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Sweetwater Preserve
4.6 ★★★★★ 384 Google reviews · Running trail in Gainesville, Florida · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Sweetwater Preserve'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.
Woodland park with wetlands, wildlife viewing & 3 mi. of unpaved walking trails.
What runners say about Sweetwater Preserve
“It is an incredibly well-maintained area that makes for a very nice, peaceful walk.”
“Beautiful little preserve with a few different of habitats that help make the short hike (an hour) interesting.”
“Lots of shade clearly marked trails and a stream that meanders through the property.”
“There were a bunch of cars in the parking lot but did not see anyone else, so nice and quiet walk in peace.”
“Love that it allows dogs, my dog loved sniffing everything and had lead the way until we couldn't figure out the trail.”
Very nice, well maintained park. There's dozens of trails here that wind through the woods and by lakes and rivers. Heard an abundance of wildlife, though I didn't see it. Trails are wide enough to run or bike in some places. Also, big plus, it's dog friendly!
Beautiful little preserve with a few different of habitats that help make the short hike (an hour) interesting. It's dog friendly, mostly shaded, and not crowded.
They just got done redesigning the parking area for Sweetwater preserve. It looks really really nice as of January 2023. It is a great place to hike two or three or 4 miles. Lots of shade clearly marked trails and a stream that meanders through the property.
Don’t forget the bug spray and wear light colors. Great for biking and hiking; dogs are welcome too. The new parking area is nice, from there if you hike/bike the main path, cross the bridge, head uphill to the sand flats, it will put you onto the rail trail that connects Depot Park to the north (left) and Alachua…
Trail conditions & character
“Beautiful little preserve with a few different of habitats that help make the short hike (an hour) interesting.”
“February 15, 2025 after dinner, we picked up Bronco then headed to La Chua Trail but they didn’t allow dogs so we went to Sweetwater Preserve and walked a few miles till dusk!”
“There were a bunch of cars in the parking lot but did not see anyone else, so nice and quiet walk in peace.”
“There were a bunch of cars in the parking lot but did not see anyone else, so nice and quiet walk in peace.”
“Lots of shade clearly marked trails and a stream that meanders through the property.”
“A bridge over the stream will take you to the other side which connects to the Gainesville Hawthorne paved trail.”
“(One just after marker 2, and one just at marker 5 just over the first bridge.”
“It’s clear that a lot of care goes into preserving the environment here while keeping the trails accessible for visitors.”
Plan your run at Sweetwater Preserve
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
- 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.
- ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
- Websitealachuacounty.us
- Phone(352) 264-6800
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 8 AM–7:30 PM |
| Tuesday | 8 AM–7:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 8 AM–7:30 PM |
| Thursday | 8 AM–7:30 PM |
| Friday | 8 AM–7:30 PM |
| Saturday | 8 AM–7:30 PM |
| Sunday | 8 AM–7:30 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 Wetlands Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 1,916 reviews
Manmade wetlands habitat with birds, crocodiles, boardwalk nature trails & ranger-led tours.
Bivens Arm Nature Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 237 reviews
Nature park featuring restrooms, trails, picnic tables, grills, a playground & more.
Boulware Springs Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 373 reviews
This trailhead park has picnic facilities, a 19th-century waterworks building & a natural spring.
Depot Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 4,715 reviews
This large park features a playground & splash pad, lawns, a large pond with a promenade & more.
Sweetwater Overlook
4.7 ★★★★★ 54 reviews
Scenic spot with a west-facing overlook where visitors can watch the sunset.
La Chua Trailhead
4.8 ★★★★★ 661 reviews
Boardwalk wildlife preserve at the site of an old horse farm featuring hiking trails and an elevated viewing platform, plus alligators and other animals.