If you're looking for fun things to do as spring approaches, make a trip to Micanopy and immerse yourself nature at the 22,000-acre Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park. With its incredible amount of wildlife, on-site camping, and numerous trails, this park is a fascinating spot to visit and embodies North Central Florida's natural beauty.
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Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park became Florida's first state park in 1971 and has been classified as a National Natural Landmark. When visiting the park, new visitors can make their way over to the visitor center where they can learn all about what the park has to offer and receive trail maps. After, visitors can venture out into the preserve to begin their day of adventure.
From the visiting center, a good first stop is the viewing tower where visitors can not only witness beautiful views of marshes and ponds but also determine which trail they want to take. Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park offers a total of eight trails that give visitors the opportunity to see alligators, bison, horses, and nearly 300 species of birds. Often times, the animals are a far distance away, so visitors are recommended to bring binoculars.
Adventure seekers may want to check out the Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail that spans for 16 miles. While that sounds like long distance, the trail is flat, making it perfect for walking, cycling, or horseback riding. Other park amenities include fishing or canoeing on Lake Wauburg and camping at the on site, full-facility campsites.
Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park closes in the event of flooding, so it's best to call ahead at (352) 466-3397 to ensure that the park is open. With all that this state park has to offer, it's easy to spend ample time in the great outdoors, so pack a lunch, a pair of binoculars, and camera to capture the beauty of one of Florida's most scenic spots!
Find more great parks in North Central Florida like Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park and register on 352area, your free guide to everything in northern part of the Sunshine State.
Cover photo courtesy of Unsplash
