating herself. She continued on by playing with my children but did not have a child with her. A boyfriend was standing and waiting outside of the vehicle just smoking cigarettes. It gave me an uneasy feeling that either she was on drugs or they were involved in trafficking. I have since not gone back. It is a nice park otherwise and it's unfortunate some people have to ruin a good thing. I would just be mindful when you come here with your kids.

This is a historic CCC park! Lots of great trails and campgrounds. Close to many other springs and…read morewithin minutes to some places of interest outside the park!

I normally do beach camping but when your friends ask you to camp in the woods you gotta do what…read moreyou gotta do. It was so fun, though I miss my sunset/sunrise beach fun. O'leno state park is a big park 1.5 hours from Jacksonville's northside, so it's pretty close. The campsites are well maintained, big and pretty level for tents and RV camping. Plus they have water and electricity. One of my must haves when camping is a nice bathroom and good showers. Luckily every state park I've camped has had big, clean bathrooms with disability access showers and O'leno is no different. Winner winner chicken dinner. It's cool waking up in the morning to all the birds, several barn owls were heard too. The trails are varied, walk along the river or through the limestone scattered trails, it's all awesome! Oh and it's close to Ichetucknee so you can easily go do the springs too. O'leno's river is rusty looking because of the tanin but it's still good for swimming. If you like camping in the woods, seeing fireflies, millions of stars and a good hike among friendly campers this place is definitely worth visiting. The only downside is the ticks...had to throw that in for full disclosure.