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karst along Mill Creek

Alachua

Established in 1884 north of Gainesville along the Savannah, Florida and Western Railway, Alachua has a compact historic downtown surrounded by farms and a scattering of natural lands

Horses at Mill Creek Farm

Alachua sits just south of US 441 as it heads under Interstate 75 on its way into High Springs to the west. This means a lot of people get off the interstate here, but they don’t necessarily find the little downtown with its brick storefronts, or go looking for natural lands.

The northern end of San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park touches the south end of town, and it’s here that mountain bikers will find an extensive trail system. Beneath the town are natural tunnels through the Floridan Aquifer that cave divers have followed for miles.

To the north is Mill Creek Preserve with its unusual karst features and northern decidious forest, plus other natural lands in the Santa Fe River basin. Mill Creek Farms is a rescue and retirement center for horses, where admission is a bag of carrots.

Don’t miss Florida’s largest live oak, which has its own park in this rural corner of the county.

Resources

North Florida Panhandle Explorers Guide book cover 50 Hikes in North Florida book cover Complete Guide to Florida Wildflowers Hikers Guide to the Sunshine State book cover

Disclosure: As authors and affiliates, we receive earnings when you buy these through our links. This helps us continue to provide public information on this website.

Trails and Parks Near Alachua

The Cellon Oak

Cellon Oak Park

Cellon Oak Park
Mill Creek Preserve

Mill Creek Preserve

Mill Creek Preserve
San Felasco Hammock

San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park

San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park

Related Articles

Santa Fe River Preserve (Tom Kay)

Grand opening of Santa Fe River Preserve

November 18, 2017//  by Sandra Friend

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