Gainesville, FL Birding Trails and Maps

637 Reviews

Looking for the best Birding trails around Gainesville?

Find the top rated birding trails in Gainesville, whether you're looking for an easy short birding trail or a long birding trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a birding trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.

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Activities
Length
Surfaces
Type
19 Results
Activities
Length
Surfaces
Type

6th Street Rail Trail

1.7 mi
State: FL
Asphalt

Dunnellon Trail

2.5 mi
State: FL
Asphalt

Jacksonville-Baldwin Rail-Trail

14.6 mi
State: FL
Asphalt

Nature Coast State Trail

32 mi
State: FL
Asphalt

Palatka-to-Lake Butler State Trail

36.5 mi
State: FL
Asphalt

UF Campus Greenway

2.6 mi
State: FL
Asphalt

Withlacoochee Bay Trail

6.2 mi
State: FL
Asphalt

Withlacoochee State Trail

45.9 mi
State: FL
Asphalt, Boardwalk, Concrete

Archer Braid Trail

12.3 mi
State: FL
Asphalt

Doctors Lake Drive Bike Path

4.5 mi
State: FL
Asphalt

Gainesville Rail-Trails

7.5 mi
State: FL
Asphalt, Concrete

Ichetucknee to O'Leno Trail

12 mi
State: FL
Asphalt

Palatka Urban Trail

2 mi
State: FL
Asphalt

State Route 21 Multiuse Path

7 mi
State: FL
Asphalt

Black Creek Trail

8 mi
State: FL
Asphalt, Concrete
Trail Image Trail Name States Length Surface Rating
The West 6th St Trail utilizes an abandoned rail corridor that runs partially parallel to West 6th Street, through an urban area of Gainesville. The paved hiking and biking pathway connects to the...
FL 1.7 mi Asphalt
Lying largely within the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway, this trail begins just off Bridge Rd by a trail kiosk with a map of the route. This paved path passes through 2.5 miles of cypress...
FL 2.5 mi Asphalt
Overview Connecting the university town of Gainesville with rural Hawthorne, the 17.1-mile Gainesville-Hawthorne State Park Trail makes for a great day trip, complete with a hill or two and plenty...
FL 17.1 mi Asphalt
Overview    The Jacksonville-Baldwin Rail-Trail, one of north Florida's oldest, traverses a rural setting of hardwood uplands, wetlands and pine flatwoods. A straight, paved path with dense tree...
FL 14.6 mi Asphalt
The Marjorie Harris Carr Cross-Florida Greenway is on a mission to create a non-motorized conduit stretching 110 miles from the Gulf of Mexico to St. John’s River in Palatka. The corridor showcases...
FL 15.6 mi Asphalt
Overview One of the Sunshine State's best-kept trail secrets, the Nature Coast State Trail connects five small rural towns—Cross City, Old Town, Fanning Springs, Trenton, and Chiefland—along a...
FL 32 mi Asphalt
Overview Rolling out of the city’s west side, the Palatka-to-Lake Butler State Trail offers a slice of quiet paradise, journeying about 36.5 miles to Keystone Heights through well-canopied forests,...
FL 36.5 mi Asphalt
Overview The Palatka-to-St. Augustine State Trail runs 21 miles between the southwest outskirts of St. Augustine and Palatka, passing through the communities of Vermont Heights, Elkton, Armstrong,...
FL 21 mi Asphalt
The UF Campus Greenway was completed in 2016 and now winds across the University of Florida in Gainesville, uniting the east and west sides of the sprawling school grounds. The beautiful, paved trail...
FL 2.6 mi Asphalt
The Withlacoochee Bay Trail extends from the Gulf, north of Crystal River and south of Inglis, nearly 5 miles east to just beyond North Suncoast Boulevard. The trail provides access to a 758-acre...
FL 6.2 mi Asphalt
Closure Notice: Portions of the Withlacoochee State Trail are closed for a resurfacing project beginning August 12th, 2024. Closed sections include between MM 27 and MM 30.5 and MM 35.8 and 36.2. See...
FL 45.9 mi Asphalt, Boardwalk, Concrete
Overview The Archer Braid Trail runs for over 12 miles between Archer and Gainesville in north-central Florida.  About the Route The Archer Braid Trail is paved along most of its route and...
FL 12.3 mi Asphalt
Running alongside the CSX railroad tracks on the north side of Doctors Lake Drive, this 10- to 12-foot-wide  paved path offers joggers, walkers and bicyclists a scenic 4.5-mile long trail perfect for...
FL 4.5 mi Asphalt
Overview The Waldo Road Greenway, Depot Avenue Rail-Trail, the Kermit Sigmon Bike Trail and the Old Archer Road Trail are all part of Gainesville's ever-expanding rail-trail network. The Waldo...
FL 7.5 mi Asphalt, Concrete
This 12-mile paved path joins two outstanding north central Florida state parks, Ichetucknee Springs and O'Leno. The greenway goes through the town of Fort White and includes a little rolling terrain....
FL 12 mi Asphalt
The Palatka Urban Trail is a connector between the Lake Butler-Palatka section and the Palatka-St. Augustine Trail. It was completed in 2013 and stretches about 2 miles. The western half of the trail...
FL 2 mi Asphalt
Paralleling State Route 21, this multiuse path provides an important connection between the charming community of Keystone Heights and Gold Head Branch State Park. The trail begins downtown at a...
FL 7 mi Asphalt
Suwannee River Greenway includes an east-west route between the Suwannee and Ichetucknee rivers, as well as a short north-south section the starts mid-way between the two rivers and heads to the Santa...
FL 14 mi Asphalt
The Black Creek Trail parallels U.S. Highway 17, from Orange Park south to Black Creek Park near Lakeside, FL, just south of Jacksonville. Passing through scenic forest and wetlands, the trail...
FL 8 mi Asphalt, Concrete

Recent Trail Reviews

Jacksonville-Baldwin Rail-Trail

THE IS A MESS

October, 2024 by malcolm14

It has been a week since the storm came thought, The Trail is a Mess!!! Needs to be cleaned up right away.

