Sweetwater is a place to refresh your humanity, melt your stress, connect with nature and see amazing natural creatures. Today, I saw great blue heron preening, and as I passed it, it let out an alarm call over and over again. There was a red-shouldered hawk that flew out of nowhere and landed high in a tree that was full of newly grown and fledged ibis. These ibis were born in the Spring. Their parents are gone, and they are on their own. Many of them (there were about 80 of them perched in a bunch of close trees) flew away and around to safer lower spots, as the hawk perched high in the tallest tree to try to scope out a snack. It was a true wildlife moment! It did not attack, but it reminded me that anything can happen at any moment! I also saw a four-foot gator get up from sun bathing, walk about twenty feet and plop down in the grass. It was too close for my zoom lens, so I pulled out my iPhone and got the whole thing recorded. It was a great day at the park! read more

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This place was awesome if you like to walk trails and see birds, turtles, alligators, rabbits, deer and 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. read more

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This 125 acre wetland park located in Gainesville has 3.5 miles of crushed gravel trails and boardwalks. We experienced the lush Florida landscape from a covered platform. The swamp marsh wetland is a great aquatic environment for central Florida plants and animals including alligators, birds and insects. Bathrooms are at the entrance. Open an hour before sunrise and closes an hour after sunset and is free to enter. read more

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Sweetwater Wetlands Park in Gainesville is absolutely stunning & perfect blend of natural beauty, wildlife, and peaceful walking trails. I spent the afternoon there and honestly didn't want to leave. The views are breathtaking, and the entire park is so thoughtfully laid out, with wide gravel paths and a boardwalk that takes you right through the wetlands without disturbing the ecosystem. I saw a wide variety of birds, butterflies, and even a few gators sunbathing from a distance. It's a dream spot for nature lovers, photographers, or anyone just wanting a break from the noise. The informational signs along the way were a lovely touch, helping me learn more about the local wildlife and the park's role in water filtration and aquifer protection. The park is incredibly well maintained, clean, and safe, plus the staff at the entrance were friendly and welcoming. The $5 entry fee is totally reasonable, but after visiting once, I'm genuinely interested in getting the yearly pass. It's such a calming, soul-refreshing place,I can see myself coming back often just to unwind and soak in the beauty. read more

Nice area with lots of water and some gators. Wide walkways, but very little sun coverage. There's a stretch of boardwalk you can walk on that opens to a wide field. $5 per vehicle parking fee. read more

Sweetwater Wetlands Park - Beautifully clear water - Hiking Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Nice and clean park to take a nature walk. There are some wild life that you can see from your walk. There were deer, birds, ducks. It has clean walk paths and you can get a good amount of steps out here. read more

A wonderful park in Gainesville! There are two parking lots located on site and parking costs $5 per car. You can either pay from your phone or pay via a Dropbox at the entrance. The park was very well maintained. Upon entering there are bathrooms as well as information about the trails, and even a whiteboard where people can record the wildlife they saw. We ended up here on a fairly cold day and mostly just saw birds. However, I am thinking the cold kept most of the other wildlife hunkered down. We saw lots and lots of birds, one turtle and one alligator. I could see this park being an amazing place to spot Florida wildlife, especially when it is warmer! The trails are wonderful and there are plenty of them! They are all mostly dirt roads, but there are a few paved ones. We had a wonderful morning here and will definitely be back to hopefully spot some more alligators! read more

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Decided to check out Sweetwater Wetlands for a nice morning walk. Nice boardwalk trail and open space trail. A lot of bird watchers with their cameras. There are a lot of wildlife in the area. Watch out for the gators as well. There is a fee to park, which was $5 where you do have to pay online. $5 pays for the whole day. There is plenty of parking and an overflow parking lot. read more

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Absolutely beautiful! A true Florida experience. As an avid birdwatcher, I loved the many birds that I saw. There were alligators and rabbits as well. I am so glad that I discovered this gem. read more

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We came in for graduation and were looking for some things to do over the weekend. This place did not disappoint! We were actually in Miami over the summer and did the Everglades tour and only saw one gator. At Sweetwater Wetlands Park, we saw several! This is a must to visit if you can. From Arizonans, we thank you! read more

