Five-Star Trails Gainesville & Ocala

Immerse yourself in the natural wonders of North Central Florida with Five Star Trails Gainesville & Ocala, a comprehensive guide to the best hikes in a region that includes the Ocala National Forest and the Cross Florida Greenway, both compelling outdoor recreation destinations.

Discover urban places for reflection such as Sholom Park, a carefully manicured woodlands in a retirement community, and Bivens Arm Nature Park, where ancient trees stand sentinel above a marshy extension of Paynes Prairie in a busy section of Gainesville. Explore the vast longleaf pine flatwoods and sand pine scrub forests of the Ocala National Forest along the Florida Trail, and discover the deeply shaded swamp forests of Goethe State Forest near Dunnellon. See more alligators than you’ve ever seen in your life in the home of the University of Florida Gators along the La Chua Trail at Paynes Prairie State Park.

John and I explored nearly 50 hiking trails within an hour of both Gainesville and Ocala before settling on the ones we included in this guidebook. We think you’ll enjoy following in our footsteps.

PLEASE NOTE: The dog policy in the Ocala National Forest has changed since publication of this book. Dogs are no longer permitted at Juniper Springs Recreation Area except at the campground.

Paperback, 266 pages. Kindle edition available.
Download GPS tracks and view photos for all hikes in the book at FloridaHikes.com

CONTENTS

Gainesville and Vicinity

1 Alfred Ring Park
2 Barr Hammock Preserve
3 Biven’s Arm Nature Park
4 Devil’s Millhopper Geologic State Park
5 John Mahon Nature Park
6 Loblolly Woods Nature Park
7 Longleaf Flatwoods Reserve
8 Morningside Nature Center
9 Mill Creek Preserve
10 Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park: La Chua Trail
11 Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park: Wacahoota Trail
12 Prairie Creek Preserve
13 San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park: Moonshine Creek Trails
14 San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park: North Hiking Trails
15 San Felasco Park
16 Sweetwater Preserve
17 Tuscawilla Preserve
18 University of Florida NATL Nature Trails
19 Watermelon Pond Preserve

Ocala National Forest

20 Davenport Landing Trail
21 Florida Trail: Pat’s Island to Hidden Pond
22 Florida Trail: Rodman to Lake Delancy
23 Juniper Springs Nature Trail
24 Lake Eaton Trails
25 Salt Springs Observation Trail

Cross Florida Greenway

26 Florida Trail: Pruitt
27 Florida Trail: Santos
28 Florida Trail: SW 49th Ave to Land Bridge
29 Land Bridge Loop
30 Marshall Swamp Trail

Ocala and Vicinity

31 Carney Island Recreation and Conservation Area
32 Goethe State Forest: Big Cypress Trail
33 Goethe State Forest: Buck Island Pond
34 Ocklawaha Prairie Restoration Area
35 Rainbow Springs State Park: Sandhill Nature Trail
36 Sholom Park
37 Silver Springs State Park: River Trails
38 Silver Springs State Park: Sandhill and Sinkhole Trails