Split in half by SR 26 east of downtown Gainesville, Newnans Lake State Forest provides miles of trails for outdoor enthusiasts to wander.
The eastern side of the property borders its namesake lake, with a pair of loop trails designated for hiking and biking starting from the Lake Pithlachocco trailhead.
Both trails cross a variety of habitats on their way to an interpretive display describing intriguing ancient artifacts unearthed along the lake’s muddy shoreline.
Newnans LakeResources
Disclosure: As authors and affiliates, we receive earnings when you buy through our links. This helps us provide public information on this website.
Overview
Location: Gainesville
Length: 2.8 miles
Trailhead: 29.661111, -82.254444
Address: 1404 NE 55th Boulevard, Gainesville
Fees: $2 per vehicle
Restrooms: None
Land manager: Florida State Forests
Phone: 352-395-4932
Open sunrise to sunset. Leashed dogs welcome.
Directions
From Interstate 75 exit 387, follow Newberry Rd east 1.1 miles. Turn left on 8th Ave. After 5.1 miles, use the traffic circle to turn south onto NE 9th St. In a half mile, turn left on SR 24. Continue 2.7 miles and make a left onto SR 26. After 0.8 mile, the trailhead is on the right side of the road.
Hike
At the north end of the parking area, red and blue markers alongside a fence gap mark a shared trailhead for the cycling and hiking loops.
Passing through the fence, take a short walk over to an information kiosk, picnic table, and solar powered speaker that describes the forest and trails when a silver button is pushed.
Trailhead map and picnic tableThe trails head eastward away from the kiosk, weaving along a leaf-strewn pathway under a shady canopy of pines and mixed hardwood trees.
Crossing over a creek at 0.2 mile on a wooden bridge, look for a sign indicating the start of the hiking loop with a pair of arrows.
Creek bridgeTurning right, keep an eye on red markers as they lead the way across a few intersections with the blue blazed Mountain Bike Trail.
Chickasaw plums, beautyberry shrubs, and hog plums dot the understory, covered in creeping grapevines and yellow jessamine.
Trail intersectionWind through former pine plantations and around edges of small clearings. Large tufts of grass begin to carpet the forest floor as the trail descends along slightly undulating terrain.
Stately live oaks take advantage of high spots in the seasonal swamplands, thriving in the rich soils alongside sweetgum and cypress trees.
Live oak benchReaching the 1.5 mile mark, the trail opens to a small field where a dugout canoe replica rests alongside sweeping views of the Newnans Lake.
Inside the canoe, a book contains laminated pages describing how a team had constructed the boat using information from excavations on a nearby shoreline.
An information kiosk describes where and how the historic canoes had been found, and the original name of the lake, Pithlachocco.
Canoe replicaFrom this point, follow the red trail markers westward, passing bricks and an old concrete trough, remnants of more recent human activity.
The hiking loop crosses the bike route a final time before concluding near the creek bridge at 2.6 miles. Continue for 0.2 mile along the shared section of trail to reach the trailhead.
Old troughTrail Map
Explore More!
Explore the west side of Newnans Lake State Forest
Newnans Lake West Hiking Trail A set of connected loop trails explore wet flatwoods, sparrow-filled pastures, and planted pines on the western slope of Newnans Lake State Forest. Video
Hiking the East Hiking Trail at Newnans Lake State Forest
Nearby Adventures
Morningside Nature Center Since 1970, Morningside Nature Center has been Gainesville's flagship nature park, protecting the largest stand of longleaf pine savanna remaining within city limits.
Loblolly Woods Nature Park Protecting 159 acres of lush forests along the confluence of Possum Creek and Hogtown Creek, Loblolly Woods Nature Park is a beauty spot in urban Gainesville.
Buck Bay Flatwoods Preserve An excellent example of conservation of natural lands, Buck Bay Flatwoods provides a pair of loop trails through a gradient of habitats including restored pine flatwoods.
Little Orange Creek Preserve Protected uplands and wetlands converge where a set of trails lead to observation platforms overlooking scenic vistas of the Little Orange Creek watershed. 
- Calusa Heritage Trail - November 5, 2026
- Scherer Thaxton Preserve - October 21, 2026
- Little Awesome Preserve - October 19, 2026