Things to do in Gainesville: Paynes Prairie State park

Paynes Prairie State Park in Micanopy, FL


Paynes Prairie is unique in many ways. Nowhere else in Florida can visitors experience wild-roaming bison and horses. Nearly 300 species of birds also frequent the park along with alligators, deer and many other animals.


The park’s eight trails, including the 16-mile paved Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail, allow one to explore the park’s interior and observe wildlife, while a 50-foot high observation tower provides for panoramic views.


Fishing and canoeing on Lake Wauburg are popular along with a shaded campground. During a visit to Paynes Prairie, one can easily understand why Seminole Indians once occupied a village along this vast savannah.


https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/paynes-prairie-preserve-state-park


Photography Credit: Susannah Peddie

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