Turkey Creek Preserve
is open to public access as of 5pm Friday, 8/27/21. Three sections of
trail are closed due to unsafe conditions including flooding, erosion, and
hazardous trees. Loop routes are still possible with open trails.
Carefully review trail closure maps posted at preserve trailheads before
beginning your trip. For your safety, please respect preserve and trail
closures and stay off of closed trail areas.
The 376 acre, Turkey Creek Preserve
was purchased in 2009 with funding from the Wild Spaces Public Places sales tax
and is located between the cities of Gainesville and Alachua. This important acquisition helps buffer the
adjacent San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park providing more habitat for
wildlife and lessening developmental impacts to these natural areas. The Preserve encompasses many ecosystems
including basin swamp, depression marsh, bottomland forest, hydric hammock, upland
hardwood forest, black water streams, and sinkholes.
The preserve is home to a population
of native poppy mallows—an endangered plant species in Florida. A can’t miss is the large live oak tree along
the southern part of the Pineland Loop where visitors can relax on a bench
under the shade overlooking a large sinkhole.
The preserve’s namesake, Turkey Creek, meanders through about ¾ of a
mile in the north and east portions of the preserve. This creek flows through rural, suburban, and
agricultural areas before entering San Felasco Hammock where it enters into a
sinkhole draining into the Floridan Aquifer.
This means preserving this land helps protect not just the creek itself,
but also the source of our drinking water.
Visitors
can enjoy 5 miles of trails at Turkey Creek Preserve for hiking, off-road
bicycling, horse-back riding, and wildlife viewing. Please refer to the brochures and kiosk maps
before starting your route as some trails do not allow for bikes or
horses. Additionally, visitors can take
advantage of the ½ mile Fitness Trail with 7 work-out stations offering a
unique opportunity to skip the gym and exercise outdoors!
Entrances
Parking Area and Trailhead: The
main parking area and trailhead is located at
6300 NW 93rd Ave
Walk in Entrance: A walk in entrance
(no parking) is available at 10182 NW 59th Terr, Alachua
Preserve Hours
- 7am to 6pm October - March
- 7am to 8pm April - September
Brochures
Preserve Rules
“Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but
footprints, kill nothing but time.”