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Paynes Prairie sunflowers

Paynes Prairie

A natural landform between Gainesville and Micanopy, Paynes Prairie is an immense and ever-changing basin

LEARN MORE

Along Lake Wauberg

You'll always see reptiles along Lake Wauberg

January 22, 2010    Sandra Friend

A wander along Lake Wauberg to the symphony of Archie Carr’s favorite frogs brought memories flooding back of gentler times.

Bivens Arm Nature Park

Bivens Arm

Gainesville      ( 29.620214,-82.332900 )      1.5 miles

The City of Gainesville’s very first nature park, Bivens Arm surrounds a marshy “arm” of Paynes Prairie, where trees tower above the network of nature trails.

Bolens Bluff Trail

Bolens Bluff

Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park  |  Micanopy
( 29.5569, -82.3297 )      2.7 miles

Walk along a bluff where early explorers and native peoples once looked out over vastness of Paynes Prairie to discover a panorama that invites you to immerse in it

Cones Dike Trail

Open prairie on Cones Dike

Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park  |  Micanopy
( 29.5473, -82.2923 )      8.0 miles

To fully immerse in the vastness of Paynes Prairie, follow the Cones Dike Trail, the longest of the footpaths that leads out into the prairie

Ecopassage Observation Boardwalk

Ecopassage Observation Boardwalk

Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park  |  Gainesville
( 29.5741, -82.3350 )      0.1 miles

Providing the easiest-to-reach panorama of Paynes Prairie, the Ecopassage Observation Boardwalk encourages you to stop and take it all in

Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail

Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail

Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park  |  Gainesville to Hawthorne
( 29.6223, -82.3087 )      15.3 miles

One of North Florida’s oldest bike paths, the Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail provides a mostly shaded rural ride

Gator growl at La Chua

Whitewater, with alligators

April 25, 2009    Sandra Friend

In the heart of Gator Country, a deep sinkhole swallows the waters of Paynes Prairie at its northeastern rim in Gainesville: La Chua Sink. A brand new boardwalk now provides a closer look.

La Chua Trail

La Chua alligators

Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park  |  Gainesville
( 29.610250, -82.304264 )      3.1 miles

There are a handful of places that stand out as excellent locations for wildlife watching in Florida, but the best place to see alligators is in the home of the Gators, Gainesville

Paynes Prairie in purple 

May 27, 2016    Sandra Friend

Resplendent in the royal purples of pickerelweed, Paynes Prairie is a showy place as spring fades to summer

Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park

Paynes Prairie pickerelweed blooms

Paynes Prairie  |  Micanopy
( 29.519247,-82.298008 )      

Protecting a massive natural basin of prairie between Micanopy and Gainesville, Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park combines panoramic views with wildlife watching along its trails

Prairie Creek Preserve

Prairie Creek at Prairie Creek Preserve

Gainesville      ( 29.596357, -82.228401 )      4.7 miles

In the deep shade of the floodplain of Prairie Creek near Gainesville, Prairie Creek Preserve is a beauty spot provided to the public by the Alachua Conservation Trust

Sweetwater Preserve

Sweetwater Preserve

Gainesville      ( 29.621507, -82.308472 )      2.0 miles

On the eastern side of Sweetwater Preserve, hike a gentle loop through the woods along Sweetwater Branch.

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