Parks and Facilities

Discover Gainesville's Natural Treasures: There is no fee to visit any of the City's nature parks. Please note: some of the parks are gated and have different hours of operations. For a detailed list please read list below, thank you! Please read entrance and/or kiosk signage for specific park rules.
Please note, as part of Nature Operations' land management practices, when prescribed burns take place, a park may be closed. Please check this web site or call 352-334-3326 for updates.

Mason Manor trail is now officially opened! We are pleased to announce the boardwalk construction on Mason Manor trail is completed and ready for visitors. We know it has been a long time coming and we are confident you will enjoy this new improvement to the Loblolly Woods Nature Park. Thank you again for your patience on this project and your continued support of nature parks.

San Felasco Park
194 acres
6400 NW 43 Way
No RTS routes
Park hours: 8:00 am—8:00 pm daily

At Gainesville's northwestern edge lies this beautiful forested oasis, recently transferred to the City of Gainesville from Alachua County. Listen to the songs of birds, breathe in the scent of pines, and glimpse colorful wildfl owers as you explore the hiking trails and boardwalks that lead through pine flatwoods and cypress swamps. A playground and multiple grills and picnic shelters make this a great place for families to enjoy the outdoors together.

Duval Park
600 Block of NE 21st Street
Park hours: from dawn to dusk daily

Newly opened to the public, this facility was bought with funds from the Florida Communities Trust and developed by the City of Gainesville Public Works Department with assistance from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Tucked away in East Gainesville's Duval neighborhood, this park features a 2-acre stormwater pond built in 2010 to help improve the health of Lake Forest Creek and Newnan's Lake. Park visitors can stroll on the fully accessible trail system overlooking the pond and winding among the stately pines that surround it.

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please click on the park's name and it will take you the park's description on the same page.

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Discover Florida as it was!

Gainesville's Natural Treasures can be found throughout the city. You can stroll along a trail deep in the woods, walk a boardwalk edging a blackwater stream, take a class to become familiar with the fascinating wildlife, or step back in time over 130 years on a ten-acre Living History Farm. Visit the spring where Gainesville began or ride your bicycle or horse on the Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail. Enjoy some of the best bird watching in North Florida, observe butterflies busy at wildflowers, and hear frogs calling for mates. Nature parks are an integral part of the reason Gainesville is one of the best places in the U.S. to live... there is a sanctuary within minutes of wherever you are in the city. See these treasures for yourself... get to know your nature parks!

There's something for everyone in our parks! Download the Parks Matrix

Parks - Discover Gainesville’s Natural Treasures

29th Road Nature Park
	RTS routes 6, 15 1502 NW 29th Road Park hours from dawn to dusk daily 5 acres
Situated in the upper Hogtown Creek basin, 29th Road Park features nature trails through upland mixed forest, slope forest, and bottomland forest along the shady banks of Hogtown Creek, Gainesville’s largest stream. Breathtaking views of fern-covered slopes beneath towering trees offer visitors a refreshing retreat from the frantic pace of the city.

Alfred A. Ring Park
	RTS route 8 1801 NW 23rd Boulevard Parking at Elks Lodge Park hours 7:00 am—6:00 pm daily (Nov—Apr) 7:00 am—8:00 pm daily (May—Oct) 21 acres
Over a mile of trails wind through upland mixed forest and slope forest, tracing the course of Hogtown Creek. A scenic overlook provides visitors a view of the confluence of Glen Springs Run and Hogtown Creek where the clear water from Glen Springs sharply contrasts with the tannic water of Hogtown Creek. Birds, gray squirrels, and other urban wildlife are abundant in the park. Visitors may walk or jog the trails, picnic under the pavilion, romp in the playground, or rest on a quiet bench.

