Cedar Lakes Woods and Gardens

We loved our visit to Cedar Lakes Woods and Gardens! It was such a peaceful and relaxing place to spend the day. The simple, easy-to-follow path makes it perfect to wander and enjoy without feeling rushed. Knowing a little of the history makes it even more special — the property was once an old limestone quarry before being transformed into the beautiful gardens it is today. You can still see the character of the quarry in the rock formations and surrounding water, which adds so much charm and uniqueness to the experience. The water features were beautiful and calming, and even though it’s still a little early in the season for all the flowers to be in full bloom, what we did see was lovely. You can only imagine how stunning it must be when everything is blooming. And of course seeing Rosie the bird at the end was such a sweet surprise! She was definitely a highlight of our visit. We would definitely go back, maybe when the flowers are in bloom— such a hidden gem tucked away in Florida! 🌿💛🍊

The garden's are gorgeous. We visited during a drought and it was still beautiful. I can't wait to go back once the FL rains return. I can only imagine it's even better. It has very lush calming vibe. Definitely read the FAQs if you have a disability. I have some mobility issues with a hip injury and was able to navigate everything, but definitely some places I needed to take slow and steady. They have a less strenuous trail for people who struggle.

Fantastic way to spend an afternoon in nature exploring and learning more about native and exotic flora, fauna and more. There were tours happening when we went, but we took the liberty of exploring at our own pace and we're glad we did. You should definitely bring sunscreen and water if you're visiting during summer months. We went in June and it was very balmy and humid but beautiful nonetheless. Stopped by the tiny shop at the entrance to grab some stickers and hand made mini pottery items on the way out. The woman at the front desk was very kind, funny and helpful. Would definitely recommend of you're looking for an engaging nature outing in Central Florida.

In their behalf I went right after a big freeze and a lot of their plants got frost bite and we're dieing. Don't got after a big freeze. We had never been there and wanted to take a look. It , I am sure is beautiful in the spring and summer. They did however have a few Christmas decorations still up. The employees are very welcoming.

Don't miss this place. Even with the cold snap and the flowers covered, the architecture of the large repressed mine is impressive. Lots of water flows and ponds. Waterfalls and wildlife make this a very nice slow walk, spiraling down and back out with little effort. What a nice thing to see!

Amazing. Beautiful. Unique. Drove 2 hrs from Daytona and even though was a boring and looooong drive -was worth it. Took a star away because no food (some chips and ice-cream at check-in) nor coffe. Also needs some better plants in some of the planters that are carved out in the pathways. Also, there was a dead fish in one of the koi ponds. Lots wild growing vegetation. I know they are going to be building a nice welcome center and I would suggest to definitely get a coffe/ sandwich place put in. The garden its very remote and nothing around for miles. Took us about 2 hrs to walk through. Some areas were beautiful and clean and some areas needed some tighting up. I would recommend it as its super cool and unique.

Went to Christmas in the Quarry. Had a great time. Short wait in line to drive in. They have a lot of parking. They had food trucks and a couple small vendors. The loop was great. Easy to navigate. Easy to do in an hour, or take your time and stay for a few. Very affordable.

Cedar Lakes Woods and Gardens on 12/26/25 Highlights: We took mother-in-law visiting from Oklahoma here since she and I always visiting botanical gardens. She enjoyed the visit, but as an exotic plant lover like me, I think it would be a more beautiful and scenic visit on the spring time when the bottle brush and other tropical flowering plants are blooming to take pictures of. Cons: It's winter, so it's not as colorful as I has hope to be. There seem to be many areas under construction. Some areas of the water parts are stagnant or not so clean. Water are shallow in some areas. Perhaps I came at the wrong time of year.

