What a beautiful park! So many trails to take advantage and never enough time! Great and helpful staff (who will allow you to loan binoculars if you forgot yours and give you ideas on which trails are best for you based on what you are looking to experience) If you are in the area and are a nature nut (like me), come and take a look around. We saw deer, alligators and plenty of birds in our short excursion! read more

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We took advantage of our Florida State Park Pass (saved us the $6 entrance fee) and took a drive to the park. This is a beautiful park to drive or hike. The drive in and to the visitor center is so pretty! The trees make a nice, shady canopy. You can see various animals from the observation tower, open range or hiking. It was late afternoon and hot when we were there so we didn't see much (one deer!) and I'm sure the animals were in the shade somewhere. read more

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A great place to start your adventure and exploration of the Prarie. I recently stopped by the Payne's Prairie Preserve State Park Visitor Center in Micanopy, Florida, and it was a fantastic experience! Yes, you do pay the $6 per vehicle entrance fee to enter the state park, and it's a bit of a drive from the main gate along the park road to reach the parking lot. From there, you walk a short distance to the center itself. But once you arrive, it's absolutely worth it. The Visitor Center is very nice and modern building with large floor-to-ceiling windows directly across from teh entrance offering great views of the prairie itself. The staff, specifically Brad, was very helpful, The sets of displays provide an good overview of the prairie's natural and cultural history through interactive exhibits. There is also a short film in the theater room about the location. I really liked the observation area and spotting scopes. One scope was perfectly trained on a bald eagle perched about two miles away. I thought that was an incredible sight! It made the whole prairie feel alive and gave us a real sense of the wildlife that calls this special place home (wild horses and bison live here too). There is a small gift shop, restrooms, and the building provides easy access to trails and an observation tower nearby. It's a perfect starting point to understand and appreciate this unique place. If you're in the Gainesville area, make time for Payne's Prairie. The Visitor Center is a hidden gem that turns a simple stop into a memorable visit. I highly recommended it. read more

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With nearly 23,000 acres savanna and over 30 miles of trails, there's plenty to explore at this State park in Micanopy near Gainesville. The park is open 8am until sundown every day. Main entrance admission is $6 per vehicle. After entering we drove down to the visitor center to park. The Visitor Center facilitates the interpretation of natural and cultural significance. Open 9am to 4pm daily and also has restrooms and a small gift shop. We enjoyed the hike to the 50 foot tower providing a nice view of the open visit. We did not happen to see any animals like alligators, bison, deer and horses. But did see birds and insects. It was nice to experience a scenic Central Florida landscape. read more

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Bison, Armadillos and Deer oh my! That's just a small example of some of the wildlife you will see when visiting this huge state park. Just south of Gainesville, you will find this unique and magnificent preserve. This park became Florida's first state preserve in 1971 and has now been designated as National Natural Landmark. The preserve is open from 8:00am to sundown. The first time I came here, I was with my daughter and her good friend. We parked the car, and paid our $6 fee and off we went into the preserve. So many beautiful Spanish moss trees and nearly 300 species of birds. The trail was so pretty and not crowded at all. The second time I came with my husband. First we checked out Lake Wauberg and saw some herons. The lake accommodates canoes, and boats with electric motors. Gas powered boats are not allowed. They also provide a pier for fishing. There are campsites as well for overnight visitors. The lake was lovely and very peaceful. I didn't get too close to the edge as there are also alligators here (no thank you). As we were leaving the lake area we encountered a live armadillo. Neither of us had ever seen one before. He was making his way looking for food and didn't pay any attention to us as we gawked at him. The biggest surprise of the visit was when we arrived to the Visitor Center. As we entered we were shocked to see a large herd of bison out back. Bison in Florida? We spoke with the one of the volunteers who explained that the State of Florida in 1975, reintroduced ten bison into the preserve. They have multiplied since then and are now wild roaming. We went out back to get a closer look but there is signage that asks you to keep your distance. We had no problem just viewing them from afar. We decided to walk out to the watch tower and climb up for better views of the preserve. As we made our way out a gentleman caught our attention as he had a huge zoom lens on his camera and was photographing a mother eagle feeding her babies. He asked us if we would like to see and of course we did. It was an incredible experience to witness this scene up close. We did not have enough time to walk any trails on my second visit but we did manage to encounter some pretty Virginia white tailed deer as we were exiting. So glad we had the opportunity to visit this spectacular state park and I look forward to visiting here again in the future. read more