Bivens Arm Nature Park
	RTS route 13 3650 S Main Street Park hours 9:00 am—5:00 pm daily 81 acres
Newly rebuilt boardwalks and overlooks, new hiking trails, new playground equipment, and other upgraded amenities now await visitors to one of Gainesville’s oldest nature parks. The lush greenery of the live oak hammock provides habitat for forest wildlife, while wading birds and other creatures thrive in the park’s two marshes. The forests and wetlands in this park provide an important buffer between urban Gainesville and the extensive natural areas of Paynes Prairie, and a convenient getaway to enjoy the peace and quiet of natural north Florida.

Boulware Springs Park and Historic Waterworks
	RTS route 2 3300 SE 15th Street Park hours 7:00 am—6:00 pm daily (Nov—Apr) 7:00 am—8:00 pm daily (May—Oct)
The nineteenth-century waterworks building, located at Boulware Springs, once provided the water supply for the City of Gainesville. Boulware Springs produces approximately 194,000 gallons of water a day, which flows into Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park. Picnic facilities are available.

Boulware Springs Nature Park
	RTS route 2 3300 SE 15th Street Park hours 7:00 am—6:00 pm daily (Nov—Apr) 7:00 am—8:00 pm daily (May—Oct) 106 acres
Boulware Springs is a trailhead for the 17-mile Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail. Picnic facilities are available as well as an area for parking and unloading horses to ride along the state trail. The trail is largely used by hikers, bicyclists, and horseback riders. City staff and volunteers are actively restoring the degraded sandhill and upland pine forest north of the parking lot. Please contact 352-334-2231 for volunteering information.

Broken Arrow Bluff
	RTS route 75 5724 SW 46th Place Park hours from dawn to dusk daily 11 acres
Nestled between the beauty of Kanapaha Botanical Gardens and the sweeping vistas of Lake Kanapaha, Broken Arrow Bluff provides a glimpse into the mystery of Florida. Hidden under the spreading branches of mighty live oaks and upland mixed forest, towering limerock outcrops border a sinkhole which connects the lake’s surface waters to hidden aquifers beneath your feet. The abundant bird life that thrives in the marshy lake and surrounding forests provides a musical backdrop to the scenes of nature mirrored in water.

Clear Lake Nature Park
	RTS route 20 5480 SW 1st Avenue Walk or bike only, no parking is available. Park hours from dawn to dusk daily 14 acres
Bordering the extensive wetlands of Sugarfoot Prairie, Clear Lake Nature Park is quietly nestled between the old University Avenue communities and SW 62nd Boulevard. The trails in this small park invite the visitor to slow down and soak up the majestic sweep of ancient live oaks, the peaceful seclusion from Gainesville’s busy streets, and the musical chirping of birds hidden among the wetland fringes.

Cofrin Nature Park

RTS routes 5, 43
4810 NW 8th Avenue
Park hours
7:00 am—6:00 pm daily
(Nov—Apr)
7:00 am—8:00 pm daily
(May—Oct)
30 acres

NOTICE: Feral hogs at Cofrin Nature Park! As you may have noticed, 2 unwelcome visitors arrived at Cofrin Nature Park over the Thanksgiving holiday. We suspect they travelled north along the Beville Creek watershed from Sugarfoot Prairie and have temporarily set up camp at Cofrin Nature Park. Feral hogs are not native to Florida and are causing a lot of damage to the natural and recreational areas at Cofrin. Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs staff are attempting to live capture the animals. Please avoid approaching or feeding these feral hogs. They can be unpredictable and dangerous if provoked or fed by hand. If you have any questions, please contact Stefanie Nagid at 393-8425. Thank you!

Invasive Plant Control at Cofrin Nature Park
Contractors are currently working to control invasive cat’s claw vines and other non-native plants at Cofrin Nature Park. This work is funded by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and is part of the City’s commitment to maintaining, protecting, and restoring the natural resources of the park. The park will remain open, but visitors may encounter work crews while the work is underway. For more information, please contact the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs at 352-292-5067.

In the heart of urbanized west Gainesville, Cofrin Nature Park features a half-mile long hiking trail. Once a horse farm, much of this park is returning to forest through natural succession. Large hardwood trees are found in the forest along picturesque Beville Heights Creek, and seepage wetlands on the slopes above the creek support lush growths of ferns and wildflowers.