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This is an amazing experience! If you enjoy walking, birding, nature and learning how natural resources and the city of Gainesvilles water system works, you will love it. Had a guided tour of the system and wildlife, and it was so worth it. It is clean, well maintained, walking trails are wide and clear and the whole area is beautiful. It sits adjacent to the Paynes Prairie Preserve which I will have to check out next. The park does not allow dogs, understandably as there are alligators. There is a trolley for those that are unable to walk or are in a wheelchair, but that may need to be reserved ahead of time, so contact the park. Bathrooms are at the front of the park. Well worth going! read more

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Two friends and I came here to visit on a weekend afternoon. Tip: There are flush toilets available at the trailhead Sometimes there are guided walks available; we took one and found it pretty educational.  While walking we saw quite a number of birds, and several aligators too. All things considered, this is a nice park, and it's well worth a visit :-) read more

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A Gainesville-must. For living in Gainesville most of my life, today was the first time I have been here. Do be aware that you have to pay online to park but it's only $5.00 for the day. The grounds were well-maintained, especially since this is a more natural area. It was very clean and the walkways and paths were clear of overgrowth. We saw various birds, a rabbit, and a gator. For the parking lot being fairly full, it was quite peaceful and there was enough land that everyone was spread out and you could enjoy the sights and sounds of nature. Be sure to go early to beat the heat. Very cool place. read more

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If you like nature and walking this is a great spot to take a stroll and take it all in. Birds, gators, horses, bison, ducks, hawks, butterflies, moths, dragon flies, and many more. Just be aware of your footing and don't go by the water as there are gators. If they come out and cross just keep you distance as you enjoy these great creatures. Parking is like $5 for the day cheaper and better then a zoo. read more

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$5/car or $2/person (bicyclist / walker) - not free like other parks, so this is only my 2nd time within the past couple of years. The first time I came, it was during the summer right when it was first opened and incredibly hot. We were so happy they had water stations throughout the park when we came recently & were lucky this past weekend that we had a cloud cover. The weather was so nice - prob. around mid 70s. As far as wildlife goes, love all the birds & reptiles we saw. We saw Wood Ducks, Coots, Herons, Blue Herons, Gators, Box Turtles, Hawks, all sorts of Lizards, Vultures, Red Wing Blackbird, Soft Shell Turtles, etc. Pro Tip: Bring BINOCULARS to be able to capture and see all of the beauty! There's a couple boardwalks w/mostly raised dirt paths amongst the wetlands. Benches (these are far & in between) available under a pavilion to take a break, but def. pack your walking shoes & cold water! This is a nice development w/various basins that filter the water. Overflow parking available as well in addition to bathrooms. read more

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This is one of my favorite spots to take out of town guests and nature newbies. The trails are wide and very easy, the wildlife is amazing, and the sunsets and sunrises are stunning. The park is a working wetland processing Gainesville's waste water. The wetland attracts birds from all over making it a birder/ wildlife photographer's paradise. Depending on the weather and time of day you can also see quite a few gators in the water and right off the trail. The only downside of this park is that there is virtually no shade, making it more than a little unpleasant in the summer heat. There are sitting areas and water stops but honestly it is still quite miserable in the peak summer sun/heat. Highly recommend visiting this park early morning and late afternoon. It is a true Gainesville gem! read more

The Best Place in Gainesville for Cardio and the same time discover Nature , they have American alligators, wild horses, different kinds of birds and turtles. My sanctuary when I'm in Gainesville. read more

What a lovely lovely park! Easy to navigate, without any maps. For me, I was able to log several miles and see hundreds of birds (and about a dozen alligators!) -- there was always someone within shouting distance, but I also felt like I had the park to myself. What a fantastic way to process waste water -- I wish all states or cities had something like this. Just lovely. read more