An excellent attraction north of Ocala. Beautuful grounds. We were able to navigate the entire upper " recommended path" other than one spot with a stepping stone over a brook that feeds a waterfall, for which she walked. Very amusing tortoise played with balls, was naughty and washed his feet in his water bowl. Emily at admissions was very pleasant and informative. Peaceful and serene. All the walls and walkways must have been very challenging to scaffold and supply. Bargain admission, worth every penny, as opposed to the rip off Orlando theme parks. 21 miles or so from the superb Silver Springs glass bottom boats, so one could fill an entire day in this area. These are rustic walls, paths, and plantings, not a formal garden of flowers, and they really do it well.

One of my favorite day trips in Florida. One hour from Ocala. It feels like a hiking trip so wear closed toes shoes, bring water bottles, and even a backpack to pack snacks. Some spots are up very high with a long drop and railing a small child could easily slip under. I wouldn't recommend this place for toddlers under 4. Lots of unique plants, trees, flowers to look at. You can see cats, swans, turkeys, lots of koi fish and tortoises. I do not recommend the taco truck that shows up by the entrance- worst tacos I've ever had.

I was lucky enough to win 2 free entries to Cedar Lakes botanical gardens and I'm so glad I did! I would not have found this place otherwise. I took a friend that has lived in Gainesville for decades and she didn't know about it. We went first thing when they opened because it was going to be a really hot day. We appreciated all the trees and shade. She brought her dog on its leash and she had fun exploring too! It was quite the feat to turn the quarry into this wonderful floral landscape. We loved it in the summer. I can only imagine how wonderful it is in the spring! It can take as little or as much time as you would like and there are benches and a pavilion to stop at along the way. I'll be back again!

What good Florida fun! Adventuring about these woods and gardens in and around this converted old quarry is about as exciting as it gets so far as gardens go. You might want to check any fear of heights or vertigo at the front door; was a touch much for one of us :) Withstanding, was some fun hiking the quarry and exploring all there is to see; cacti greenhouse, various points of interest, waterfalls, resident tortoise, and the like. Made sense to buy the membership, given you get 50% off nearby Kanapaha and I think returning within the year's a good possiblity. Light snacks and some beverages available at the front office. Shopped the plant sale. Was fun.

What a beautiful spot. We definitely would not have just happened upon it. My son was looking for a place to take pictures, did a search, and found the place. Well worth the drive from Spring Hill. Plenty of parking. The staff at the admissions gate were very friendly and helpful. The grounds are beautiful. The plants, so diverse. Everything from the tiniest flowers to 500-year-old Spanish oak; Japanese garden to an orchard; and cacti to koi. The walking trails are well-maintained, and easy to follow. The map is helpful, but not really even required. This was a fantastic place to spend a couple of hours a couple of hours just wandering outside - even in 92 degree weather.

I stopped here after going to Devils den in the morning. There looked like there were a lot of cars but it is so spread out it didn't feel like there were a lot of people or overly crowded. The gardens are about a mile walk of absolute beauty! I had such a great time, and I am so glad we added the stop before heading to lunch! It was quite hot so I was glad I brought my water bottle with me. The highlight for me was the end with a magnificent 500 year old tree.

Such a beautiful and peaceful escape! This botanical garden offers a stunning mile-long self-guided at your pace tour filled with vibrant flowers, unique plants, and plenty of hidden gems along the way. It was not only relaxing, but also pretty romantic for our date--perfect for a quiet stroll with someone special. Every turn had something new to see, making it a lovely experience from start to finish. Pictures just don't do it justice to be honest. Go check it out for sureeeee

Such a beautiful park with Japanese inspired plants. Tons of beautiful flowers, old trees, turtles, swans, and koi fish. A great place to just walk and enjoy nature

Cedar Lakes was on my Florida bucket list and it didn't disappoint. The grounds are easy to walk. Every turn is more breathtaking than the next. There's waterfalls, bridges, gardens and koi ponds. The grounds are well kept. If you plan to visit it takes about an hour and a half or so to see the grounds. Well worth the visit.