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Didn't get to see the horses and bison but we saw gators ! Very cool experience. I definitely will come again read more

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This National Natural Landmark has been on my radar for awhile. Incredible biodiversity, our own savanna in Florida, who would have thought. If you are a bird-watcher, this is a place for you, if you can't travel to Wyoming to watch bison, this is the place for you.. wild horses, alligators, armadillos-Payne Preserve has it all. If you want to see wild horses and bisons, I read the best time of the day to visit are early mornings. We visited late, before sunset and using binoculars we did see both. It is very serene and calm park, not too many visitors on Saturday of our visit. read more

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Amazing views, sightings of some wild animals, lots of walking area, beautuful. Great for solo date or with friends! read more

Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park - Open range area - Parks Near Me - Micanopy, Florida

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Beautiful State Park Well kept Lots of Nature And not too far off the beaten path Wonderful place to camp read more

Beautiful State Park with lush trails, views from the Lookout Tower and educational information in the learning center. Very good place to spend only a few hours or a whole day. Be prepared though, bring water, a hat and sunscreen. read more

Went hunting for buffalo and wild horses. Sometimes you see em, sometimes you don't. Lots of birds; more than similar such places I've visited recently. And a few leviathan sized gators we saw looming about. Sort of exciting really, the prospect of running into these things in the wild ...on foot. lol. Exhilarating, almost. It's an Amazing place, rich in history, all 23,000 acres of it, with several many points of access including a visitor center, camping, recreation area, and observation towers. There's even a quick stop boardwalk heading North on 441; Ecopassage Observation Boardwalk, it's called. Recommending venturing early to avoid social hour at the tower and all its incessant prattle. How did I not know about this place sooner? read more

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Beautiful camping site near Gainesville. Water and Electric sites. Bathrooms with showers. Lots of hiking trails, visitor center and Animal life. The only bad thing was we were on campsite 20 and you can hear I-75 all day and night. No silence.. But we did meet a man that does Moth Photography! Very Interesting... They do offer senior discount. read more

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Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park is an AOK destination.  The visitor center isn't much, but the entrance fee is only nominal. Tip: The wildlife here is pretty much the same as what you'll find in all the other free parks in Florida When we went here, we climbed up the tower to take a look around, and saw what must may have been horses off in the distance; it was impossible to make out any details without a telescope or binoculars. read more

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This park is great for camping! The sites are large and every effort is made to keep them private! The sites are deep into the park and heavily wooded. There are natural screens of greenery between each site and the sites are well laid out. Each site has a picnic table, fire ring and lantern hook. The sites are clean and level. We camped here for two nights in a 30' Class A on site #10. There was ample room for our slide out and all of the chairs, rug and other campsite goodies. Very close to Gainesville and the University of Florida. Tons of shopping and restaurants nearb There is not a dog park here but there are plenty of places to get away from everyone and play with your furry buddies! This place would have gotten 5 stars from me if it had had full hookups. We really enjoyed the quiet and stargazing during our stay! read more

Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park - Watch out for bears! - Parks Near Me - Micanopy, Florida

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WoW. If you want to prairie walk and don't wish to be out in the direct sun, try the Jackson's Gap & Chacala trails. Great to enjoy the nature sights and still have some shade. This state park is a winner!! read more

Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park - Parks Near Me - Micanopy, Florida

A beautiful place you can see Buffalo and cracker cows and horses it's just so peaceful

$6/vehicle or $2/person - my hubs and I were visiting his 93 yr. old grandfather for his Bday weekend & looking for a Socially Distant activity - his grandpa suggested this park because it has a watch tower - the views are beautiful & we brought binoculars to be able to see wild horses close up including a pregnant one! The observatory was a hit - a must see and gives you wide views of the prairie! Also, we saw a Bald Eagle tending its nest - not too far from the Visitor Center - an educational hub w/an older volunteer was available to answer any questions we had. Overall, we spent a couple hr. w/our pup on the trails she was allowed and loved every min. One of the trails was closed due to flooding from the rain. We would've spent more time if we had an earlier start to the day despite it being overcast and raining a little. There were a few people and also a camping ground as well as a boardwalk - a very pleasant and wonderful surprise to discover! read more

