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 place to float down the river. Clear, beautiful water. Easy hiking trails. A great place for…read morefamilies.

Amazing adventure sliding along the river in a doughnut except your bottom in the water and I was…read morescared of alligators that was also scared of me))) anyways great experience definitely worth driving and we will be back. The only thing is not mentioned on the website you can't swim here it's in the other direction but again you can stop in the middle of the slide and dip in to cool off.

We had an amazing hike through Loblolly Woods Nature Park. It was so peaceful and serene listening…read moreto the small creek and the birds. The park is located near the Solar Walk so you could easily do both if you choose. The nature path is well covered by the trees which I was very thankful for especially in the Florida heat that was in the 90s already. The paths do have lots of tree roots so you must be steady on your feet. They do offer several bridges that you can walk on.

This is another hidden activity spot in Gainesville. Everyone knows about the Planet Walk on 8th…read moreave. As you turn onto 8th ave from 34th st and go East, there is a representation of the sun and all the planets of our solar system, on the side of the street, to give you an idea of how far apart all the planets are. Well, on each side of 8th ave is Loblolly Nature Park, with bike/walking paths, a huge boardwalk, dirt hills for mountain bike jumping, and clear streams that keep Gainesville's watershed flowing. You can park at Massey Park across the street, or just pedal here from home and enjoy the trails. Lots of fun and things to discover!

Was recommended by some friends to go here when camping at Otter Springs and while it felt like we…read morewere headed to no mans land we were pleasantly surprised to find a welcoming entrance of tiki poles and a small bridge leading into "Bobs place." First they ONLY TAKE CASH! And I can guarantee a bank is very very far away from this place! But it is very reasonable for what kind of fun you're about to have. $35 for four people, $25 for three people six or more it's six dollars a person. The lady at the entrance was very nice and you sign a short waiver. Basically you are on your own if you get hurt. Pretty standard for most places. There is tons of shaded trees and lots and lots of picnic tables with barbecue grills next to almost every table. So pack a cooler full of nonalcoholic drinks and food because they don't sell anything here. And alcohol is extremely prohibited! You get caught with alcohol you might as well kiss your afternoon goodbye. It's a family fun place. Bob is an old dude that sits at the edge of the water with the microphone and his hand and anyone who looks like they don't know what they're doing he is sure to give you some quick direction. The things they have at this place are so much fun if you're into getting your exercise through natural fun play. They have water volleyball, a variety of rope swings at different heights for different comfort levels and abilities and several other fun things. All in all a fun place to cool off during the Florida heat for an ACTIVE outdoorsy family.

Went to Bob's today and it was amazing. The rope swings are so fun…read more This place is just a classic, and very fun "waterpark." It was pretty crowded today, but the waits weren't long at all. The rope swings give you a great rush, it felt great. Bob drives around on his golf cart, and he is very nice. Talks to anyone there about the place, and it's really amazing about how it all came about. Parking is $25, and I definitely think it's worth it. There is plenty of parking and grills, so you can cook your own food. There are slides, rope swings, volleyball nets in/out of the water, and a ton more to do. Definitely a great place to go with a lot of friends to just have a good time!

Very accommodating. Friendly staff. Good information and…read morecommunication. The equipment is sturdy. Many options for

They were able to accommodate us on their day off. Luckily another group had also booked. So they…read morefit us in as well. Definitely got the VIP treatment.

Great time! We rented tubes, I would recommend bringing your own or renting outside of the park…read more The tram was $7 a person we chose the hike instead but will pay the $7 next time because we were covered in ticks from the hike. Other than that it was fantastic and a great family adventure! Praise the Lord for this beautiful nature

We had such a blast. Entire experience was professional, organized, and fun. I took my dad and…read moreuncle and everyone had a blast.

