HIKING THE APPALACHIANS AND BEYOND
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Gainesville Area


Gainesville Area Hikes

Gainesville is a university city in central Florida. It is believed that about 12,000 years ago, the Paleo-Indians had a site established near what is now present-day Florida, but this is not 100% confirmed. The Native Americans continued to reside in the Gainesville until Desoto. After this, the Native American population in Gainesville rapidly declined. By the mid-1800s, the area around present-day Gainesville was settled, and a railroad line from Florida Railroad Company passed through Gainesville. After the Civil War, Gainesville became the leading shipping point for cotton in Florida. Citrus growing was also important in the area. Gainesville experienced significant growth in the early 1900s during the same time that the Miami area was growing rapidly. The University of Florida is now located in Gainesville, and to this day, Gainesville is a small university city with a growing population.

The city of Gainesville is located in the midst of central Florida's sinkhole country. The immediate Gainesville area has some of the best urban recreational and hiking opportunities in all of Florida, starting with the dozens of small preserves inside the Gainesville city limits, and ending with the massive Paynes Prairie State Park just outside of the Gainesville city limits. In fact, Paynes Prairie is widely considered to be one of the best hiking destinations in Florida. Other not-so-popular hiking destinations are found throughout the region as well. On the northwest side of the city, Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park has one of the most interesting sights in Florida: a huge sinkhole with small streams cascading into it from all ends. Further northwest, near the towns of High Springs and Alachua, two state parks protect a section of the O'Leno River, which disappears into a sinkhole and then rises back to the surface several miles later. Numerous smaller tracts of public land are located both east and west of Gainesville, including along the shores of Orange Lake and Lochloosa Lake.

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© COPYRIGHT 2014-2018
​ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Important: I disclaim any responsibility for any damage or personal injury that may occur as a result of the activities and information found on this website. All outdoor activities, especially off-trail hiking, are done at your own risk. Never hike or head into that area that may be above your fitness or experience level.
  • Home
  • Trail Reports
    • Best Hikes
    • Hikes with Scenic Views
    • Hikes with Water Features
    • Alabama
    • Georgia
    • Florida
    • North Carolina
    • South Carolina
    • Tennessee
    • Vermont
    • Virginia
  • Map
  • Hike List
  • Testimonials
  • Resources
  • Contact Us
  • Southeast Nature Society
    • Our Team
  • Georgia Waterfalls Database