A little torn what to say here. It is a beautiful place to explore on a sunny, nice, day which it was during my visit. The work which has gone into transforming an old quarry site into a vibrant garden is also very impressive and if you like botanical gardens, it's certainly worth visiting. However, in places it feels a bit hodge-podge. You can tell a group of private owners did this and not the State Parks or a university in that a lot of aspects are named after or dedicated to people in a way that seems nearly like an inside story (yes, university gardens do dedications too, but a bit differently) and the system of different colored rails to follow various paths I found distracting--less-intrusive blazes would have worked just as well. In places, it's an incredibly professional, well-designed, work of landscape architecture while in others you feel like you're intruding in someone's back yard and yet in others still you find dead ends and aspects of the trails that could have been laid out better. If you compare this to Rainbow Springs State Park, which began its life also as a private tourist attraction with landscaped gardens, waterfalls, et al, Cedar Lakes seems like it could have been made even more than it is, but if you step back and appreciate the hard work, diversity of plants and views here, and the fact it really is enjoyable then it seems worthwhile. All as to say it's good, but just not quite up to as good as I expected. However, it seems a work still in progress and probably destined to only improve. Some aspects like the koi ponds already though are worth coming for, as are some of the views from higher locations on these encircling trails.

This botanical garden was recommended by a friend. Of course, it's winter, it was a little cool. And a lot of the flowers obviously weren't in bloom. But there was a lot of plants, and just seeing the waterfalls, i'm walking in nature.Was very soothing. It's about a mile walk around what used to be part of a limestone quarry now turned into a botanical garden nature park. Another hidden gem in williston. I would have never known it was there had someone not told me?And i'm glad they did! Definitely worth the price of admission. Folks that work there are knowledgeable and friendly.

I really liked this place! Very fun to walk around and check all the plants! Super pretty and whimsical! It's not a long walk and the swans were so pretty. Great spot to get away and enjoy nature for a bit.

Definitely plan on spending a couple hours here. There were a few spots throughout the park that we easily could have missed if we were in any sort of rush. Would definitely recommend going late April to early May to enjoy a lot of the flowers in bloom! We loved finding the cat house and being greeted by some of the furry residents haha

Amazing!!!!!!! Simply beautiful!!!!!! Even on the rainy day (last Friday) that I went it was breathtaking. So picturing it on a sunny day aaaaaaaaaamazing lol. The beautiful plants, flowers, trails, waterfalls, swans, Koi (fish), fountain, gazebo, staff ( including the maintenance guy who saw me leaving and mentioned the 500yrs old tree) everything about this place get an A+ . Including the cattle outside the gate A must visit. Make it a day trip

Lovely place to explore. Bring a picnic lunch or even some charcoal and burgers to grill and hang out in one of the shaded patios!

This was my first time at Cedar Lakes, so I'm glad we arrived while it was still daylight. I arrived a bit early to meet my group and was advised the $10 admission for the lights started at 5pm. By the time my group arrived, the price to enter had changed. The light display was phenomenal especially for $10. They do have veterans discount too. We had a gentleman in the group who used a walking stick because he is unsteady on his feet. While I wouldn't try it, it worked for him. The terrain is uneven as expected. The lights are surely more beautiful after dark, but still pretty awesome during daylight. Just see the pics. There were a couple food vendors, but I was saving room to eat Mexican food elsewhere later. The nachos looked good though. I would like to return during the daytime during regular hours.

Someone's pot addiction turned into a whole massive garden. Beautiful springs and gorgeous plants everywhere. The owner lives on site and is on top of serene springs. Waterfalls and trails this is a great little pit stop if In the area. We finished dip at the devils den and made a stop here to conclude our day. Ended up getting a year pass since we were advised the owners love Christmas and it's the best time to visit the garden. This was a beautiful walk and kids loved seeing all the plants.

It's an easy walk down into an old quarry planted with beautiful plants and trees, with identification tags, leading to waterfalls and ponds. A lovely way to spend an afternoon.

