Whether you celebrate Thanksgiving at lunch, dinner or both, a short walk might just be the ticket to work through the pound, or two, of turkey, ham and all the fixin’s you finished.  

A brisk walk, in combination with a nap and football, perfects the holiday weekend and might just open some more space for cranberry sauce.  

Below are five short hikes from around the county to squeeze in before you can’t squeeze out of that La-Z-Boy. We’ve spaced out the hikes with one in Hawthorne, Newberry, north Alachua and two sides of Gainesville for close access no matter where you reside.  

Loblolly Woods 

Tucked into Gainesville between the Hogtown Creek and NW 34th Street, Loblolly Woods offers a perfect spot for a short walk that feels far from the city without needing to leave the city. The trail follows the creek with a few benches and boardwalks along the way. 

A small parking lot is available along NW 34^th Street, or you can park at Albert “Ray” Massey Park, take the crosswalk over NW 8th Avenue and you’re at the entrance. You can find maps and more at the Gainesville website.  

Newnans Lake State Forest 

On the far east side of Gainesville, Newnans Lake State Park offers a few different trails to get you out of the house. The state forest does cost $2 per vehicle for entry. 

On the west side of NW 55^th Avenue, walkers can opt for a 0.7 mile loop called, wait for it, the West Hiking Trail. If you want to go a little further, the Sparrow Hiking Trail builds on the back of the West Hiking Trail, adding 1.1 miles.  

On the east side of the road, walkers have the 2.5-mile East Hiking Trail. Mountain biking enthusiasts can also use the 6.5-mile bike trail on the east side.  

You can find more information and a map here.  

Mill Creek Preserve 

The first purchase under the Alachua County Forever program, Mill Creek Preserve offers a series of short trails to burn those pesky calories and break your food coma.  

It’s located in north Alachua County—straight above the city of Alachua near the corner of CR 236 and CR 241—for easiest access by High Springs and city of Alachua residents.  

I’ll let the map, available here, do most of the talking. But be forewarned, muddy conditions are possible depending on previous weather.  

Watermelon Pond and Blue Heron Loop 

At 6.1 miles, this trail doesn’t epitomize a short, Thanksgiving hike. But, you can always exercise some free will, stop, spin around and hopefully find your way back to the parking lot at any time. So, think of it as up to 6.2 miles—a maximum not a minimum. 

Located on one of Alachua County’s strategic ecosystems, the area offers hiking through wooded areas and open fields. It’s also a great spot to spot American Kestrels and Bachman’s Sparrows for birders, so consider a pair of binoculars on this hike. (The library district even offers free birding kits to check out) 

Here’s the address: 10700 SW 250th St., Newberry, FL 32669.  

The address will take you all the way south on the road, but I recommend stopping off about a mile and a half north. There’s a sign and parking lot on the right for the north entrance.  

Little Orange Creek Preserve 

Opened to the public through Alachua Conservation Trust, the Little Orange Creek Preserve is just past the exit for the city of Hawthorne on SR 20.  

The Kathy Cantwell Trail will take you two miles in and past two observation posts. There’s also a Sandhill Restoration Trail cut through you can take on the way in or back out.  

On the south side of SR 20, you can also visit the Little Orange Creek Nature Park. Find a map, and other Alachua Conservation Trust preserves, on their website.