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!

This place is so wild! I have never seen so many alligators in the wild. You must visit! This was…read moretoday 3/18/26.

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

Today I saw an otter get chased by crows that then crossed paths with an alligator only to end in a…read moregator/otter stand-off. The otter, then proceeded down the path to meet a family of sandhill cranes where the parents signal to the young colt to go across the footpath to safety while the two, especially the mother, stood between the otter and her young crane! Amazing! Amazing! Amazing!

This place was awesome if you like to walk trails and see birds, turtles, alligators, rabbits, deer…read moreand small fish. They also have wild horses and wild bison, but we didn't see those. The wetland areas and trails were neat with nice walking bridges and paths over the water. We saw a lot of small alligators, 1 baby alligator and 1 huge alligator. The way the walkways are built the alligators were right at our feet, there is a metal mesh fence to separate you though. This place is a must for anyone that likes nature, plus it was it was free except $5 to park.

Kicking off the new year on a new trail - and it was a great one! This trail is part of the Majorie…read moreHarris Carr Cross Florida Greenway that stretches from the Gulf to the St Johns River, the Greenway is a Florida State Park. This address takes you to the Landbridge Trailhead (approximately 1.4 miles NE of the actual I-75 Landbridge) and has separate parking and trails for equestrians -vs- hikers and bikers which is nice. There are bathrooms, a water bottle filler, a bike wash station, a few picnic tables, a bike tool station (although the air hose was cut) and all of it very well maintained given the impressive number of acres. The mountain bike trail intersected the paved trail so when we had enough bumps (hello, beginner here?!) we could take the paved trail a little while longer and all the back, thank goodness.

Came here for the first time this past weekend and really enjoyed it. We will definitely be coming…read moreback. At this trailhead, there is PLENTY of parking (when you pull in go to the right - it goes around a corner and there is where you'll see a couple of parking lots). There are bathrooms, a water fountain, and trail map here at the trailhead. You can choose a couple different trails - going to the right is a 3.5 mile hike (one way - so there and back is 7 total) that goes over to the 49th ave trailhead or to the left goes to Santos (7 mile one way). We went with Santos. Things were pretty clearly marked; however we somehow ended up on the bike trail at some point (there were 4 of us and we were busy in conversation so ya know, it happens lol), but was easy enough to make our way back so our 7 miles turned in to about 8-8.5. Worked out great because we ended up coming out where Santos Bike Shop is and took a Lyft/Uber back to our car at the trailhead. The bike shop was great, super nice people, plenty of knowledge in there. The trail itself is shaded for the most part, sun creeps in, but it's definitely shaded with all the trees. We saw a LOT of cool looking trees. I'm a big fan of being able to explore Florida (free is even better) so it's nice to be able to go out on the trails without having to pay to get in to parks or for parking or what not. If you have bikes, this is a GREAT trail to come to - the trails are separate as far as bike friendly and people hiking friendly which is nice for both parties. We really enjoyed and can't wait to visit again.

​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.

Had the chance to visit for a Jacksonville Chamber event, and experiencing the Arboretum at night…read morewas such a unique treat. The staff and volunteers were incredibly welcoming and did a great job hosting. The grounds are beautiful, peaceful, and such a great reminder of what a special outdoor space this is for the community. It was the perfect setting for an evening event and a great way to experience the gardens in a different light. If you haven't been yet, definitely check it out and support this local gem!

Simple - good for older, children or those who are limited or not looking for invigorating…read more No real flowering, no challenges. I'd go to Guana Reserve (GTM) on A1A for an enjoyable walk and invigorating day.

The Welaka mud is soooo amazing!.. You can walk, run and do…read moreexercise, bike and walk dog around there.. The pool is very cold omg and your body feel nice when you get out of the water.

Absolutely beautiful spring. A short mile and a half hike to the beautiful spring. Well worth the…read moretrip

Yesterday, my friend, Lydia and I drove to Kelly Springs State Park for fun in the sun and a day of…read morerelaxation. The park is about 40 minutes from where she lives off of colonial. You get to bring your own food and drinks. They also have a concession area where you can just your own food and drinks. At the state park, they have a concession booth and a restroom as well. The park is open from 8 AM to 6 PM and I have a recommend staying at the full day. It was so nice and relaxing plus parking was only three dollars. 10/10

Kelly Park was the first spring I've ever been too and I just fell in love!! Make sure you take a…read morefloatie because It is a lazy river type of spring. There is also an option to rent tubes outside the park! You have to get there SUPER early to get in as there will be a line!! You walk to the very beginning and the spring will take you with the current all the way to the end where you need to get out and walk all the way to the beginning!! I have seen a hand full of people trying to walk back while in the water but it is a work out! They have showers, restrooms and even a concession stand! You can even camp there and they have trails to walk through. The beginning of the spring is probably the deepest at -about 3ft and the rest is about 2 feet tall if that! There is also a kiddie pool area that is part of the spring. It was only $5 to get in for 2 people in one car and bring cash! It is a nature park and you do see wild life!! Only reason I gave 4 stars is because if it is peak season you may not get in unless you get in line by 6am Make sure to pack a lunch or use the grill there... they also have pavilions you can rent