About 40 minutes south of Gainesville, FL is the tiny town on Williston. In this tiny town is Cedar Lakes Wiods and Gardens. It was a beautiful and breezy day, so we decided to go and check it out. It's $12/person. it's a very easy 1-mile loop around this gorgeous property. The hiking trail is paved and there's and upper loop with a great view of the lake and waterfalls. The lower loop gets you down to the action. You can walk behind one of the waterfalls, see some swans and koi, and see a 500-year old oak tree. It's a great day trip from Jax if you're looking to get out of the city for a bit.

Very cool place that is unique among gardens in the area. The elevation changes make it stand out. There are various steps and stairs to navigate the place. There are a few animals and waterfalls, and ponds. You can easily spend a couple hours here.

We spent a beautiful morning walking the grounds of Cedar Lakes! Between flowers blooming, the crystal blue waters, it was all so peaceful! If in the area, it's a must stop

This is a really cool spot, especially for the area. Adult tickets are $12 and well worth the price. It might take longer to walk the park in the spring when everything's in bloom but, even still, my boyfriend and I spent ~90 mins here and saw a ton! There are lots of potted and in-ground plants to see, but also koi ponds, swans, and overall interesting landscape due to the park being built in an old rock quarry. If you live in Gainesville and need a day trip, this is the spot.

On our way to Devils Den we had some time to kill before our reservation. We found this beautiful property and attraction on the road right before Devils Den. It's a little drive on a dirt road that takes you to the main office with some cool views on the way. As we walked along the trail there were so many different flowers and plants to stop and look at. There was also a huge pond with two waterfalls along the trail as well as the owners cabin which the trail went right through his back porch. It's definitely worth the stop, not to mention they offer military discounts.

Found this gem while visiting the area. It cost $12 to get in for adults. Definitely worth it! We wandered around the gardens admiring the plants and greenery and taking photos. Great place to see nature and explore!

Found this place through Facebook group called hidden gems of Fl. I would love to come back during spring to see the flower and trees bloom. It is such a beautiful landscape and so nice out for a stroll. Wish it was a little sunny since it was kind of cloudy and gloomy. Nonetheless it was still very nice to catch sightings of birds, ducks , tortoise, a frog , and a couple other friendly animals along our path and in the lake. For $12 you can't beat the price. I've been to other places that overprice their area and it's not even as nice as Cedar Lakes.

Beautiful gardens and fascinating old quarry turned into a really fun couple of hours to explore

What a Mother Nature beautiful oasis this is!!! Worth every penny, for those who enjoy and slow down to take it all in. Great place to meander. Sit awhile, here or there. The sounds of cascading and fountain waters all over. Swans, turtles, koi. Pristine maintenance of the entire gardens.

Beautiful garden! 1.5 mile hike, that I did get lost in but partly because I got so lost in taking pictures that I didn't follow the signage lol. Friendly staff. Military discount available. Waterfalls and woods! A must see.

We took a slow and easy two hour walk thru the gardens. It was very natural and beautiful. Many different plants. Beautiful flowers. Too bad the water features are noisy and you can hear the pumps. But they were beautiful to look at. I would definitely recommend this place. Not for little kids and some areas would be difficult for non ambulatory people.

My husband and I visited at around 8:00am on a Monday morning and it was BREATHTAKINGLY BEAUTIFUL! We only got to explore for less than an hour because we had reservations next door at 9:00am and it was definitely not enough time for us!! We didn't get to explore many more hidden gems deep inside but we'll definitely visit again sometime!!

While visiting our daughter at UF we decided to spend the day at Cedar Lakes Woods and Gardens. As we were in the area Easter weekend we called to verify their hours, which a recording provided. A few minutes later, I received a call from Lori at the Gardens asking if we had any questions. We were surprised that she would take the time to call us back. Upon arriving at the gardens Lori was the person that greeted us. She asked where we had traveled from and what brought us to that area from Homestead etc.. She gave us a map of the garden and explained the trails and what to look for in certain areas. The garden was over and above what we had expected. The level of creativity and the passion behind the creation of it was immediately evident. Upon leaving, we saw Lori,who asked us how our visit went. After a few moments of conversation she asked "arent you the family From Homestead? I believe I have your wallet, it was turned it earlier". She explained that she tried to reach my husband on Facebook to advise, but he doesn't have facebook on his phone nor did he know his wallet was missing! This act of kindness and attention to detail saved us from panic and the inconvenience it would have been had we made it to Homestead (300+ miles south) prior to realizing the wallet had been lost. In all, the experience we had at Cedar Lakes Woods and Garden was wonderful, but Lori made it special! We highly recommend this local owned establishment that is a not only beautiful, but incredibly peaceful.

