Paynes Prairie

Paynes Prairie is a Florida State Park located in Micanopy, FL just south of Gainesville, FL.  It is a 21,000 acre preserve savanna which was once the strong hold of the Aluchua band of the Seminole tribe under Chief Ahahya the Cowkeeper in the 18th century.  The prairie was named after his oldest surviving nephew, Payne.  The prairie had drainage issues and in 1871 Lake Alucha was formed in the prairie and was big enough that steamships were used on the lake.  The lake was in existence until 1886 when it dried up.  Now it is one of the major hiking trails.  The park has several types of wild life such as the American Alligator, 270 species of birds, small herds of Florida Cracker horses and cattle and in the 1970's the Plain Bison, from Oklahoma, was reintroduced into the prairie to try and restore the prairie to its natural resources it had at pre European settler's conditions when the bison roamed this area in the 19th century.  The sightings of the bison are rare but when seen the best area for viewing is the Cone's Dike trail.  Paynes Prairie State Park has campgrounds, a lake, boat ramp, 8 hiking, horseback riding, or bike trails, exhibits and audio-visual presentations that talk about the natural and cultural history of the preserve in the visitor's center and a 50 ft observation tower located near the visitor's center with a panoramic view of the prairie.  A slide show of the Paynes Prairie will be posted later.
I have been to Paynes Prairie a few times, mostly in the fall and winter and the prairie looks really different in the spring.  It is overgrown and green in some places and brown and very dry in other places.  The hiking trails are all good and whatever trail you are on you will see wild life.  Gators, horses and birds can almost always be seen.  There is one trail, north of the prairie, that I like to call Alligator Alley due to the fact that there is a canal you hike along and on the shore and in the waters of the canals are alligators.  Lots and lots of big, huge, hungry alligators.  I always feel like gator bait when I walk that trail.  At the end of the trail is an area where you can usually see bison.  We were fortunate during our last hike to see a baby bison up close while it crossed the trail just ahead of us..  Paynes Prairie is really worth going to for a day trip or camping.  If you love nature you will love the hiking trails.  We have seen wild horses, bison, alligators, birds, birds, birds and reptiles.  It is a great place to spend time enjoying nature.  Make sure you bring your camera!