Best Outdoor Things to Do Near UF: A Freshman’s Guide

Welcome to Gainesville, Gators! When classes, clubs, and game days get busy, a little fresh air can reset your brain fast. This guide highlights on-campus places to walk, study outside, or decompress—plus nearby trails and parks you can reach quickly without a car. Distances are noted where reliable sources are available, and everything here is freshman-friendly. For a full list of things to do, please visit our "Things To Do" page.

Right on campus, Lake Alice is famous for quiet boardwalks, turtles, wading birds—and yes, occasional alligators (observe from a distance). It sits across from the UF Bat Houses, making a perfect back-to-back sunset outing. The lake is one of the few places inside Gainesville where you can see gators in the wild; a woodland boardwalk on the north side leads to a viewing platform. 

Wikipedia

UF is home to the world’s largest occupied bat houses. Plan to arrive a little before sunset; thousands of bats pour out 15–20 minutes after the sun dips. There are benches along Museum Road facing the western sky—just watch and enjoy. 

Florida Museum

Tucked into the UF Health academic campus, Wilmot offers camellias, shady paths, and small themed spaces like the Hippocratic Garden—a favorite for a quiet walk between classes or appointments. Mission-wise, the gardens support therapeutic horticulture and provide a peaceful respite in the middle of campus life. 

Next to the Florida Museum, the Harn’s outdoor spaces include an Asian Rock Garden designed by Hoichi Kurisu and a walkable Asian Water Garden—free to visit and a great spot to read or reflect when you’re at the Cultural Plaza. 

Harn Museum of Art

Behind the museums you’ll find 60 acres of woods, prairie, and short nature loops (¼-mile upland trails and a ~½-mile SEEP loop). Picnic tables and a pavilion make this a low-key study escape that still feels “wild.” 

Below are close-in parks and trails with approximate distance from core campus (near Reitz Union / UF Health). Think of these as easy wins when you’ve got an hour or two.

Gainesville’s signature downtown park features a pond, lawns, a playground, and a short loop path. It’s also a launch point for the paved Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail (see below). 

A 16-mile paved rail-trail popular with runners, walkers, and cyclists. Start at Depot Park for in-town miles, or head to Boulware Springs trailhead for quick access into prairie views. 

Boardwalks and levee paths form ~3.5 miles of easy loops with birds everywhere (250+ species recorded). Many students use the perimeter as a relaxed run/walk loop—go early or near sunset for cooler temps. 

A classic Gainesville experience: walk out to the prairie edge for wide-open views and frequent wildlife sightings. Historically ~3 miles roundtrip; portions have seen closures after flooding—check current conditions before you go. 

Shady creek-side paths in the Hogtown/Possum Creek corridor; easy out-and-back options and short loop segments. Great when you want woods without leaving town. 

An ~1.4–1.5-mile loop along Hogtown Creek with a scenic overlook where clear spring water meets tannic creek flow—peaceful and close. 

Boardwalks and shaded footpaths around a marshy arm of Paynes Prairie; plan on up to ~1–2 miles of easy loops. Quiet, bird-rich, and close. 

Sunset double-feature: Lake Alice boardwalk → cross to the UF Bat Houses for emergence 15–20 minutes after sunset. 

Cultural Plaza chill: Florida Museum visit → Harn Museum gardens → short NATL loop → study session at Camellia Court Café. 

Downtown cardio: Jog from campus to Depot Park → hop on the Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail for extra miles → cool down at the lawn. 

Prairie day: Morning run at Sweetwater Wetlands Park → quick snack → La Chua Trail boardwalk for sunset wildlife. 

gainesvillefl.gov

Hydrate and time your outings. Early morning or pre-sunset is best in late summer.

Wildlife etiquette. Admire gators, bats, and birds from a distance; stay on boardwalks and marked trails. (La Chua and Sweetwater are fantastic for viewing—just keep space.) 

Footing & sun. Boardwalks can be slick after rain; gravel levees get bright at midday—bring a hat.

Quick reference: distances & highlights

Lake Alice (on campus): wildlife boardwalk + Baughman Center nearby. 

UF Bat Houses (on campus): world’s largest occupied bat houses; best 15–20 mins after sunset. 

Florida Museum

Wilmot Botanical Gardens (on campus): quiet gardens in the Health Center; therapeutic horticulture mission. 

Visit Gainesville

Harn Museum Gardens (on campus): Asian Rock & Water Gardens at the museum (free). 

NATL (on campus): short nature loops and prairie/woodland habitat. 

Depot Park (~1.4 mi): downtown pond & greenspace; connects to G-H Trail. 

Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail (access from Depot or Boulware Springs): paved ~16 mi rail-trail. 

Sweetwater Wetlands Park (~2.7 mi): ~3.5 mi of boardwalks/levees; birding & easy running loop. 

La Chua Trail (~3 mi to trailheads): classic prairie boardwalk; length may vary with closures. 

Loblolly Woods (close NW): creek-side trails; easy out-and-back. 

Alfred A. Ring Park (close N): ~1.4–1.5-mi loop on Hogtown Creek. 

Bivens Arm Nature Park (close S): up to ~1–2 mi of loops + boardwalk. 

Pick 8–10 spots from this guide and set a goal to check one off each week of your first semester. Mix short resets (Wilmot, Harn gardens, Lake Alice) with longer escapes (Sweetwater, La Chua, Hawthorne Trail). By finals, you’ll know your Gainesville—shady benches, golden-hour boardwalks, and all.