UNF Wildlife Sanctuary

The trails are well maintained but could use some signage along the way to show beginners how far along they are. I walked a trail with my 7 year old and she loved it but kept asking how far we had gone and how much longer. Also - DO NOT FORGET your bug spray. Repellent is a must.

I was here for a 5k that my daughters sorority, kappa delta, was sponsoring. She and her sorority sisters did an awesome job planning the run around a large part of UNFs campus. The nature trails around UNF are really beautiful and I have been in that area of the campus several times. I was just a child when UNF was built,and WOW has it exploded in growth over the last 50 years. What a beautiful campus with top notch facilities. I love the area around the baseball and softball fields. Right next to those they've just built a brand new swimming and diving complex, and also added beach volleyball areas. My daughter will be graduating in December and has really enjoyed her time at UNF. We are fortunate in Jacksonville to have a great university that continues to grow.

This is the reason why I went to college here and is still one of the main reasons why I love the University of North Florida. The wildlife sanctuary is a perfect oasis away from the hustle and bustle of Jacksonville. It is easy to forget that you are in the middle of a major city when exploring. It is a massive area that's multiple miles large! There is ample parking outside the front of it. There is an eco-center attendant if you need help, multiple water fountains and a restroom. I believe there are four main trails in addition to the beautiful lakes within the sanctuary. In addition to hiking, there are also kayaks, canoes, and paddle boards to rent. There is also camping gear to rent! Plus, you can take this equipment off-site if you want to go on a non-UNF adventure. Overall, super convenient in my opinion! Whether it's to hike, relax or paddle board your day away, this is the place to be!

This place though beautiful and a wonderful trail, was extremely hard to find via Map and Waze. It took me half an hour of driving back and forth before I found its entrance: "Parking Services" Building on University of North Florida by Eco Road. I was so glad that my persistence to find the entrance paid off!Plan on returning on Sunday after church, with hubby in tow...

Sometimes you just need a hike in the woods! In the middle of the hustle and bustle of Jax- crazy close to Town Center! Escape everything and breath in the fresh air of all the lush Florida woods! The Robert Loftin Nature Trail (also known as the UNF Nature Trails) systems have 3 main trails and 2 connector trails of various lengths. There are parts of the trail that are boardwalk, most are dirt paths. Along the trails are various outdoor exercise stations- if you wish to add to your workout. Trails are open to the public from dawn to dusk daily- there is a fee to use the parking lot! Make sure to see the pay meter! During the week there is usually someone manning the booth. Trails:Goldenrod 2.85 milesBlueberry Trails 1.44 milesGolper Tortoise Ridge .78 milesBig Cypress Trail .47 milesRed Maple Boardwalk .19/ .31 milesI hiked out the Goldenrod trail and hooked across the blueberry trail and came back via the red maple boardwalk and thoroughly enjoyed the solitude of the vast nature preserve. These trails are also designated as a state protected bird sanctuary! Enjoy the wildlife and get some fresh air!

Awesome trails for any level! You will definitely see beautiful wildlife. I hiked the tortoise trail and saw a few tortoises on my journey, as well as herons, and I think we even spotted a gator in the water! The view is amazing, especially in the evening when the sun begins to set. I didnt expect this to be as wonderful as it is especially when I found out it was on college campus! Definitely check this place out for a lovely nature walk!

This is such a great spot to hike with kids. The trails are flat, and not too long. There is tons of great wildlife to see, like turtles. There is ample shade, and parking was easy. Highly recommend if you're looking for a place to take the kids out for some nature exploration!

I have lived on the Southside for almost two years and had no idea this was here until a couple of weeks ago. Do yourself a favor and check it out! Search UNF nature trails for more info. There are 5 clearly marked, clean, wide, beautiful trails. A couple of the trails have areas where you can exercise using equipment provided. There is so much vegetation and trees, making the trails nicely shaded. Parking is free on weekends but you must pay during the week. Dogs and bikes are NOT permitted. There are picnic tables at the entrance, also a small lake where I saw people kayaking.

Looking for a quiet place in the middle of town? Clearly marked trails that are wide and clear for people of all ages. The trails are short, so if you want some mileage you may have to circle back around for a 2nd trip. I love that fact that there is a handicap accessible boardwalk that is quite long. Perfect for little children as well, since keeping them on the path is sometimes hard. Plenty of turtles to see basking in the sun and a little island in the middle to explore. We will frequent these trails for sure!

This is a really nice walk! It's beautiful and certainly does not feel like you're in the middle of a city. There are trees and water all around during this hike. One part goes so close to the water, we were actually scared of alligators! We didn't see any wildlife but we did go on a colder day so they may have been trying to keep warm. I was impressed with the beauty of the hike and the reason that I am giving it a 4 is because the markers were a bit confusing. I swear we followed the markers down the wrong path, it was very strange but we made it back to the seemingly right one in not much time.