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Prairies, Forests, and Swamps
Now at 7000 acres (with the newly acquired Fox Pond site), the San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park stands as one of the finest examples of the climax mesic hammocks remaining in Florida. The Park is located to the northwest of Gainesville, in north Florida's Alachua County. The limestone outcrops and extreme changes in elevation provide conditions for at least 18 biological communities within the Hammock, including areas of sandhill, hydric hammock, upland pine and swamp. Thanks to the region's karst topography, sinkholes, steephead springs, ponds, and small lakes dot the landscape. Blues Creek, Turkey Creek, and Cellon Creek all enter San Felasco from outside the park boundary and flow through the park, finally dropping into swallows, which drain back into the aquifer. The Friends of San Felasco Citizen's Support Organization created this website to provide you with information about the many activities available within the San Felasco park. If you enjoy using the trails in this amazing preserve, we encourage you to become involved with the CSO to help maintain existing facilities and to help plan for its future.
NEW - Photo Contest - win a free annual Florida Park Pass!!!
Enter the Friends of San Felasco photo contest - submit your favorite photo that is taken within the park - one of the many animals, some of the beautiful scenery, or friends hiking, biking or horseback riding within the park. Each month a photo will be chosen from the ones submitted to info@sanfelasco.net. The monthly winning photo will be featured on our website here at www.sanfelasco.net. At the end of the year, one of the photos will be chosen as the winner for the annual park pass. SO EMAIL YOUR PHOTOS TODAY AND WIN THAT PASS!!!!!!! Please submit photos in a high quality jpg format, and only 1 picture per person per month should be submitted.
WINNING PICTURES!
GLIDER FESTIVAL RESULTS!
The First Annual HLG (hand launched glider) Festival was held on Saturday, February 16 at the park. Results will be posted here later.
DO YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU GET REGISTERED FOR THE TOUR DE FELASCO 2009?
Then come to our workdays! During 2008, if you attend 8 out of 10 workdays, from February through November, you will receive a GUARANTEED entry form for the 2009 Tour! Be sure to sign in each workday, so we have a record of your attendance. After the November workday, those who have attended 8 times or more will receive a guaranteed slot. What this means is that you still have to pay the entry fee as usual, but you don't have to beat the Tour deadline and risk getting closed out (for the 2008 Tour we reached our registration limit in 8 days). Workdays are held on the 2nd Saturday of every month, from 9 am - noon, and lunch is served as well. So support your park, and get a Tour slot as well!.
TOUR DE FELASCO 2008 is over for another year!! Click here for the list of registered riders! We'll be posting our pictures here soon, and hope to be able to offer them for sale, so you can get your very own digital pic! Details soon.
A big thanks to all our 2008 sponsors - ASMASTERS, BIKE ROUTE, BIKES & MORE, BILL ROSSLEY KITES, BOUNDS HEATING & AIR, CHAIN REACTION, CHAMOIS BUTT'R, DUVAL MAZDA, FIT FOR LIFE PHYSICAL THERAPY, GAINSVILLE CYCLES, GAINESVILLE SPORTS ORGANIZING COMMITTEE, GATOR CYCLE, HAMMER GEL, HARVEST THYME, LAKE AREA MCDONALD'S, MR. GOODBIKE, RECYCLED BICYCLES, SUNSTATE CREDIT UNION, TREK, AND VILLIN. And a big thanks to our t-shirt designer this year, Jeff Dofing, for the 2008 design. See it here soon!
Please enjoy our photo galleries and other links below.
2007 Tour de Felasco Photo Gallery 1
2007 Tour de Felasco Photo Gallery 2
2006 Tour de Felasco Photo Gallery
2005 Tour de Felasco Photo Gallery
2005 Tour de Felasco Photo Gallery Page 2
Recreational Opportunites
San Felasco has two entrances, one for hiking and trail running to the south and one for mountain biking and horse trails to the north. Hiking trails into the heart of the protected preserve are located off of the main entrance, along the south edge of the preserve off of CR232/Millhopper Road west of Gainesville. The hiking trails on either side of CR232 cut through numerous changes in elevation to take you through sinks, upland forests, and prairies.
The northern most 2,000 acres have been designated for multi-use purposes including horseback riding, off-road bicycling and hiking. Trails in this section were built by The Friends of San Felasco, Inc. and other interested volunteers. The equestrian trails offer a 3.6 mile and a 4.4 mile interconnected loop system; except at intersections with bike trails, the horse trails are exclusively for equestrian and pedestrian activities.
