Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park is a popular destination in Gainesville, FL. The trailhead provides access to a 67-acre trail with steps leading down to the sinkhole. The trail is considered easy and is 1.1 miles long with an elevation gain of 121 feet. This trail is an out-and-back trail. The time taken to complete the total trail is 26 mins approximately. Visitors can enjoy picnicking and learn more about this sinkhole through the interpretive display during the trailhead. The park showcases how ecosystems develop in response to the geological features of a unique sinkhole. The geological record of the area is visible on the limestone sidewalls of the sinkhole. Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park provides parking facilities for visitors' convenience.
UNIQUE FACTS:
• Ample Parking
• Restroom Facilities
• Good Spot to Visit.
3 Best Hiking Trails in Gainesville, FL
Expert recommended Top 3 Hiking Trails in Gainesville, Florida. All of our hiking trails actually face a rigorous 50-Point Inspection, which includes customer reviews, history, complaints, ratings, satisfaction, trust, cost and general excellence.
DEVIL'S MILLHOPPER GEOLOGICAL STATE PARK REVIEWS
Great little park to spend an hour or so. There is a small loop trail and steps down to the sink hole. As you go down (or up) the steps, you can read more about the history of the land. It was really quiet and peaceful on the day I visited (weekday in mid-December). There is a single stall restroom by the visitor center area.
Pretty area, great walking trail almost all the way around. Not a ton to see at the bottom, most of the water was gone, but you could see some small waterfalls around, which was cool. Stairs are well maintained to get down there.
Cool place. Nice, short trail ringing the sinkhole. Good interpretive center. Well-built steps down into the sinkhole. I really enjoyed seeing this place. Took about an hour or so to casually see everything.
Help others: Click Here to send review or send us your review to reviews@threebestrated.com. Negative and positive review will be used for rating. Make a difference.
Loblolly Woods Nature Park is one of the top-rated hiking trails in Gainesville, FL. The Nature Park spans 159 acres and features forested open spaces with trails and boardwalks. The park is well-known for its exceptional bird-watching opportunities. The trail ultimately leads to the other end of the park. A creek runs through the region, providing picturesque photo opportunities. Several people were walking their dogs along the creek. The trail approaches a little sinkhole in this deep bluff forest, where dogwoods blossom in late January. There are several roots underfoot. Visitors can also see some excellent wildlife, and the scenery is beautiful under the canopy of trees. Loblolly Woods Nature Park is the perfect place to enjoy the many paths to run and bike.
UNIQUE FACTS:
• Maintained Paths
• Well Marked Trails
• Picnic Shelters Available.
Specialty:
Contact:
Working Hours:
Fri: 7am - 7:30pm
TBR® Inspection Report:
LOBLOLLY WOODS NATURE PARK REVIEWS
My dog and I love hiking here! A great nature retreat right in the middle of town. If you're lucky, you might even catch some wildlife--we saw a white-tailed deer buck on our last visit! Make sure to stay on trail or wear long pants/socks because there's poison ivy and the trail can get super narrow at points. Be mindful of off-leash dogs, as there is almost always some here. Not great, but not everyone is a responsible dog owner unfortunately. Quiet little area with lots of spots to see the creek.
We were visiting the University of Florida and wanted to take a short hike. Loblolly Woods a a great place for a picnic or a short nature walk. There is a shaded, sandy trail that is relatively flat. The parking lot is small and the entrance is easy to miss because it seems that the woods are adjacent to a residential area. There are otters in the creek but we did not see any. It is a great place for kids and older adults but the trail is not wheelchair friendly.
Fantastic little nature park just a few minutes away from UF. There’s a creek that runs right through the park and plenty of short hiking/biking trails. We even saw a few deer while we were there!
Help others: Click Here to send review or send us your review to reviews@threebestrated.com. Negative and positive review will be used for rating. Make a difference.
Sweetwater Preserve is a popular trail destination in Gainesville, Florida. The preserve has two trails, including west and sandy trails. This trail is generally considered a moderately challenging route, taking 24 minutes to complete. This trail is excellent for birding, hiking, and walking, and you'll unlikely encounter many other people while exploring. West trail series of loop trails meander 1.75 miles along Sweetwater Branch and through upland mixed and floodplain forests. Sandy Trail is a 1.2-mile walk that takes you through eight different natural communities, including sandhills, xeric hammocks, sinkhole lakes, bay galls, seepage streams, upland mixed forests, mesic flatwoods, and floodplain forests. Visitors can now quickly orient themselves while on the West Trail, thanks to numbered intersections. Trail maps are available at the preserve.
UNIQUE FACTS:
• Handicap Accessible
• Marked Maintained Paths
• Relaxing Atmosphere.
Specialty:
Contact:
Working Hours:
TBR® Inspection Report:
SWEETWATER PRESERVE REVIEWS
Very nice, well maintained park. There's dozens of trails here that wind through the woods and by lakes and rivers. Heard an abundance of wildlife, though I didn't see it. Trails are wide enough to run or bike in some places. Also, big plus, it's dog friendly! Just be careful of alligators and the handful of manchineel trees doting the woods. The trees are marked with very bright ribbons so they're easy to spot. We went shortly after a controlled burn, which was really cool! It's very quiet and peaceful here, but not far from town at all!
Great area for a hike near town. The trails look well-maintained with pretty good markings. There were some side trails that made a few spots confusing. Nice views of the creek along the way. Our kids enjoyed tossing in sticks from the bridge to watch the current carry them away. Parking seemed sketchy at the west entrance but there were plenty of other people checking out the area.
Fun short little hike that's in town. Good for kids & pets as well. Can be a bit muddy if it's been raining a lot. Wear lots of bug spray, especially in the hot, wet months, but even in the winter there seems to be lots of mozzies. There are lots of criss-crossing trails, so make sure you map out your path or have the All Trails map handy.
Help others: Click Here to send review or send us your review to reviews@threebestrated.com. Negative and positive review will be used for rating. Make a difference.