As a concept it's a great park: the park was designed to help with water retention and run-off issues and to protect Paynes Prairie (which we must all remember is essentially a very large lake prone to either being bone dry or else flooding everything around it). The trails that have been put in and their shelters and viewing platforms make it an easily hike-able park with ample opportunities to view a variety of wildlife, especially various birds and alligators. The quality of the trails and boardwalks is high, this is certainly the flagship park of Gainesville's city parks. However, I was a bit surprised and dismayed at the $5 entry fee per car ($2 per person if on a bike or without car): normally I do not mind paying for such things but most Gainesville and Alachua County parks are free of charge, such as the Hogtown Greenway and Alfred Ring parks. What is more, an annual pass so you can come however often without paying each time is a whopping $78! In contrast, an annual pass (single-person) for the Florida State Parks system--almost all the State Parks, mind you--is only $60. The annual pass for Lighthouse Point Park and Smyrna Dunes Park in Volusia County is only $20. So who does Gainesville think they are asking $78 for this park? Sorry, it's nice but not all that. If Volusia with a lower tax rate than Alachua can run two first-class parks that get more visitors per year and probably have more upkeep for less entry-fee income, not sure what's up with Gainesville unless every alligator in this park is getting free tickets to all home games and diamond rings too. Still, a very worthwhile park to visit and a good place to see alligators if you have relatives coming to Gainesville who want to see one in the wild. Plus, a very worthy project to contribute to greater viable habitat for wildlife. read more

Sweetwater Wetlands Park - The park and the wetlands. - Hiking Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

A cool park but please be warned that there is a five dollar per car fee to enter the property. It is a nice park and offers some great scenery and an opportunity to see wildlife. read more

My partner and I were visiting a friend for the week and originally planned on going cycling on a train but that fell through. I stumbled upon this park here on Yelp so we gave it a go and loved it! There's plenty of space to walk and sight see. The views were incredible and we saw some up close wildlife too. read more

Sweetwater Wetlands Park - Hiking Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

I read about Sweetwater Wetlands Park before I went and was amazed at what the city of Gainesville has done for their city and tremendous ecological benefit that it has on Paynes Prairie. The park acts as a filtration system for Sweetwater Branch, which flows into Paynes Prairie. The creek carried fertilizers, trash, and other harmful city byproducts into the Prairie & wrecked havoc on its environment. The Wetlands created in the park now allow for a cleaner water to flow into the Prairie, the Alachua Sink and the Florida Aquifer. And we get a beautiful park to enjoy! The park has walkways that are raised above the wetlands areas that cover approximately 3.5 miles and are in the shape of a gator head (chomp, chomp)! Along the paths are shelters with seating where you can take a break from hiking and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. All of the paths circle back to the same place and you can choose shorter paths if you prefer or traverse them all. Along your way, you may encounter various forms of Florida-style wildlife: gators, snakes, birds of all varieties, wild horses, boars, and maybe even a bison or two. The paths are well taken care of and easy to traverse. There is a small visitor pavilion as you enter the park where you can learn a bit of the history and purpose of the park. Occasional ranger-led hikes are available to join. Entry into the park is $5 and handled on the honor system as you enter the parking lot. This would be a great daytime activity for anyone in the Gainesville area. read more

Sweetwater Wetlands Park - Sweetwater lily - Hiking Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Love this little piece of perfection! The park is so nice to walk/run/ have a social chat with friends. There is plenty of wildlife to see and potentially interact with as well as a variety of plants and trees to observe. The park is well designed and the amenities are great. They do have bathrooms by the parking lot that are well-stocked AND they use good quality toilet paper so that you don't have to use half a roll. Outside the bathroom area is a water station as well as a free sunscreen dispenser which I have never seen before and thought it was so nice. Another bonus, this place is really close if you are a student in Gainesville, you don't have to drive out into the country or the middle of nowhere; I'm pretty sure there is even a bus route (or multiple) that stop along the main road where this is. read more

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We've been wanting to go outside and walk around and we stumbled upon this beautiful park! There were very few parking spots left but we were lucky to find one! According to the maps, there are several loops around the park but it looks like each are a roundtrip of 1 mile. Each trail is well-paved and there are several benches for you to look and be mesmerized with the scenery! We did see several alligators and many birds. I do recommend going in the late afternoon/sunset time because we went around 4PM and sunbeams were so strong... This park is such a great activity for anyone! read more

