Gainesville-Hawthorne Rails-to-Trails Ride- Sunday, March 21nd

This ride departs right at 10:00 at the Boulware Spring trailhead in the southern suburbs of Gainesville. This ride is a rails-to-trail state trail that is mostly flat riding on a well-paved pathway. The entire length of the trail is 16 miles; however, we are going to ride a few of the spurs that take you out to vistas of Paynes Prairie, which will add another 4 miles to the trip. In the years past, we basically ride out on this trail as far as we like, mostly as a group, but some individuals will turn back once they have reached their limit, knowing the distance out is the distance they must pedal back. 

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 trailhead is in a residential and heavy use area, so you will not be leaving your car in some remote location. 

The first spur is just a short distance from the start. It is an open view of the dry lake where their will be opportunity to see buffalo that the state has introduced to the prairie as well as wild horses. The next stop is another short distance where we park our bikes at the work camp and take a quarter mile hike to the Alachua sink. This is where the lake drains into the limestone caverns below. The third spur is about another mile up the trail and it takes you through open meadow pocked with pine, oak and wild plum. This lengthy spur takes you down to the rim of the prairie for another look south toward Paynes Prairie State Park. If it is not too late in the season, the plum trees will be in full bloom.

From the open area just past the Chula spur, the trail takes a windy and slightly hilly weave through a forest that looks more in common with Georgia. After the fast and blind curves, the trail straightens out and during the spring time, is a lust tunnel of fresh green leaves. Except for a couple of small streams and an occassional swamp, the trail remains flat, straight and easy to pedal. The trail is a fairly remote route with no expectation of convenient stores or restaurants. So come well nurished, bring a lunch and plenty of hydration. If I remember, there is one porta potty about 2/3rd of the way out (I hope I have not got my trails mixed up). But come prepared with the expectation that the only rest rooms are at the trail heads. 

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.