Doctors Lake Drive Bike Path

Dr.’s Lake Drive Bike Trail

September, 2024 by asimpson50

Doctors Lake bike Trail was my first bike ride since I started biking again. It’s not very scenic except for the animated faces on some of the trees that line the trail. The people that were out either bike riding or jogging or just walking were all very friendly. It was nice to see other people out doing activities.

Palatka-to-Lake Butler State Trail

It’s really a great trail!!

September, 2024 by geegee6519

We started (10:30 am) at Twin Lakes Park In Keystone Heights (has nice picnic tables and clean restrooms), they should have a sign here. Out of parking lot turn right (left is toward Keystone- to Hampton) we headed toward Palatka. We rode 12.5 miles out to Baywood, few miles past Floraville - cute place stop, with restrooms and tables. On way out the first 2-3 miles is lots of sun, after that good shade and more sun. Mile 3 from twin lakes park is the Sunoco gas Station, mile 8 is a circle K gas station. We did see a small Black bear on trial. I road a regular road bike and hubby on his Ebike. The trail conditions were great! Only time I heard traffic was if a semi came by your in the trees. It’s not bad.

Accordion

Withlacoochee State Trail

Trail is closed at the moment

September, 2024 by adamdb3600

Trail closed, drove to get here and found out with signs up at all the crossings in our area.

https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/withlacoochee-state-trail

Withlacoochee Bay Trail

Good trail for shorter rides

September, 2024 by robinjackson459

This is a great trail. If you don’t have all day to get a work out. It goes along a beautiful canal that leads to the Gulf of Mexico. The complete stretch round-trip is a little over 13 miles. There are areas where there’s beautiful views and several places to stop to take in the scenery. We also saw a lot of wildlife. Well maintained. Good for riding bikes, horseback riding, or walking.

Palatka-to-Lake Butler State Trail

Keystone Heights to Palatka Segment

August, 2024 by 85osprey

I rode this a couple of weeks ago, starting at the Florahome Trailhead, approximately 10.5 miles east of the Keystone Heights Trailhead. This segment is in real good condition, although there are quite a few tree limbs hanging down that need to be trimmed back. Even with an early start, most of the trail was under the Sun. It is approximately 12 miles from Florahome to the end of the paved trail, a few miles west of Palatka. I've now ridden the entire paved section from Hampton to Palatka, approximately 31.5 miles. Surprised at how lightly traveled this trail is compared to the Jacksonville-Baldwin Rail Trail which is only 14.5 miles in length.

Palatka-to-St. Augustine State Trail

Nice Trail

August, 2024 by gerbie53

Did not ride the complete trail but it’s August in Florida so… We did enjoy the part we rode from the nice little park in Elkton to East Palatka. I wish we could have crossed the St John’s River but it was just a bit too far. The next time we’re in the area we can complete the journey!

Palatka-to-Lake Butler State Trail

parking just west of palatka airport

July, 2024 by esqbarger

You will see parking area just a little ways past the Palatka airport Wonderful trail quiet, smooth, shady Beautiful old oaks and gentle streams No major road crossings

Ichetucknee to O'Leno Trail

Yes it’s the paved trail that runs along the highway

July, 2024 by rbz28hz9pp

Drove to south entrance of Ichetucknee State park and it was not clear where the trail began, so we went to the north entrance, which is NOT the right place. Drove to O’Leno State Park and noticed a paved trail along the high meat again.

Nature Coast State Trail

Quiet & Beautiful Skate Trail!

June, 2024 by brookeypav

Did the entire trail and came in with 64 miles overall on roller skates. Started Trenton. The Trenton asphalt isn’t too great quality but it is doable. The Suwannee River Bridge is beautiful but usually where the traffic of the trail is. Skated to the end in Cross City. It’s very open in this section which can be difficult with wind. I will say the surface is better in this leg. Skated back from Cross City and took the Wilcox Junction to Chiefland. The Chiefland leg is shaded and has a good quality surface for most of it. All three of the depots are cute. I think Chiefland’d depot is the prettiest….but also getting to it sucks since you must cross a busy road. Overall, this trail is quiet and a beautiful tel. Saw a garter snake and lots of rabbits

Jacksonville-Baldwin Rail-Trail

Imeson parking lot under construction

June, 2024 by kevievn

We went last week and the Imeson lot was under construction. Had to go to the one near Camp Milton. Too bad this isn't listed on any site. Otherwise the trail is in great shape. Nice smooth asphalt.

Black Creek Trail

Disappointing

June, 2024 by mlafferty54

I had an appointment in the area so decided to combine a ride. Not worth the trouble. The trail is poorly maintained and the long section of wooden bridge is old, warped and teeth-chattering. Traffic noise made conditions worse. Overall an unpleasant ride. I hope NE Florida will up its trail game some day.

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Accordion

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