Colclough Pond Nature Park
	RTS routes 16, 17 2315 S Main Street Walk or bike only on sidewalk— no parking is available. Park hours from dawn to dusk daily 5 acres
A short walk on a shady trail leads to Colclough (pronounced Coke-lee) Pond where visitors can enjoy bank fishing and wildlife viewing. Along with the connected Colclough Pond Sanctuary, owned by Audubon of Florida, the nature park protects the pond’s shoreline.

Flatwoods Conservation Area
	RTS routes 15, 24 2010 NE 31st Avenue Park hours from dawn to dusk daily 71 acres
Mesic and wet pine flatwoods, along with a basin swamp and a cypress dome on the property, provide habitat for a variety of wildlife at Flatwoods Conservation Area. A mowed path along a series of drainage canals allows visitors to observe the natural communities found here.

Green Acres Park
	RTS route 5 3704 SW 8th Avenue Access from the dead end of SW 40th Street, just south of SW 6th Place Park hours from dawn to dusk daily 37 acres
Green Acres provides a mix of recreational opportunities. A playground and open field at the center of the park provide for active recreation, while trails through the park’s xeric live oak hammock connect to nearby Sugarfoot Prairie Conservation Area, offering opportunities for quiet nature relaxation. The park also protects part of the Hogtown Creek floodplain.

Gum Root Park
	No RTS routes 7300 NE 27th Avenue Park hours from dawn to dusk daily 372 acres
Gum Root Park features trails through a variety of natural communities, including blackwater stream, floodplain swamp, xeric hammock, baygall, pasture, and pine flatwoods. Adjacent to hundreds of acres of state conservation land, Gum Root is a great location for birding and wildlife viewing.

Hogtown Creek Headwaters
	RTS route 8 1500 NW 45th Avenue The park is being developed and is expected to open in 2012. Undeveloped—70 acres
From former pinelands and majestic upland mixed forest to shady fern-covered wetlands where water slowly seeps from the ground to form the beginnings of Hogtown Creek, this 70-acre park protects a variety of natural habitats. The park was purchased with funds from the Florida Communities Trust and with a generous donation from Home Depot. Nature trails, a playground, a picnic pavilion, and other amenities are planned, providing options for both nature-based and active recreation.

John Mahon Nature Park
	RTS routes 5, 43 4300 Block W Newberry Road The park entrance is at the end of the LifeSouth parking lot. Park hours from dawn to dusk daily 10 acres
Located just off Newberry Road, John Mahon Nature Park features a loop trail through the forest. Visitors can enjoy upland mixed forest, hydric hammock, and former upland pine forest as they hike the trail. The park serves as a memorial to Dr. John Mahon, who lived nearby, and who worked tirelessly to preserve large areas of Paynes Prairie, San Felasco Hammock, and the Hogtown Creek Greenway as natural public lands. Dr. Mahon devoted a substantial part of his life to public service and was well respected and active with many conservation organizations.

Loblolly Woods Nature Park
	RTS route 5 3315 NW 5th Avenue Access from 34th Street Park hours from dawn to dusk daily 159 acres
Trails and boardwalks provide shady routes for walking, biking, or jogging on this portion of the Hogtown Creek Greenway, considered one of the best birding spots in the county. Follow the trail connecting NW 8th Ave. to NW 34th St. past the picturesque confluence of Hogtown and Possum Creeks, or explore the ¼-mile boardwalk between NW 16th Ave. and NW 8th Ave. Restrooms and parking are available at the address shown above.

Morningside Nature Center

RTS route 11
3540 E University Avenue
Park: 8:00 am – 6:00 pm daily (Nov–Apr); 8:00 am – 8:00 pm daily (May–Oct).
278 acres.
Please note, as part of Nature Operations’ land management practices, when prescribed burns take place, the park may be closed. Please check this web site or call 352-334-3326 for updates.

ongoing programs and events pages on this site.

Morningside Nature Center and Living History Farm Holiday Hours: Morningside Nature Center (park and farm) will be closed on the following dates: Christmas Day (Sunday, December 25) and New Year’s Day (Sunday, January 1).