I came here for the first time for a nature trail tour by a UF forestry employee. After the tour I…read moreleft with more knowledge about the vegetation and various tree varieties. It truly reminds you why this city feels so peaceful and rooted in nature. The combination of the nature trails, the historic farm, and the quiet, spacious grounds makes it the perfect place to slow down and breathe. I loved how well‑kept everything was, the trails are clearly marked, the farm area is clean and thoughtfully maintained, and the whole space feels safe and family‑friendly without being loud or crowded. The farm is such a unique touch. It really feels like stepping back in time, and the staff and volunteers do a great job keeping the experience authentic. The animals are well cared for, and the whole area has a calm, simple charm that's rare to find. The trails themselves are beautiful, a mix of shaded paths, open stretches, and plenty of opportunities to see wildlife if you're paying attention. It's an easy place to spend an hour or two without realizing how much time has passed. Perfect for solo walks, quiet mornings, or bringing someone who needs a grounding, gentle outing.

This 400 acre nature preserve overseen by the City of Gainesville in Alachua County with seven…read moremiles of trails through a diverse ecosystem of Florida pines, flatwoods, sandhills, and cypress domes. Also abundant wildlife and wildflowers. They feature a Living History Farm which recreates a rural 1870's homestead with historic buildings, a school and farm animals. These historic buildings were moved to this location. We enjoyed experiencing the pioneer life plus the cows, sheep and hogs on the farm. We were there for the Wednesday afternoon program but it is only from September to May. No fee to enter. The farm is open Monday to Saturday 9am to 4:30pm and the park is open every 8am to 6pm.

Called ahead and checked hours for rental operations, return time,etc. when we arrived we were told…read morethat whoever we spoke with was incorrect and that they stopped renting at 2pm!? This wasn't what we were told nor is that posted on any website or anywhere. Very random and wanton hours that must depend on the day or whims of operators.

1. Took several phone calls from two of our staff to secure our reservation. We spent time on the…read morephone when we did get through to Jay explaining that we had a group of seniors and we wanted an easy kayak for them. 2. When we needed to alter reservations, we received no return phone call. 3. When we arrived and asked for a change to the reservation we were told absolutely not. We pointed out that we called the number given to us to try and do this in advance, but were told that didn't change anything as we left a message when the outfitter wasn't open. 4. When we launched, no one explained safety gear, paddling procedures, that the kayaks had foot pedals, or where we would take out. When we asked for a map or chart, we were told to find one on our phones. 5. When kayaker had medical issue (heat exhaustion, accelerated heartbeat, and leg cramping), which manifested in the 1/4 mile before the spring run at at Gilchrist Springs, Deacon (the bright spot of the entire trip) tried to get someone to pick him up and was told we should switch his kayak and that no one would come get the person. 6. Deacon (again, the bright spot, perhaps put this kid in charge) tried, without success, to fix the broken seat for the kayaker in distress. He also showed him how to use the foot pedals to help keep the seat from sliding. He did offer to switch kayaks, putting the distressed kayaker in a tandem with one of the group leaders. He clearly wanted to do more and had empathy, but anything else was clearly above his pay grade. This brought the total of boats on the water down by one (which will come into play in a moment) 7. No one mentioned the rapids. Fairly mild for seasoned and competent kayakers, but for a group of seniors who stated they were seeking an easy paddle, a mention of this when Jay told us which would work would have been advisable. 8. When we reach the take-out, one of the men working commented that he thought the seat of the kayak in question (distressed kayaker) might have been broken when he set out the boats at the launch that morning. If so, why did no one attempt to remedy this at the time? 9. In response to this, I explained we had switched two kayakers to a tandem at Gilchrist, (at this point, the trip is over) to which he replied, "Oh, so that's why there's one less kayak coming back. I wondered about that." So... he noticed we were short a boat but didn't wonder or question as to what happened to the boat? What if someone had gone missing? Does this outfitter have any sort of safety protocols in place? 10. We called after roughly 30 minutes waiting to get picked up at the end of the run. That appears to be when someone send the van to get us, even though staff assured us when we took out of the river someone was already on the way. We will not use any AOA services again.