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Boulware Springs Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 373 Google reviews · Running trail in Gainesville, Florida · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Not reported
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Boulware Springs Park's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
This trailhead park has picnic facilities, a 19th-century waterworks building & a natural spring.
What runners say about Boulware Springs Park
“It's gorgeous and a great trail for skating, and if you're lucky you might run into the trail kitty 💖 Offer him cheese and lots of pets, he deserves it.”
“It was a nice little place even all boarded up, the sound of running water and wildlife running around it was a peaceful place at least for me.”
Just park the car and start walking and you just be amazed at all the wildlife you'll see. Occasionally I see a person who lives in fear wearing a mask but for the most part it's a worry-free area open skies and trees and wind are a lot safer than a lot of people in a small enclosed space because when you look over…
We took a bike ride on the Hawthorne trail beginning here at Bouware Springs. The bike trail has some hills at this point which makes it a wonderful place to ride. We road about 15 miles.
Highly recommend. If you go left, you will run into Payne's Prairie trail. Follow for about a mile and you will see lots of wildlife.
This is the trailhead of Gainesville Hawthorne bike trail. I come here so much when I do my missionary work. The trail is about 20 miles out and back I like going to the left away from Gainesville it's very scenic very peaceful very quiet. It's a great place also to walk the dog.
Trail conditions & character
“It's gorgeous and a great trail for skating, and if you're lucky you might run into the trail kitty 💖 Offer him cheese and lots of pets, he deserves it.”
“The greatest part of this area is likely the trailhead that connects to it(which I believe is part of the Hawthorne Trail and Sweetwater Preserve instead).”
“It was a nice little place even all boarded up, the sound of running water and wildlife running around it was a peaceful place at least for me.”
“The old water works building is currently boarded up and awaiting repairs, so there are no restrooms here.”
“The water fountain does not work, so no drinking water either.”
Plan your run at Boulware Springs Park
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms, water — reported by runners
- Websitegainesvillefl.gov
- Phone(352) 334-5067
Hours
| Monday | 7 AM–7 PM |
| Tuesday | 7 AM–7 PM |
| Wednesday | 7 AM–7 PM |
| Thursday | 7 AM–7 PM |
| Friday | 7 AM–7 PM |
| Saturday | 7 AM–6 PM |
| Sunday | 7 AM–6 PM |
Running trails near Gainesville
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Sweetwater Overlook
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Sweetwater Wetlands Park
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