Quick drive from Gainesville and a very nice place for a peaceful stroll in nature. Plenty of place to sit and relax and enjoy outdoors. There are water falls, benches, turtles, coy fishes, swans, ducks, lily pads, lakes and a nice walkway to guide you through. Great for a day trip or weekend stroll. Plus added bonus the girlfriend got to take her selfies.

Relaxing escape time from the world. A amazing nature walk with the family. Amazing scenery and beautiful done. At first it seems small but on the inside big and really outdone.

We visited the garden yesterday. The staff was friendly and gave us plenty of information about the Garden and surrounding area. Dog-friendly as long as leashed. They will allow off-leash in the side pasture where you park. We toured the facility during winter and it was nice and I'm sure in spring or summer when everything is in full bloom it's even more beautiful.

An old abandoned limestone quarry turned botanical garden. While some areas of the lower level could use a bit of TLC to transform this garden to its "full potential", we still enjoyed our morning walk through the upper and lower level paths & especially loved the waterfalls. I read some of negative reviews before visiting which I can kinda understand if the plants aren't blooming (I.e. wintertime) and if you can't access the lower level due to flooding. Lucky for us, that wasn't the case during our visit. There were flowers blooming (potted and planted), lush green pathways, bamboo & bonsai trees, & a sprinkle of waterfalls flowing. There IS algae (?) in the pond and a few things here and there that weren't flowing but if you can get past that you'll still enjoy the visit. We only encountered staff members when paying the entrance fee & an associate walked me through the map and advised there is a private residence on premises but we're still able to go through that backyard. The woods & garden is clearly marked with the recommended path as you start your hike. TIPS: - The gardens are pet-friendly (must keep your pup on a leash). - I'd recommend baby carriers instead of strollers since there's some steps along the paths. - Sensible shoes (i.e. stay away from flip flops, that's hard for Floridians, I know!) - Unpaved entrance/parking. Don't speed and watch for the signs since the initial entrance off the main road is very narrow. - Bring water & sunblock. I had bug spray handy but didn't need it. - Due to COVID, there are currently markers to keep visitors at a safe distance when waiting to pay admission. Also, only one person from your party should go up to pay. - I noticed one restroom building by the payment/entrance so use it before you start your hike or you'll have to backtrack. - The garden is located southwest of Gainesville. In fact, it's one exit south of the Archer Road exit off I-75 so you can grab a bite before or after your visit along the ever-so-busy Archer Road. Since we were in the area, we also did a quick drive through the UF campus. GO GATORS!

Spectacular 64 acre with many water falls and koi ponds . This wonderful park has many places to sit and rest . It takes at least two hours to walk and if you are into plants this is the park . Great place to get married in or take nature pictures . This park is not wheel chair accessible. Cost 12 to get in and is worth it .

Highly highly recommend this spot!!! What a beautiful hidden gem! The whole thing took about 1.5 hours of a leisurely walk, but they have picnic tables and benches all over the gardens so you can certainly spend so much longer there relaxing or bringing a meal. The grounds were absolutely beautiful! I felt like I was transported outside of Florida. The Japanese garden was incredible and all the waterfalls were perfect. There's tons of shade on the upper level so it wasn't too bad visiting in the middle of the summer. This place was so magical, I highly recommend all to go visit! Can't wait to go back!

