Hidden Gems
Hidden Gems
Bring your water and take a walk in…the Real Florida.
Florida is a world-class tourism destination and state parks are a big part of that. While many of our natural and cultural resources are widely known, these preserves help maintain one of the state's most endangered natural communities: the Florida Scrub.
Price’s Scrub State Park was purchased to preserve a biodiversity hotspot as well as for the planned connection of regionally important conservation lands. Price’s Scrub is nearly 1,000 acres and a key part of the proposed Northwest Marion Greenway.
The park has one of the highest biodiversity ratings in Marion County due to the mosaic of upland mixed woodlands with ridges of scrub among mesic and scrubby flatwoods.
When fall begins, keep an eye and ear out for the arrival of sharp-shinned hawks and Eastern phoebes. Trails in the south are sandy and open, while trails in the north are more shaded with rolling topography.
Contained within the reserve's boundaries are 12 distinct natural communities, which are home to a variety of wildlife including the Florida scrub-jay, Florida mouse, gopher tortoise and bald eagle.
Venturing out onto the trails gives visitors the opportunity to get away from fast-paced big-city noises, and step into wildly beautiful natural areas.
The reserve's western boundary includes tidal marshes where creeks are wonderful for fishing from a canoe or kayak or simply paddling to observe wildlife.
Lake June-in-Winter Scrub Preserve State Park
Amenities are few, but the natural experience is exceptional. Visitors are likely to observe Florida scrub-jays happily flying about as they explore the park. A picnic pavilion at the top of a gently sloped rise overlooks the namesake lake.
Sharp-eyed hikers who take on the challenge of walking down the sugar-sand fire lane may observe the gopher tortoise, scrub lizards, endemic scrub plants and several animal tracks that have not been washed away by summer rains. The Tomoka Trail crosses a gurgling stream, and those on a leisurely walk may be surprised and delighted to encounter a playful otter.
Managing Scrub Habitats
These serene natural communities are known as fire-dependent, meaning they rely on fire to survive. Florida is a fire adapted landscape with some of the highest numbers of lightning strikes in the world. All this lightning activity historically produced wildfires which Florida's native vegetation has evolved to thrive alongside. Prescribed fire reduces the risk of wildfires by reducing the amount of hazardous natural fuels and fills the important role of maintaining fire in these natural communities.