Sweetwater Wetlands Park - Hiking Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Truly beautiful and surprising little area just feet off of congested Williston Rd. A heads up, there is no shade out on the paths other than a couple of lookout points, so bring water, sunglasses/hats, and bug spray. If you see a guide ask them where they've seen gator tracks that day and I'm sure you'll be pleased with their wealth of information, appreciation, and interest in the park. read more

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This is a magical place, especially if you're a photographer. Like the other Payne's Prairie parks, it features lovely pristine bodies of water, abundant bird life, and sunning gators, as well as scenic vistas. At only 5 years old, it appears brand new. The raised walking paths are brilliant (the prairie is known to flood, and I doubt that these elevated walkways would flood.). The place also has water gates to adjust the water levels. But what's coolest about the place is that it is a natural water runoff and filtration system for the city. In fact, one of the friendly rangers told me that it cost less to construct this park than would have been required to pay for extra water treatment plants for the city. One of my favorite places to photograph in G'ville, especially if you like bird pix. So go already. It only costs a $5 per car parking fee to get in. read more

Took my 8yo son today, while visiting a daughter who is a student and recovering from surgery. Even being cloudy and a tad drizzly we LOVED IT! Easy parking, 5 dollars into an envelope at gate and off we went. Signs posted to stay 20 feet away from gators. We were walking a few hours around water and saw 5 total, two being a Mama and baby by the water treatment. Lots, and lots fauna...mainly birds for us today. Easy paths to walk and lots to see. I was surprised there were quite a few others enjoying today as well, but there's plenty of room there to spread out and stay away from other people. read more

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I have driven past Sweetwater Wetlands Park many times and always wanted to stop. From the road I couldn't really tell what the trails were like or the layout. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. The walking paths were well manicured and groomed. There was a nice short boardwalk and a number of places to sit along the way. You could tell there was the potential for lots of alligators to be sunning themselves on the banks (not right on the path) down by the water. There were 3 or so miles of paths. All in all it was an easy walk. The standout of this experience was the birds. No kidding there were many, many different species of birds and their numbers were incredible. I knew maybe 4 or 5 species but there were probably 15- 20 different species I had never seen before. It was a very cool experience. The pavilion has good (well maintained) bathrooms and information about the different animals you might see Wharley walking. They also advertise a birding your. I will for sure be going back for that! Looking forward to my next visit to Sweetwater Wetlands Park! read more

My family and I were at Sweetwater Wetlands Park on the boxing day of year 2020. It was my second time while my darling wife and children were visiting for the first time even though we have traveled past the park severally. Moreover, my children having been pestering me to bring them to this park. It was so fascinating that my family was the last to leave the park. However, it was very cold and we could not sight any alligator. The birds were there for us! read more

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A couple of weeks ago I went to Sweetwater Wetlands Park with my mom and dad when they were visiting. We really did not see any Gators like we had hoped for, but we still had a wonderful time. I love the big board walks that they have so you can walk around and see tons of different wildlife, birds, and other animals that may be out. It is such a nice park to spend the day exploring the different trails they have here. This park is great and a great place to see what real Florida looks like. We heard reports that people saw the wild horses and bison, but again since they are wild and this is not a zoo, by the time we got there the animals were all gone. I would have loved to see them, but maybe the next time we go. One thing I would say is do pay for parking. We saw so many people just park and not pay the park entrance fee. Please do not do this. The parks need our parking fees to keep them nice and we as humans need to do everything we can to help the environment and pay the fees. I was happy to see a ranger writing tickets for people who did not pay the fee. Overall a wonderful park in Gainesville! read more

This park has about 3.5 miles of trails. There is absolutely no sun cover so bring a hat, lots of water, and cover your head. You also need cash to pay your way in. I didn't see any gators, but saw a myriad of beautiful birds showing off their majesty. The water ways and plant life here was pretty cool. My favorite thing about this place was anytime I stopped and looked around me. The view was expansive and breath taking. I definitely recommend a trip here! read more