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Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park is about an hour and 45 minutes (maybe 2ish) well worth it drive from Orlando. The park is open from 8 AM till sundown and costs only six dollars per vehicle. This $6 can be paid by an app or at the post and is done by the honor system. Please make the payment as our parks, and I, appreciate what it takes to keep them preserved and going for us. This park is HUGE! There are many hiking trails, bike trails, camping and recreation areas. Chances are you will see various wildlife. On our journey we saw deer a handful of times, turtles, birds, gators and more. I was hoping to see wild horses and bison as others have written about. Maybe next time. The trails are well kept and marked. This time Of year the sun was HOT (bring plenty of water and SPF) and the ticks were plentiful - make sure you use bug spray! spray spray and spray some more. The are areas to picnic and well kept restrooms should you need them. There is also an on duty ranger and maps should you questions or need guidance. Plan out your day with many nature activities...or night. Just make sure to check their website before you make the drive just in case there are any closures. read more

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What a GREAT way to spend your day! Paynes Prairie is a beautiful gem that everyone should go visit. I went with my parents, sister, and her two young children and we all had an amazing time. When you stop by the visitor's center, they'll tell you about the several trails you can take on bike or by foot. There is an observation tower where we saw wild horses. If you're lucky, you can even see wild BISON! If you're an outdoor lover like me, you won't be disappointed with the beautiful scenery - they have both woodsy and more open trails for you to get a true feel of the preserve. I can't wait to return on my next trip to Gainesville! read more

So cool. Only $6 and this place is huge. They also go by the honor system, make sure you have exact change. Not a lot of people, so it was a great place to social distance and get almost 6 miles in. We saw armadillos, wild ponies and a cool lookin turtle. I also almost stepped on a little gator because he blended in on the path. Was sad we didn't see bison, but it was still awesome. I read Bolen Bluff Trail is supposed to be great for seeing bison. Maybe next time! read more

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This is a great state park to camp at located just south of Gainesville. The property has a lake, picnic areas and plenty of hiking/biking trails. Try to catch a glimpse of the buffalo that roam the acreage. The camping facilities have bathroom and showers. The lots each have a fire pit and picnic table. Most lots are gravel. They have both 30 amp and 50 amp hook ups. The camping spots for RV's don't have full hook up (water and electric only) but there is a dump station on site. The scenery is lush and beautiful. Much nicer than some commercial camping facilities. It can be tight for larger rids to get in as there are a lot of trees to maneuver but that's the cost of a natural setting. Just take your time and you should be fine. read more

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I never knew Florida had a prairie. We seen the big black stallion stomping a giant gator on the news a few weeks ago and learned of this place. My man decided to surprise me with a weekend camping trip. I absolutely loved every moment of our stay...even though the weather tried to rain on my parade, wild horses, up-close whitetail deer and the overlook tower view never let my smile fade. We didn't get to hike because of the reason rain but you can bet we are already planning a return stay for much longer in the next few months. Our tent campsite was nice, but the people camping there before us left a lot of litter behind that I personally cleaned up. Shame on you for that. We seen wild horses in the distance near the watering holes from the tower while it was pouring rain. It was just stunning. I think I photographed the big black stallion that was on the news but until I'm able to return, to see them more up-close, I can't be sure. Still...totally exciting. I seen one bison in the distance. We seen so many deer! And with gorgeous spot coat fawns!!! And they weren't afraid, viewed us as I zoomed in from the truck for some insane photos. If there were a way to give this place 100 stars, it totally deserves them. The beauty and serenity of this place is breathtaking. A true hidden gem! If you're a photographer, this is one place that won't let you down. But plan to stay a few days in case of...weather. read more

Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park - We have arrived!! Where are all the wild horses?? - Parks Near Me - Micanopy, Florida

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Ending an outdoor adventurous day with family, there was no better way than to stop by this U.S. National Natural Landmark, south of Gainesville crossed by I-75 and U.S. 44. Ecosystem, forests, flowers, lakes, meadows, plants, and trails are all breath taking with the flawless views. Spotting bison, buffalo, deer, and horses are a plus along the way. Stop by this beauty if you are in town. Why haven't I moved to Gainesville yet??? read more

