Gainesville-Hawthorne Rails-to-Trails Ride- Sunday, March 22nd

This ride departs right at 10:00 at the Hawthorne end of the trail. This is different from last year where we started from the Gainesville end at Boulware Springs trailhead. From Hawthorne to Gainesville you start out the first 75% of the trail on flat, gradeless paved rail bed. This portion of the trail is very wooded with the exception of small hamlets along the way. It is mostly a canopied forest. As you approach Paynes Prairie, which is to the south, there are some hills until your reach a section with some short but steep hills for a short distance as the trail diverts from the original rail bed.

We are starting this ride a little later because we want to give those that are camping time to pull-up their stakes and pack the car and drive the more than 20 minutes up the road to the trailhead. The easiest way to get to Hawthorne, regardless if you are camping or not, is to take County Road 234 until you reach S.R. 20. Take a right, going east until you come to Hawthorne. S.R. 20 passes over U.S. 301 as a large interchange and as you exit down the ramp there is a little trick in that you must take an immediate right onto SE 221st St which is about 100 feet before the U.S. 301 highway. This "side street" is the old main road through town. You drive through town about 5 blocks to SE 71st Ave where you will make another right. Down 71st, just a couple of blocks on the left is a driveway down to the Hawthorne trailhead.

The entire trail length is 18 miles. Last year only Dennis did the entire length. There are no places to fetch food or drink along the entire path, so come prepared with sufficient water and sport drinks and bring snacks and lunch.

Here are additional links regarding this state trail, directions are included.

Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail

Friends of the Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail

Last year's Wilderness Trekker experience

Click on these thumbnails to explore more about this ride.