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Wow. Just wow. I cannot believe it has taken me this long to check this place out. I am going here again asap! This is easily my top 3 places for nature in Gainesville! This place is gorgeous. It is a wetlands, so you can see far out to the horizon line, which is one of my favorite things. There are multiple paths of different lengths so you can customize your visit. I went mid morning and there was tons of wildlife! There were at least 5 different types of ducks, there were plents of herron, egrets, anhinga, osprey, hawks, and other birds I don't know the classifications for! They were active, and flying around calling to each other. If you like birds, you will love this place! Then, there are classic gators - not as many as Paynes Prarie - which I am okay with. Apparently there are horses and boar sometimes, but I didn't have the opportunity to see any. What I did get to see, was an otter! Yes, I saw an otter in the wild in Gainesville! I am thrilled! I cannot wait to go back in a couple weeks when spring is in full spring, see all the baby wildlife, the flowers bloom, and hopefully the water levels rise. You should put this at the top of your list to check out! Bring 5 dollars cash, wear sun screen or a hat, and take photos! read more

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I've driven by here a ton of times and never even noticed it was here before. A man made 125 acre preserve of local vegetation, it's backed up by Payne's Prairie. It's vast with a variety of animals & foliage and during the several times I've been there I've yet to see everything. It's a bird watcher's paradise so bring your binoculars. There's a dry board at the entrance for listing any fowl you have seen. Also exciting are the wide boardwalks that seem to of been strategically placed so you have unobstructed views and are definitely handicap accessible. Early day and late evening 3 1/2 mile tours are sometimes available. Please have your exact entrance fee ready as there is no gate keeper to give change. read more

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The Sweetwater Wetlands Park is my new favorite place to enjoy nature. It's a man made wetland of over 125 acres of pure beauty! It's conveniently located off of Williston Road close to Main St. Easy to find and plenty of parking spots. There is a $5.00 fee per car or $2.00 fee for pedestrians/cyclists -and it's well worth it! No pets allowed. There is a nice covered welcome pavilion with visitor information and clean restrooms. They offer guided tours at 9am every Saturday that departs from the pavilion. The park is beautiful with miles of gravel trails, boardwalks and viewing platforms. The landscapes were so picturesque, I loved it! There is a lot of wildlife from birds and gators to horses. Unfortunately I didn't see any of the wild horses, but I hope to see them on my next visit! If you're an outdoors fan, make sure to check out the Sweetwater Wetlands, you won't be disappointed! read more

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The wife and I have recently discovered this park for some quality outdoor time. The trails are wide which provide for a great opportunity to get outside and social distance. We've seen lots of birds, alligators, and even a bunny rabbit. If you come, make sure to bring water and some form of sun protection, because it can get a little warm on the walk. There are not many shady areas. read more

Great park for causal walking and bird watching. Close to the Gainesville metro area. The park is central to the filtration of the city's waste water before draining into the underground aquifer. read more

Gorgeous and stunning park. It's a nice place to get away to walk or run while enjoying the peaceful view. You find yourself in complete solitude!! A must if your in the area. read more

With such a large selection of nature trails in town, I was expecting more from this one. This trail is extremely open, which gives a nice open view of your surroundings, but also does not provide any shade. With the year-round heat, I personally prefer nature trails that have shaded/wooded areas, as well as open areas. Moreover, I was disappointed in the amount of wild species here. Obviously, the park has no control over the behavior of the animals, but my party didn't see any gators, deer, etc. There were birds around, but it was relatively calm overall. I wasn't able to talk to any staff to get their recommendations, so we left shortly following our arrival. read more

This is one of the most beautiful places in Gainesville. There are walkways and boardwalks running across the water and marshes. There is lots of wildlife to see like alligators, birds, snakes, and much more. Come see this beautiful place! read more

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This place is incredible!! Coming from out of state, it was really cool to get off campus and be able to see some of the nature around Gainesville. I highly recommend going here to other college students who just need a break from classes and schoolwork. The scenery is gorgeous and it is just a short trip from UF's campus. read more

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