Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail State Park, Rail trail in Gainesville, Florida, United States
The Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail State Park is a rail trail in Florida that follows a former railroad corridor connecting the city of Gainesville to the small town of Hawthorne. The paved surface runs parallel to a separate equestrian track and passes through Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park along the way.
The trail follows the route of a former railroad that once linked small towns across this part of Florida. Concrete mileage markers and whistle posts from that era are still visible along the path today.
The trail connects urban Gainesville to rural Hawthorne, passing through citrus groves, marshlands, and open prairie. As you walk or ride along it, the landscape shifts gradually from neighborhood streets to a world of wetlands and open sky.
The trail can be accessed from four points with parking, including Boulware Springs City Park and Prairie Creek Preserve. Choosing your starting point in advance helps, since each section offers a different type of terrain and a different feel.
The western section near Gainesville has noticeable rises and curves, which stands out in a state where most trails are flat. Many visitors are caught off guard by this change in the ground, making that part of the ride feel quite different from what they expected.
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