The park will be open but the Living History Farm will be closed on the following days: Saturday, December 24th. Normal operating hours for the park are 8:00 am to 6:00 pm seven days a week. The farm is open from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm Tuesday-Saturday.

Gainesville’s premier nature park, Morningside Nature Center, is one of the last remaining examples of fire-dependent longleaf pine woodlands in the area. More than six miles of trails wind through sandhill, flatwoods, cypress domes, and areas where native vegetation is being restored. Morningside boasts a spectacular wildflower display and opportunity to see a diverse array of wildlife. For a complete listing of programs and events please visit our

Morningside Living History Farm
	RTS route 11 3540 E University Avenue Living History Farm: Tues.–Sat., 9:00 am – 4:30 pm. The Living History Farm will be closed on Saturday, December 24th, 2011. 10 acres Please note, as part of Nature Operations’ land management practices, when prescribed burns take place, the park may be closed. Please check this web site or call 352-334-3326 for updates.
Living History Farm Holiday Hours: closed on the following dates: Christmas Eve and Day (Saturday and Sunday, December 24 and 25). The Living History Farm at Morningside Nature Center brings Florida cracker family living in the mid to late 1800s to life again. On Living History days (Saturdays, September to May) farm visitors can observe daily life in 1870 as staff interpret bygone days through chores and activities. Annual events at the farm include the Farm and Forest Festival in the spring and Cane Boil in the fall. For a complete listing of programs and events please visit our ongoing programs and events pages on this site.

Palm Point Nature Park
	No RTS routes 7401 Lakeshore Drive Park hours from dawn to dusk daily 17 acres
Reaching out from the surrounding shoreline, Palm Point is a true gem among Gainesville’s Nature Parks. Palm Point’s unique geographic location makes it a magnet for some of the most spectacular migratory and local bird populations. Brilliant wildflowers attract many native butterfly species, while Newnan’s Lake provides excellent opportunities for alligator sightings and some of the best bank fishing this close to town.

Possum Creek Park
	No RTS routes 4009 NW 53rd Avenue Park hours from dawn to dusk daily 76 acres
Possum Creek Park features mowed recreation fields suitable for ballgames, flying kites, frisbee and other sports. Children of all ages enjoy the playground and the picnic pavilion. A jogging trail encircles the main field and scenic nature trails through the forest and floodplain of Possum Creek provide visitors the opportunity to quietly enjoy the natural world at their own pace. The park also features a contemporary skate park and an off-leash dog area. Picture credits: Aero Photo/Spohn Ranch.

Split Rock Conservation Area
	RTS route 75 SW 20th Avenue—limited access by walking or bicycles only; no parking is available. To arrange for a tour please contact Nature Operations Division at 352-334-3326. Park hours from dawn to dusk daily 241 acres
Near the sinkhole where Hogtown Creek disappears into the Floridan aquifer, Split Rock Conservation Area protects acres of forest and wetlands. Forested areas include diverse calcareous hammock with limestone outcrops, sinkholes, and majestic oak and hickory trees. Split Rock also contains portions of Hogtown Prairie, a vast wetland marsh which is seasonally flooded by Hogtown Creek.

Springtree Park
	RTS route 8 2700 NW 39th Avenue Park hours from dawn to dusk daily 12 acres
Springtree Park features a small playground and picnic area, as well as nature trails that pass through flatwoods with towering pines and fern covered slopes near Three Lakes Creek, a tributary of Possum Creek.

Terwilliger Pond Conservation Area
	RTS route 20 460 SW 62nd Boulevard Walk or bike only in the bike path – no parking or trails are available. Experience the view! 25 acres
Located along the sweeping curve of SW 62nd Boulevard, Terwilliger Pond provides an ever-changing view of the beauties of nature. During times of high water, the pond explodes with color when the American lotus blooms and wetland birds arrive. As the waters recede, wetland birds depart and songbirds add a splash of color to the new plant growth that emerges.