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Paynes Prairie Preserve is a beautiful Florida State Park ... like all of our State run parks in Florida (yes, I'm bias being from Florida) ... This park is gigantic ... there are multiple entrances to the park from different sides and you need to leave sections of the park to get to other sections ... so a car is required ... we RV camped in March and just stayed in that section (didn't have a tow vehicle) ... The camp sites are large and well maintained ... we stayed at site 006 which had 30/50 AMP power and H2O hookups ... fire pit, picnic table ... They have some good trails in the camping section of the park ... we were able to catch sight of wild horses in the prairie down by the observation tower ... Really wish we had a vehicle and more time to explore ... this is a massive property with trails that focus on horses, buffalos and gators ... but you need mobility to see them all ... You can view our video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJmr23q9GCA&t=6s read more

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This park is absolutely GORGEOUS! There are so many different paths to walk on depending on what you want out of your visit. The southern part of the park is forested and there are lovely trails through the forests and along a lake. The northern part of the park is more marsh-y and is the area where you see the most alligators for sure. I went to this park last weekend with my husband and we had a wonderful time. Note: Some trails ARE DOG FRIENDLY!! ( I didn't know that, so we left our pup at home, but depending on which trail you go on you can bring your four-legged friend). The trail that we walked on was called the La Chua Trail. There were so many beautiful birds here. We also saw a couple of snakes and a turtle - the whole preserve is full of wildlife. A lot of the trail was flooded (not the boardwalk, but the areas beyond), so it's not a long hike, but it is lovely. There are other paths to walk along at the same trail head and there is a lovely bike path if that what you're into! It was a beautiful place to be immersed in nature and enjoying the cool Florida weather in the winter! read more

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Whats not to love about one of the country's last remaining prairie's? This park is wonderful and a real gem in North Central Florida. No matter what you are going to this park for, you are for sure in for a great day. I have been to this park on a handful of occasions since living in Gainesville. There is something for everyone. If you want to hike, you can do that. If you would rather take a picnic or bbq you can do that. You can see some pretty cool things here and its worth a day trip. When you arrive at the park it is $6 for a car load of people. I have a Florida State Parks pass so when I bring guests its only $2 per guest and if I have more than 3 guests its the flat $6. The rangers at this park are always very willing to give a map and some direction of where you should check out. The park does have a campground, but you do need to reserve your spot early as spots fill quickly and are limited. I love going on hikes there to the observation towers. I also enjoy the view of the lake and other areas. I highly recommend this park to anyone! You can get that gorgeous picture of a sunset over a beautiful prairie. read more

A huge "park" with an entry at the edge of the prairie, off 441, like a number of prairie parks in Gainesville, with entries around the edge of the park. It's huge, with a wooded portion transitioning into the open prairie. On this visit, we were lucky enough to see 3 of the wild horses, which allowed us to get within only several feet of them, while they were only checking the gathered 6 or 8 people out. BTW: these don't look like wild horses (!mustangs?), but rather appear to be domesticated horses that have been released onto the prairie. They were not leery or distrustful like a true wild horse. So this is a good place for a hike, or just a nature walk. The admission charge is minimal. read more

This place is awesome. One of the many natural environments to visit while in G-ville Great little hike to experience wild animals and alligators face-to-face. Bring your camera and going with friends is cool. I would recommend hiking shoes or [defintely] closed-toed shoes for comfort and just in case you need to sprint for your life. JK Just Remember: This is no zoo so be mindful of your surroundings and maybe, just maybe, you can cross 'petting a Florida gator' off of your bucket list this year. ;) Well worth the trip! read more

Get your nature on! 2 mile drive in to the visitor center- park and a short hike will bring you to the building. Small shop, restrooms, information on the park and natural resources & a video too. But the view. You hike in through thick wooded area and on the backside of the visitor center is the prairie/ wetlands. If you continue lady the visitor center you come upon an observation tower. Expansive doesn't even cover it. A bird lovers paradise. And it on the prairie- tons of wildlife. Bison, horses, boar, gators, bald eagles, deer... So much to see. The 8 mile loop is were you see the most wildlife. There is very little shade- be aware. Pack plenty of water. I'll be taking my binoculars next time. And i will probably go early. Can't wait to explore more. They have plenty of hiking trails. Go enjoy nature! read more

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We spent the weekend here to have close access to the nearby springs. The campsites are flat and clean with plenty of shade. On our visit the campground was very quiet although almost full! Two drawbacks are the amount of mosquitoes (but it is Florida...bring bug spray) and the sulfur smelling water in the showers. There was also a boil water advisory during our stay. The trails were nice and most of them were paved and several allowed bicycle access. We were able to observe some baby alligators on one of our walks on a trail! Parts of some of the trails were closed because of conditions brought about by rain and weather. read more

Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park - Parks Near Me - Micanopy, Florida

I've never seen so many alligators together in one place... and I'm from Miami. Totally cool. Not just because of the alligators, but there are Bison. Yep. You read that right. Like Buffalo. And I actually got to see them. Away in the distance but it counts. There are horses. And buffalo shit. And rangers to answer questions. And a nature center on the other side with nice walking trails. Great family outing or school field trip. read more

I've only seen a small portion of the Preserve but seeing it repeatedly for many years in it's ever changing seasons is simply magnificent! At various times of the year you can walk out onto the boardwalk and see different types of animals, flowers, trees, and beautiful sunsets. Though it's properly called a prairie, depending on the season it is also a swamp and wetlands. Marjorie Harris Carr's vision continues to live on hopefully for many more generations. read more

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This took me back to the days when I was a little kid watching the Discovery channel and the crazy shenanigans that Steve Erwin would do with just about any animal. If there was a venomous snake he would play with it maybe give it a kiss and crocodiles he would basically cuddle and watch Netflix with them. Anyway walking through the prairie took me back to my childhood and made me feel like Steve Erwin. We were luckily enough to see a bunch of wild horses, some of them were quite big and didn't want us anywhere near them that's for sure. Then when we got near the water of course we wanted to see some alligators but there weren't any and all of a sudden they were everywhere. Some of them were probably 10 feet long and just to see them with no fence or any kind of barrier in between you and them is a breath taking feeling. This is an awesome experience and for any adventure seeker or anyone aspiring to be the next Steve Erwin. read more

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I've been thinking of hiking here for far too long, and finally visited today. The drive in is fairly long and is a preview of what's to come; It's beautiful, natural and wild. We drove to the visitor's center and got the low down on which trails were driest, as some were impassible during our visit. The trail that was recommended to us by the woman working the desk was Cones Dike, which took us past the lookout tower and into a diverse part of the park. We saw white tailed deer and lots of birds and wild horses. This trail takes you to the open prairie where the Sandhill cranes converge for a late breakfast. We went mid morning and were treated to the sight of dozens of cranes circling above and landing to feed. The only sounds were of their low, throaty trilling and the wind. It was perfectly peaceful. The trail that goes by the lake is perhaps the best one for alligator sightings, but we ran out of time and energy, and will have to return for that. There are lots of events and ranger talks that happen regularly at this park, and I would definitely take advantage of that if I lived in the area. Nice park, lovely people. Yay! read more

Beautiful park with plenty of trails, meadows, forest, and a couple lakes. Lots of areas and types of ecosystems to explore. Wish I'd spent more time here when I lived in Gainesville! Only criticism: we reserved the primitive camp site, but upon arrival (2mile hike), it was already occupied by a drunk group who said they'd reserved it too! We had to find another spot elsewhere. What a ripoff of $20 for camping but not even able to use reserved facilities (bathroom and firepit)! :( read more

Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park - Camping near the 'primitive' location, deep in the park. Could kind of hear a nearby highway, but a beautiful and peaceful spot! - Parks Near Me - Micanopy, Florida

Fantastic state park! Currently due to Covid you need exact change for the honor box or pay by app. Only $6 per car load for day use. We have done both day use and stayed in the campground. Use Reserve America to make Campground reservations. Camp sites have plenty of trees for shade and as a buffer between you and your neighbors. Campground is kept very neat and tidy by 2 campground hosts. Saturday morning had coffee with the Rangers. They are very knowledgeable and just want you to enjoy your time in the park. The park is 22,000 acres with lots of trails for walking and bikes and horses. Bring your own bikes and horses. The visitor center is gorgeous building with a million dollar view of the Prairie. Highly recommend the viewing tower just behind the center. It is a" don't miss ". We saw Sandhills cranes, Wild horses and bison. This is one of those parks you will want to see in different seasons. I am told that January and February are fantastic for migrating birds. And of course less heat and bugs in the trails. read more

Wow, this place was massive! We weren't expecting such a long drive to the back of the park. The property is beautiful. Giving this a lower rating due to maintenance and the fact that all of the bathrooms were stopped up and pretty yucky. read more

Beautiful views at sunset! Definitely visit but be warned that parking is not optimal. It is a bit dangerous for pedestrians. That said you can't find better sunset views in the area. The water is absolutely stunning. read more

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Absolutely amazing. Almost surreal in a way. Feels like you are a thousand miles away from Florida. I spent a whole bunch of time here when I was a student at UF and had not been back since I graduated in 1991. Nothing has changed on the Bolen Bluff Trail. Took some amazing photos of wild horses that I will post soon. Hiked through the marshy areas looking for gators, but there were none to be found this day. This is one of the most unique features in our wonderful state and should be cherished for generations to come. read more

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I have been a prairie-goer for a few years now, and it makes living in a small city like Gainesville worth it... The prairie is huge. Expansive. There are trails, sinkholes, wild horses, bison, marsh hares, alligators, camp sites and viewing towers... To really get an idea of how interesting this prairie is, let me regale you with a few tales of my visits to the prairie, all different and all memorable. 1) The walkway down 13th Ave. If you drive down 13th, going south, you will eventually hit the highway of the prairie. Roll down the windows, go the speed limit, and crank up the radio. Just for those few minutes, you truly feel alive and that America has some hope for adventure. There is a wooden walkway in the middle, and you will always see cares pulled over. I first went here to see a meteor shower many moons ago with some friends. The air was chilled, the walkway was packed with college kids and their friends, bundled under the cold night sky with sleeping blankets and the warmth of their neighbor. We had hot cocoa and watched the sky fall.. it was really magical. 2) The camp sites. Camping sites are few and far in between in Gainesville. Being a camping person, my boyfriend and I decided to rent a site (~$15) for a night. The sites are kind of really close to one another, and it sucks when you want a quiet night and a group of 10+ freshman are drinking and dancing next to you, but it is still very nice out. 3) The trails. Oh, the trails. The first trail we went down was the La Chula (sp?) trail, where we were completely alone. We walked past the sinkhole full on gators and walked a very narrow grassy path, with swamp and the sound of territorial gators on either side of the 3-4 foot wide passageway before you. Honest to God, one of the scariest moments of my life. Little did we know it was mating season. Warning, do NOT go into gator territory during those summer months. Don't be a fool, like me. We finally reached the viewing platform and saw not much of anything. We did see a marsh hare, who almost let us get close enough to pet it. Then we had to brave the trail back. Thank God other people were headed down it, plenty of meat besides me for the gators to go after. The second trail we went down, the next morning, was Bolen's Bluff. It is right after the prairie highway on your right. You walk about one mile through a mid-dense forest until you all of a sudden see the woods open before you. There is the prairie, all light up and free from the darkness of the forest! And when I went the first time, I was met with a herd of wild Spanish horses. How freaking awesome was that? I felt like Lily in Legend, and I couldn't help but have a smile from ear to ear. The horses were at the crossover point from the forest to the prairie, like guardians of the wild. We walked up to them, they didn't fear us at all, but we didn't want to touch them. (C'mon, guys, please don't touch the horses.) There were brown ones, white ones, and some foal. They neighed and walked about, it was beautiful. Beware the horse pies and the bison poops! You can tell the bison poops because they look like mud piles and have the split hooves all over them. We also saw some deer there. The view tower is not that great here though. The third time, we went down a path at 8 am IN the midst of the park. Don't remember what it was, but it was recommended by the employees of the park. I brought my binoculars with me and we got to see bison that day from the view tower. It's like a bad game of Where's Waldo. read more

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