When you step into this incredible park in North Central Florida, you’ll swear you’ve walked back in time. This preserve is renowned for how close it brings visitors to viewing the real Florida, with wildlife and scenery the way it would’ve appeared hundreds of years ago.
Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park near Gainesville is Florida's first state preserve, and a peaceful oasis where you can spot wild horses and even bison roaming free.
The park features several trails for hiking, biking, or horseback riding. Visitors can also enjoy camping, canoeing, and fishing. In cooler months (November through April), rangers lead activities on the weekends.
This serene environment is a great place to reconnect with nature. Don't get too relaxed, though, because this is also one of the best places to see alligators in their natural environment. It's a pretty special experience for nature lovers but also means caution must be practiced on the trails.
In the 17th century, this area was home to Rancho la Chua, which became the largest cattle ranch in the Spanish colony. A hundred years later, the prairie was held by local Seminole tribe led by Ahaya the Cowkeeper. Their nearby town was named after his son Payne.
By the 1920s, Seminoles had been forced from the area and the first of many developments began that changed the way water flowed to the area and threatened the survival of the prairie. The state of Florida purchased the land in 1970 and since then has continued to work on restoring the preserve.
You can learn more about the plants, animals, and history of Payne's Prairie from the exhibits at the visitor center and get a panoramic view of the park from the nearby 50-foot observation tower.
