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Take a Walk on the Wild Side: Local Pet-Friendly Parks & Trails
KANAPAHA VETERAN PARK
Take A Walk On The Wild Side:
Local Pet-Friendly Parks and Trails
BY JACQUELINE SAGUIN
Finding a place to spend the weekend in the sun is an easy task for humans, but what about the places you can also take your four-legged friend? Get your dog's tail waggin' and your horseshoes stompin' by taking them to one of these local nature spots.
SQUIRREL RIDGE PARK free
1603 SW Williston Road, Gainesville, FL 32608 leashed pets welcome Need a place for your active pet to run around? Look no further. This grassy park gives your dog plenty of space to stretch their legs. It offers water and shade for when your panting pup needs a break. There’s also separate fenced areas for small and big dogs. And if your dog wants to cool off, take advantage of the hoses, buckets and doggie pool. Open 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.
O’LENO STATE PARK 410 SE Oleno Park Rd, High Springs, FL 32643 $5 per vehicle; leashed pets and horses welcome Another favorite among horse lovers, this nature park provides shaded trails stretching for 11 miles. Try your hand at canoeing or fishing along the Santa Fe River during your visit. This trail also connects to the River Rise Preserve State Park trail, adding 35 miles of multi-use trails which applies to horseback riding. Open 8 a.m. to sunset daily.
BARR HAMMOCK PRESERVE free
300 SE 175th Ave, Micanopy, FL 32667 horses welcome Although this park doesn’t allow dogs due to its alligator sightings, it’s a great place for equestrians to horseback ride. There are two trails designated for horses. The Piney Woods Loop offers a trail reaching 4.5 miles in length. It takes you through the forest on sandy and partially shaded ground. The Still Branch Crossing path crosses the creek. Preserve hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
POSSUM CREEK PARK free
4009 NW 53rd Ave, Gainesville, FL 32653 leashed pets welcome, off-leash area available Let the games begin! This family-friendly park caters to your recreational needs, featuring a skate park, mowed fields, playground and picnic pavilion. Aside from this, it allows an off-leash dog area, so your pet can fully enjoy the serene atmosphere. Open dawn to dusk daily.
KANAPAHA VETERAN MEMORIAL PARK free
7400 SW 41st Place, Gainesville, FL 32608 leashed pets welcome There’s a little something for everyone here — playground equipment, sports fields, nestled nature trails and a veterans memorial. Covered pavilions make the perfect setting for a party or picnic. And it’s an open, well-maintained space for pets to roam. Open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
DEVIL’S MILLHOPPER GEOLOGICAL STATE PARK
4732 Millhopper Road, Gainesville, FL 32653 $2 per cyclist or pedestrian, $4 per vehicle, leashed pets welcome Walk around this natural landmark. Although pets are not allowed on the staircase into the sinkhole, there are nature trails on either side so you have a chance to hear its surrounding waterfalls. Open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
BOULWARE SPRINGS NATURE PARK free
3300 SE 15th St., Gainesville, FL 32641 leashed pets and horses welcome A therapeutic retreat from Gainesville, Boulware Springs is the trailhead for the 17-mile Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail. Unload your horses to ride along the moss-ridden, equestrian trail, which is largely used by hikers, bicyclists and horseback riders. Visit its historic building or take a seat at the picnic areas for a quick snack. And observe Sweetwater Preserve and Payne’s Prairie from your walk! Open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
GILCHRIST BLUE SPRINGS STATE PARK
7450 NE 60th St, High Springs, FL 32643 $4 to $6 per vehicle, leashed pets welcome Although pets aren’t welcome to swim, feel free to walk them on the nature trail around the clear blue springs, which is a 1.75-mile hike. Open 8 a.m. until sunset daily. Be sure to consider parking because its first come, first serve.
