Florida · Hiking

Chacala Trail

Chacala TrailPhoto: Rob Bixby, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
1.7 mi
round trip
201 ft
climb
102 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Oct–Apr
best months

Chacala Trail is an easy out-and-back hike in Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park in Florida, managed by State Park and Recreation. The trail is about 1.7 miles long, and the round trip covers roughly 3.4 miles with a total elevation gain of about 20 feet. The route is mostly flat, with the steepest stretch at about 0.7 miles in, where the grade reaches about 5%. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Gainesville show March highs around 76°F and October highs around 82°F, while July and August average highs near 91°F with the most wet days of the year. Jackson's Gap Trail starts just 0.1 mile away, and Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park Trail is about 0.2 mile off. Cone's Dike Trail is roughly 0.8 mile away, and Prairie Creek, a canoeing spot, is about 4.9 miles away.

  • Best time to go · Oct–Apr

    Best time to visit Chacala Trail

    Best months: October–April. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      67° / 43°

      8 wet

    2. Feb

      71° / 46°

      7 wet

    3. Mar

      76° / 50°

      7 wet

    4. Apr

      81° / 56°

      6 wet

    5. May

      87° / 63°

      8 wet

    6. Jun

      90° / 70°

      14 wet

    7. Jul

      91° / 72°

      16 wet

    8. Aug

      91° / 72°

      16 wet

    9. Sep

      88° / 69°

      11 wet

    10. Oct

      82° / 61°

      7 wet

    11. Nov

      75° / 51°

      6 wet

    12. Dec

      69° / 45°

      7 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Gainesville Rgnl Ap, FL, 10.7 mi away at 123 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors