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The Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail is 16 miles of protected park land for biking, walking and horseback riding.

Free for Wildlife, Free for You

By MATTHEW GONZALEZ

Slice of Heaven

By LIDIA DINKOVA, Alligator Contributing Writer

The Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail State Park is one of Paynes Prairie's jewels. Located on 3400 S.E. 15 St., the trail connects the City of Gainesville to the City of Hawthorne.

The trail is 16 miles long and 10 feet wide. Activities include walking, jogging and cycling. A grassy pathway prohibited for visitors to go on runs parallel to the trail. Wild horses, deer and bison may be spotted on this pathway, according to the Florida State Parks Web site.

The Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail State Park is free for all visitors. The trail is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and from May to October it stays open until 8 p.m.

Regardless of the time people visit, they always enjoy the trail's serenity. Every Saturday morning, before dawn breaks, Maddie Schindler drives 30 miles from Williston to enjoy a run with her friend Henry Ebersole.

"We love it here. It's a little piece of heaven in the middle of the city," Schindler said.

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