Sweetwater Wetlands

I’m from the small town of Archer, FL, and the nearest “major” city is Gainesville. When people hear about either of these cities, they almost always say “I passed that exit on I-75!” ::rolls eyes:: As a result, I’m constantly in search of events and activities that will put us on the map. This past weekend, I visited Sweetwater Wetlands Park. Sweetwater Wetlands is a “man-made wetland habitat” that consists of trails, plants, and different animal species. Alligators, horses, and other wildlife have been spotted here, but I was only fortunate enough to see a variety of birds, fish, and spiders. Ugh. The 125 acres used to create the Sweetwater Wetlands is a small fraction of Paynes Prairie.

Visitors are free to roam at their leisure, or they can take advantage of the ranger led tours. These tours take place every first Saturday and every second Sunday of the month. Admission is only $5 per vehicle or $2 per person if you walked, biked, or traveled via bus. I suggest going early in the morning or late in the evening because that sun was no joke!! I went in the heat of the day, and the sun was relentless! I also recommend bringing sunscreen, a hat, and water.

If you’re tired of jogging/walking the same ol’ trail or you simply want to bird watch, I definitely recommend Sweetwater Wetlands. The trails combined make up a distance of about 3.5 miles, and there are viewpoints along the way that provide shelter from the sun as you gaze at God’s creations. Aside from the spiders, the views are amazing, and I know they’re even better at dusk. Sometime in the near future, I plan to return to Sweetwater in the evening. Have you walked the trails of the Sweetwater Wetlands?