The bike trails include a one-mile beginner's trail (the Cotton Tail trail) that gently winds around the perimeter of the north entrance, a four-mile intermediate level trail (Cellon Creek Trail) that traverses both sides of Cellon Creek through rolling terrain and across small log jumps, and an eight-mile advanced trail (the Tung Nut Loop) off the back of the Cellon Creek Trail that involves strenuous hill climbing, steep switchbacks, many log bridges, and breathtaking views of the north rim of the Sanchez Prairie. The Park's newest bike trail, the Hammock Hub, connects from the top of the last third of the Tung Nut Loop, just east of the powerline "overlook" at the top of the hill. The Hub is a two-mile loop with challenging climbs and large log bridges. The Hub connects to two other trail systems: the Sweet Gum Loop is a short (approximately 1.6 mile) moderate level trail off the eastern edge of the Hub, while the Ravine Creek trails link off of the southern edge of the Sweet Gum Loop. The Ravine trails are for more advanced riders. The trails take you far away from the parking lot and feature short, steep drops, strong climbs, and many log crossings. Taken together, you can piece together almost 20 miles of singletrack unmatched for its quality of cross country riding in the state of Florida. Remember that north Florida's high heat and humidity make for difficult riding conditions: bring plenty of fluids on the trail. Due to the remote nature of the Tung Nut Loop, Hammock Hub, Sweet Gum Loop, and the Ravine Creek trails, you should also consider bringing basic bike tools such as a pump, replacement inner-tube, and a multi-tool kit when riding on the advanced trails.
To the Equestrian and Mountain Bike Trail head: Take I-75 to U.S. 441 (Milepost Exit 399 - Old Exit 78) and drive south 2.8 miles (through the city of Alachua). Turn right onto Progress Blvd. Drive 0.7 miles to the park entrance. (Continue past the end of the pavement and onto the grade road.)
The Friends of San Felasco is the San Felasco Hammock Preserve Park's Citizen's Support Organization (CSO), a non-profit corporation given special status by Florida law that make it possible for you to support the park through volunteer efforts. The San Felasco CSO is made up of diverse range of outdoor enthusiasts, from horse riders and mountain bikers to ecologists and hikers. The CSO's stated goals include promoting the recreational uses of the park, as well as fostering academic understanding of the Park's unique mix of ecosystems.
Night Bike Rides
The CSO sponsors night mountain bike rides on the Wednesday closest to the full moon. Night rides are a great way to escape the Florida heat, and they provide a chance to glimpse
the Park's nocturnal inhabitants as they start to emerge for their evening activities. Night rides require that you provide your own primary lights for off-road duty-- the brighter, the better. You should also carry a back-up light in case of emergency. Primary lights should be capable of a minimum burn time of two hours. A small donation to the CSO is requested for each rider.
Starting time for each night ride is 7:30 pm; rides leave from the Park Headquarters, 12720 NW 109th Lane, Alachua, FL (directions below). The night rides have now started up again. The upcoming ride schedule will be March 19, April 23, May 21, and June 18. After that, there will be a break until Fall..
Friends of San Felasco Board Meeting (and directions to park headquarters)
The CSO board meeting schedule is the last Tuesday of the month. The upcoming board meeting will be on March 25, 2008. These are held at the park HQ trailer, and all CSO members and the general public are welcome to attend. Email info@sanfelasco.net if you need further info. Directions to HQ:
From Gainesville: Go North on Rd 241 and just after the I-75 overpass 109th Lane is a right turn. Go south on 109th Lane to end of black 4 rail fence on left (east) side of the road. There is an official State Park sign. Follow drive past horse paddock to the pole barn.
From Alachua: Go south on Rd 241 until just before the I-75 overpass. Turn left onto 109th lane and continue as above.
Volunteer Work Days
The CSO holds volunteer work days on the second Saturday of each month. The upcoming work days will be on ADDITIONAL WORKDAY ON MARCH 15, APRIL 12 and MAY 10. . Typical work days include clearing and maintaining existing horse and bike trails, building new trails, and improving the Park's facilities.
We need lots of help with making sure the routes are clear and the trails are in good shape. Remember, the trails are built and maintained by volunteers like you; the work days are a small price to pay for the chance to build the best network of cross country trails in north Florida. Volunteers meet at 9 am at San Felasco Hammock Preserve pavilion, off SR 441 just south of Alachua. The workday is from 9 am - noon, and a lunch for the volunteers is provided. (Bonus: if you attend 8 out of 10 workdays in 2008 from February through November, you will get a guaranteed slot for the 2009 Tour de Felasco! See details above in the Tour section)
Bring small hand tools if you have them (loppers, pruning shears, hand saws) and also gloves, sunscreen, bug repellent, water bottle, and good humor!.
Moonlight Horse Ride
The next guided moonlight trail ride will be held on TBA, 2008. Terry Munn and Randy Brown will be your guides for this great way to experience the beauty of San Felasco by moonlight. The ride will start promptly at 8 pm from the park HQ (see directions above), and riders should be there by 7:00 pm to allow time to get ready. A $10 donation per horse is requested, to help maintain the trails. Don't forget your required Coggins papers!
Join the Friends of San Felasco
Download and return the membership form to join the Friends of San Felasco.
Friends of San Felasco, INC
12720 NW 109th Lane
Alachua, FL 32615
Contact: CSO general info email: info@sanfelasco.net
