16.75 miles long. (34 miles round trip). The four miles near Gainesville are hilly, the rest is flat. There are two restrooms along trail, one about 2 miles from Gainesville, the other about midpoint of trail, and one in the Hawthorne parking lot. There are two branches to scenic overlooks in the hilly section. If you bike the entire trail, including to and from each scenic overlook once, you will get 35.2 miles. Ride straight past Bouleware Springs turn off to get to Depot Park. You will come to a second Y in the trail as you enter town. Take the right branch to get to Depot Park. There are picnic tables, restrooms, and a burger joint at Depot Park.
Driving directions from Inverness to Hawthorne: E on SR 44, N on I-75 to SR 326 (N of Ocala). E on SR 326, N on US 301 (speed traps) to Hawthorne. Just prior to Texaco, see brown trail sign indicating left turn onto SE 2nd Ave. Follow brown signs across RR tracks to parking lot.
Some folks like to stop at the Prairie Boardwalk on the way back to the car and walk in to view gator and birds. The walk is about 1.5 miles round trip.
Note: You can extend the ride by biking South on CR 234 seven miles to Micanopy, which you enter as you cross US 441. Restaurants in Micanopy may be busy. There is ice cream. The service station at the NW corner of 234 and 441 serves BBQ, burgers, beans, slaw, etc. with little waiting.
Also check out other Trips & Adventurous Activities in Hawthorne.