MARJORIE KINNAN RAWLINGS HISTORIC STATE PARK
18700 S, Co Road 325, Cross Creek, FL 32640 $3 per vehicle, guided tours $2 to $3 per person, leashed pets welcome Enjoy a little piece of history with your pet at the late Pulitzerwinning novelist’s estate. Immerse yourself in Marjorie Kinnan Rawling's life and see the natural surroundings that inspired her novel “The Yearling,” which became an Oscar-winning film. Tour her home with your pet in tow – pets must be carried on house tours. Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
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POSSUM CREEK PARK
GILCHRIST BLUE SPRINGS
Leashes Are Law Alachua County requires that dogs off their owner’s property must be controlled by a leash or kept within an enclosed space at all times. Alachua County offers designated off-leash areas at some of its parks. Most Florida parks don’t permit pets on beaches, swimming areas or playgrounds.
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DEPOT PARK free
874 SE 4th St., Gainesville, FL 32601 leashed pets welcome People breeze past on roller blades and little twinkles sound from a bell rang by children at the play area. Depot Park is that wide open space you need to take a breath of fresh air. It’s open to pets on leashes, but only service dogs are allowed in the Children’s Play Area. There’s no shortage of things to do here. An outer trail tracing the edge of the park is an 0.8-mile loop, which connects to the 6th Street Rail to Trail. After you walk your pet on the trail, stop at the Pop-a-Top General Store. It has snacks, food, drinks and toys. The pathways are shared by walkers and cyclists, but leave plenty of room for you and your pooch. Grassy areas and picnic tables allow for relaxation. The lit areas in the park are open from dawn to 11:30 p.m.
SAN FELASCO HAMMOCK PRESERVE STATE PARK
11101 Millhopper Road, Gainesville, FL 32653 $4 per vehicle - correct change is required. $2 for pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers. Leashed pets and horses welcome A great place for hikers, bicyclists and horseback riders alike, the San Felasco park offers adventurous trails for everyone. The southern two-thirds of the park are designated for hiking, only to ensure a quiet wilderness experience, while the northern third features horse trails, off-road cycling as well as hiking. Like most of these horse
DEPOT PARK
friendly trails, equestrians must carry proof of a negative Coggins test. It’s open 8 a.m. to sunset daily.
ALFRED A. RING PARK free
1801 NW 23rd Blvd, Gainesville, FL 32605 leashed pets welcome This dense forest features old trees and rare wildflowers along its trail. It’s 1.5 miles around, and brings you close to the Hogtown Creek. Be sure to keep your pets and children away from the creek as swimming isn’t permitted. Open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
LAKE ALTO PRESERVE free South Trail, 18795 NE 132 nd Ave., Waldo, FL 32694 horses welcome This 4.6-mile unpaved trek through the forest offers a generally flat trail for horseback riders. Although there are no restrooms or picnic facilities, there’s a dock that gives a beautiful look over the preserve. Equestrians and cyclists can walk a trail parallel to the hikers’ path along the canal bank.
FOREST PARK free
4501 SW 20th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32607 leashed pets welcome, off-leash area available This simple park is a quiet solace for you and your pet. If there’s a games at one of the park’s surrounding sports fields, feel free to let your pet off the leash at the designated off-leash area. Open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
Where NOT to bring your pet
Beware of alligators! Any body of water in a town known as “The Swamp” comes with its risks. Forego this danger or being turned away from parks by looking ahead of time. Here are a few of the nature parks that don’t allow pets:
SWEETWATER WETLANDS PARK 325 SW Williston Road, Gainesville, FL 32601 Horseback riding, biking, camping and driving cars on the trail are not allowed. And because of wildlife activity, there are no pets allowed in the park.
MORNINGSIDE NATURE CENTER 3540 E University Ave, Gainesville, FL 32641 Although most of Gainesville’s public parks welcome leashed pets, they’re not permitted at the Morningside Nature Center, the Morningside Living History Farm or on the hiking trails.
LA CHUA TRAIL 4801 Camp Ranch Road, Gainesville, FL 32641 The swampy parts of this nature trail at Payne’s Prairie pose a threat to dogs, on-or-off leash. This location is known for its gator presence, so don’t endanger your pet or others. Dogs are strictly prohibited. In fact, Payne’s Prairie doesn’t allow pets on any of its trails, but they are welcome to the park area.
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