The University of Florida anchors Gainesville, with a large campus, numerous research centers, athletic facilities, and Lake Alice on its western end. One can puttogether a few miles of pleasant running just around the campus, making it longer by adding Museum Rd. past Lake Alice and Loblolly Woods just to the north.
Museum Rd./Alice Lake. Google Street View
For the campus section, we suggest creating your own route. The most pleasant section is between W University Ave. and Museum Rd., west of SW 13th St. A good place to start is Plaza of the Americas, and then take the paths past Carleton Stadium, and then along the iconic North Lawn, to the Welcome Center and Flavet Field. This is ~1.3 miles. Then, continue along Museum Rd. for 0.7 miles to the SW Recreation Field, which has lovely oaks and views of Alice Lake. Double back, cutting north on Village Dr./Fraternity Dr., Fraternity Row, to the Percy Beard Track. After a couple of track laps, you’d be at ~4 miles.
Longer Run: Loblolly Woods. It’s 1 mile west to Loblolly Woods, using University Ave. This 159-acre forested open space features wooded paths & boardwalks. It’s ~1.5 miles end-to-end. The Gainesville Solar Walk is along NW 8th Ave., which bisects the park.
The University of Florida anchors Gainesville, with a large campus, numerous research centers, athletic facilities, and Lake Alice on its western end. One can puttogether a few miles of pleasant running just around the campus, making it longer by adding Museum Rd. past Lake Alice and Loblolly Woods just to the north.
Museum Rd./Alice Lake. Google Street View
For the campus section, we suggest creating your own route. The most pleasant section is between W University Ave. and Museum Rd., west of SW 13th St. A good place to start is Plaza of the Americas, and then take the paths past Carleton Stadium, and then along the iconic North Lawn, to the Welcome Center and Flavet Field. This is ~1.3 miles. Then, continue along Museum Rd. for 0.7 miles to the SW Recreation Field, which has lovely oaks and views of Alice Lake. Double back, cutting north on Village Dr./Fraternity Dr., Fraternity Row, to the Percy Beard Track. After a couple of track laps, you’d be at ~4 miles.
Longer Run: Loblolly Woods. It’s 1 mile west to Loblolly Woods, using University Ave. This 159-acre forested open space features wooded paths & boardwalks. It’s ~1.5 miles end-to-end. The Gainesville Solar Walk is along NW 8th Ave., which bisects the park.
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Essentials
4-5 miles on campus, including Alice Lake & the running track. Longer run includes Loblolly Woods
Flat
On campus, at Welcome Ctr. or Plaza of the Americas
Choose a section of this 17+ mile paved multi-use trail that runs between Gainesville and Hawthorne. Most of the trail is quite scenic, passing through several parks and conservation areas.
Just south of downtown, there's some scenic running around this 125-acre man-made wetland habitat. There's a 3.5 mile trail, combination crushed gravel and boardwalk, with nice water and open grassland views. Add with Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail.
Depot Park is the largest park in central Gainesville. It's ~1 mile around the park on pleasant paved paths. Add with the Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail or the Waldo Ave. Greenway Depot Rail Trail.
Enjoy the leaf canopy and historic homes in the Duckpond and Pleasant St. historic districts near downtown. Haile Plantation is a 'new urbanism' community southwest of town that's enjoyable for running.
268-acre preserve is Gainesville's premier nature park. 6+ miles of trails winding through sandhill, flatwoods, cypress domes, and areas where native vegetation is being restored. The area is also known for its wildflowers.
Large state park in northwest of Gainesville good for easy to moderate trail running. 20+ miles of trails designated for off-road cycling, and 15 miles of hiking only trails. These trails have decent footing and meander through wooded terrain.
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Essentials
4-5 miles on campus, including Alice Lake & the running track. Longer run includes Loblolly Woods
Flat
On campus, at Welcome Ctr. or Plaza of the Americas
Review or Comment on This Route/Share a Photo!
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