Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park is a nearly 23,000-acre preserve south of Gainesville, Florida, with more than 30 miles of trails. You can choose from short walks, longer hikes, and multi-use trails, with chances to see birds and other wildlife along the way.
- Location: 100 Savannah Blvd., Micanopy, FL 32667
- Park hours: 8 a.m. until sundown, 365 days a year
- Trail options: From a quarter-mile walk to an 8.25-mile round trip
- Main entrance admission: $6 per vehicle for two to eight people; other rates depend on how you arrive
Choosing an entrance and trail
Paynes Prairie has several access points, and your best starting point depends on the trail you want to take. The visitor center is a useful starting place for shorter walks and trails that begin nearby.
From the visitor center, the Wacahoota Trail is a quarter-mile round trip through hammock to a 50-foot observation tower. It is for foot traffic and closes at sunset. Cone’s Dike Trail also starts at the visitor center parking-area trailhead, but its 8.25-mile round trip crosses a flat, open basin with limited shade and closes at sunset.
La Chua Trail runs a little over half a mile round trip from the north rim of the prairie to the cove.
Its main access is at 4270 SE 15th Street, with alternate access from Boulware Springs at 3500 SE 15th Street. The trail is for foot traffic only, opens at 8 a.m. daily, and closes one hour before sunset.
For a longer outing with different ways to travel, Chacala Trail has loop trails totaling 6.5 miles and allows horses, bicycles, and foot traffic. Jackson’s Gap Trail is 1.3 miles long and connects Cone’s Dike and Chacala trails. The 16-mile Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail also allows horses, bicycles, and foot traffic; it is open 8 a.m. to sundown daily.
Wildlife viewing and seasonal conditions
Paynes Prairie’s wildlife includes nearly 300 bird species, along with alligators, deer, bison, and wild horses. What you see can vary with rainfall and conditions on the trails.
Drought can limit vegetation and wildlife viewing along La Chua Trail. Water levels and alligator sightings also vary with rainfall, so wildlife viewing is not guaranteed. Keep your distance from alligators, bison, and wild horses; the park advises visitors not to approach them.
Pets are not allowed on La Chua Trail, Bolen Bluff Trail, or Cone’s Dike Trail because of potential conflicts with alligators, snakes, and bison. On permitted parts of the park, dogs must be well behaved, kept on a hand-held leash no longer than six feet, and not left unattended for more than a half-hour.
Fees, hours, and park rules
The park is open from 8 a.m. until sundown every day of the year, while some facilities and trail access points have their own hours. The visitor center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
At the main entrance, admission is $6 per vehicle for two to eight people, $4 for a single-occupant vehicle, or $2 for pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers, and passengers in a vehicle with an Annual Individual Entrance Pass holder.
The listed vehicle fees are $4 at La Chua Trail and $2 at Bolen Bluff, with a maximum of eight people for the Bolen Bluff fee.
The ranger station is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, and 8 a.m. until sundown Fridays, Saturdays, and holidays. Boulware Springs, the starting point of the Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail, is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
November through April and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. May through October. No entrance fee is required to use the Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail.
Check the official Florida State Parks site before you go for current hours, fees, and access information. The park’s listed telephone number is 352-466-3397.
How do you get from Gainesville to Paynes Prairie?
Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park is about 3.5 miles from University Inn, and the park is south of Gainesville. The listed address is 100 Savannah Blvd., Micanopy, FL 32667. Confirm which entrance you plan to use before setting out, since trail access points have different addresses.
If you are arriving by air, see this guide to getting from Gainesville Regional Airport to University Inn. If you are planning other stops around town, you can pair the park with ideas from this one-day Gainesville itinerary.
Allow your route to reflect the specific entrance you have chosen; La Chua Trail, for example, has its own access at SE 15th Street.
What to bring for a park visit
Choose your route before packing so you can prepare for its length and setting. Cone’s Dike is a longer hike through an open basin with limited shade, while Wacahoota is a quarter-mile round trip. The park also has multi-use trails where horses and bicycles are permitted.
Bring water and sun protection for exposed sections, and wear footwear suited to your chosen trail. If you are bringing a dog, check that your intended route permits pets and keep the leash rules in mind. The campground has ADA-accessible restrooms with hot showers.
FAQs
How much does it cost to enter Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park?
Main-entrance admission ranges from $2 to $6 depending on how you arrive and the number of people in the vehicle. Separate listed vehicle fees apply at La Chua Trail and Bolen Bluff.
How long are the trails at Paynes Prairie?
Trail choices range from the quarter-mile Wacahoota Trail round trip to the 8.25-mile Cone’s Dike Trail round trip. Other options include Chacala’s 6.5 miles of loops and the 16-mile Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail.
Can you bring a dog to Paynes Prairie?
Dogs are not allowed on La Chua, Bolen Bluff, or Cone’s Dike trails. On permitted parts of the park, dogs must stay on a hand-held leash no longer than six feet and cannot be left unattended for more than a half-hour.
What wildlife can you see at Paynes Prairie?
The preserve is frequented by nearly 300 bird species, alligators, deer, bison, and wild horses. Wildlife sightings vary with conditions, and the park advises keeping away from large wildlife.