An unexpected wonder of central Florida! Cedar Lakes Woods and Gardens is the creation of a local dentist and his vision for an abandoned limestone quarry. He turned a former scar on the land into a lush garden, full of butterflies and relaxing shade. You wind along the trails and take in all the varieties of flowers and hand-crafted birdhouses and other decor. You end up at the main house of the owner and can relax on the paths of the Japanese garden located just next to it, with tiers and tiers of flowers and bushes. Although, for the moment, large portions of the gardens are underwater due to flooding, you can still envision it in its full glory. We definitely are looking forward to a future visit when the water goes back down and the pagoda and wooden walkways are repaired.

This place is absolutely beautiful. It's also so large and there's so much to see and do. If you can lay out on the hammocks definitely do, it's so peaceful.

Beautiful! A wonderful day trip or place to spend an hour or so. Also a wonderful venue for photo shoots

Beautiful grounds. Perfect for hiking and exploring. They have well marked paths & trails. Waterfalls. One which you can walk under. Koi ponds. Picnic areas. Pack a lunch and sit at the covered areas. They have bbq grills but not sure how that works? If you have to reserve them or whatever? There's a friendly parrot at the entrance. Knowledgeable staff. Restrooms. There's even a pet cemetery for wild animals and pets of the property. You can walk the deck of the owners home, as a pass through to the trail. There's a fruit orchard area. A bonsai tree that I forgot how old but it's big. There's so much to explore. I've been there several times and discover something new each time. My husband & I became members (which allows for unlimited entry into the grounds). Definitely recommend!

A beautiful hidden gem that we happen to encounter. Great service ( super friendly and you can see that they love what they do) beautiful trail to walk about 1.5 miles of pure love. If you are looking to feed the soul with a relaxing nature walk, you should check this place out. Family friendly, kid friendly, and Dog friendly too just have a leash. Some areas are wheelchair accessible some aren't.

Wow. That's really all I have to say guys. My whole history of wordy reviews and this place gets me at wow..... This garden used to be mine and the quarry was filled with water and turned into this little paradise by an old dentist who bought the land after the mine had closed. Now the place is run by a non profit but the old dentist's house is still in the garden and he still lives there. This place is pretty cool. We paid $12/adult for admission and I would definitely say it was worth the money. There are two levels and the tour or walk path circles the water. Check out the pics. This place is a hidden Florida gem and definitely a cool family spot.

This was a nice place to come to. They are in the middle of removing their Halloween decorations and putting up Christmas ones so it looked a bit messy. Overall a nice place to walk around and see their flowers. The whole place is very calming and not very busy which is nice especially because a lot of the walkways are a little narrow

The word we came up with to describe this attraction was unsophisticated. It is an old lime rock quarry that became a garden. It is also severely under funded so looks shaggy. There were minimal safety features such as stair railings and barriers to prevent children from falling in the water. The people who work there are very proud of it. I guess it is pleasant but really very unsophisticated.

Beautiful place! If you like walking and enjoying nature, then this is the place. The walk can take like and hour but is totally worth. You will enjoy a nice trail with beautiful plants, trail and waterfalls. It is a bit rough to get there because of the road but is totally worth.

My boyfriend and I stopped by after diving at Devil's Den on our spring break. Despite it being spring, the garden was amazing. We loved it and think of it as one of the coolest things we've stumbled upon in our adventures so far. It was a cloudy, rainy day and there was only 1 other couple there - it was incredible.

WOW. Just wow. I love botanical gardens and this one just hits all the marks. I even went out there in the rain and was blown away. It's so well kept and the plant life is thriving. The staff are super friendly and helpful. The signage makes it very clear where to walk and where to avoid going. This is the only garden I've been to that is made into a sink hole in a karst: it's just so beautiful here. I highly recommend!

If you want to see Christmas in the Quarry with you pet. DO NOT GO!!! Despite what the web site says pets are not allowed. It would have been nice for them to spend 30 seconds to put one line of test on the event stating PETS ARE Not ALLOwed. This would have saved us and others a wasted trip! Very poor customer relations.