O’Leno State Park Trails
O’Leno State Park is officially designated as part of Florida’s Statewide System of Greenways and Trails. One of Florida’s original state parks, O’Leno is located on the banks of the scenic Santa Fe River, a tributary of the Suwannee River. The major feature of the park is the Santa Fe land bridge. The Santa Fe River disappears and flows underground for more than three miles before it again becomes a surface stream at River Rise. O’Leno and its sister park, River Rise Preserve State Park, encompass over 6,000 acres in Alachua and Columbia Counties.
Major Activities: Hiking, Biking, Mountain Biking, Equestrian
Trail Length/Surface: 2.0 miles for paved entrance road; 13.0 miles for dirt and sand double and single tracks
Fee: Park Admission
County: Alachua, Columbia
Nearby Towns: High Springs, Gainesville
Notes:
The biking and hiking trails both begin at the suspension bridge by the park’s swimming area.
The River Trail (hiking) takes you along the river to the "river sink" where the river disappears underground. The Wire Trail is the easiest to find from the campground. It’s a double track trail with hard dirt surface and some long sandy stretches. Jug Lake and Sweetwater are both single track trails. Sweetwater is mostly within the upper floodplain and may be impassable during periods when the river is high. Parener’s Loop is a smooth double track trail.
Also, look for the Limestone Trail (not shown on the map) which is a loop hiking trail that passes through a hardwood hammock, past a limestone outcrop and then by a pine forest. It can be reached on the left side of the paved park road.
Access/Directions:
From High Springs, take Hwy 441/41 north to the park entrance.
From Gainesville, take Interstate 75 North to Exit 78 (new Exit 399) to Hwy 441. Head west on Hwy 441 through High Springs where it merges with Hwy 41. Follow Hwy 441/41 north to the park entrance.
Contact Information:
O’Leno State Park
Rt. 2 Box 1010
High Springs, 32643
(386) 454-1853
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