“Oh, give me a home where the buffalo roam”…….. No, I am not talking about a tundra out west. I am referring to Paynes Prairie State Park right in Florida’s backyard. I couldn’t begin to count the many times that I have crossed Paynes Prairie in an automobile but this was my first visit to the park on foot.
Paynes Prairie State Park is a 22,000-acre ecosystem near Gainesville with a population of more than 50 wild bison as well as wild horses, alligators, and almost 300 species of birds.
La Chua Trail
Located at the North end of Paynes Prairie, the trail is an excellent wildlife-watching site. The walk to the observation deck is about three miles round trip, but if you have the time, and the trail is not flooded, it is a very interesting walk.
Once you leave the parking lot, you’ll pass beneath an old railroad and through an old cattle barn until you reach the boardwalk. The boardwalk runs alongside the Alachua Sink. Once you leave the boardwalk, the trail is flat. If you continue to follow the trail, there is a good chance you will encounter wildlife including alligators sunning on the trail itself.
I was able to walk on an elevated boardwalk over a marsh area but sometimes the trail will flood and you will not be able to reach the observation tower.
Birds at Paynes Prairie
A white egret stands guard at the end of the boardwalk to make sure visitors don’t venture any further.
If you want to see a real alligator, the best place to see them is on the trail. Signs leading to the trail and just before that area warn of wildlife, and advise keeping at least 20 feet from alligators, further from the bison and wild horses, and that the prairie is free-range. They do not allow pets on the trail, so leave Fido at home. You don’t want to find out what “Gator Bait” really means in Gainesville. I did see one from the boardwalk who seemed oblivious that lunch was crossing his path. Or was he?
While the alligators were scarce for viewing during my visit, plenty of wading waterfowl were willing to pose for the camera. Paynes Prairie is one of the best migratory bird-watching sites in all of Florida! Among the 270+ species of birds that frequent the park are Limpkin, Great Egrets, and Little Blue Herons, and many other rarities such as Yellow Rail, Tundra Swan, White-faced Ibis, and Eagles.
Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail
If biking is your preference, then one of North Florida’s oldest bike paths, the Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail provides a mostly shaded rural ride. The scenic, paved 16-mile bike trail cuts across the top of the park. Historically a train track, this is a nice trail for jogging or biking. Interpretive signs along the trail contain detailed information about the locomotive and railway history, as well as Native American and naturalist roots common to Florida’s exotic landscape.
In addition to seeing wildlife, every year this 23,000-acre preserve becomes the ultimate place to see stunning wildflowers in bloom. Spring is the perfect time of year to see the prairie in full bloom.
Visitor Center
To learn more about Paynes Prairie, stop by the visitors center at the park’s main entrance. Here, you’ll be able to look at interactive exhibits to learn more about the park’s wildlife, plants, and history, as well as climb the 50-foot observation tower that offers panoramic views of the area. One tip I can give you is that in the visitors center, they have a map with reported sightings updated. That may help in seeing some animals. The folks here are accommodating. They say that the time of day, the season, and luck play a part in your chances of seeing wildlife. The center is located at the end of the wooded park drive in Micanopy where you can also explore native plants and forests on the beautiful drive.
The panoramic views are amazing from this tall tower. As we looked out in the distance, we were able to see the wild horses and bison. The wild horses at Paynes Prairie are descendants of those brought to Florida by the Spanish. The bison originally roamed here until the late 18th century. They returned in 1975 to try and restore Paynes Prairie Preserve’s population. Today, a herd of roughly 50 bison call Paynes Prairie home.
Wildlife Photography
One of the main reasons that I visit State Parks and go on the trails is the nature and wildlife that I can photograph. Paynes Prairie is very unique with a variety of wildlife, including bison, horses, alligators, and more than 270 species of birds. During my visit, I was only able to see a variety of birds, one alligator, and some wild horses in the distance. When I visit the Prairie, I can imagine what much of Florida looked like many years ago.
Paynes Prairie State Park: 100 Savannah Blvd, Micanopy, FL
Fees: $4-6 per vehicle at The Main Entrance. The Visitor Center is open from 9 am to 4 pm daily.
Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park is a Florida State Park encompassing a 21,000-acre savanna in Alachua County, Florida located between Micanopy and Gainesville. Paynes Praire is also a U.S. National Natural Landmark. Both I-75 and U.S. 441 cross the park.
There are plenty of other things to do in the Gainesville area.
Some of our favorites include:
As Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings wrote. “[Paynes Prairie] belongs to the wind and the rain, to the sun and the seasons, to the cosmic secrecy of seed, and beyond all, to time.”
