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Safety Updates

Florida State Parks will follow local orders requiring facial coverings or masks to provide for staff and visitor safety. These requirements vary from area to area. Our main priority is the safety of our guests and staff. We will continue to review operations on a daily basis and make additional operational changes as may be deemed necessary for protection of public health. Please review individual park pages for specific information for each location.

View details about online payments, park and campground closures, park programs/events and facial coverings.

Limited Visitation at this Park

Effective Nov. 3, 2020: Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park is open (see hours of operation and fee information below). Due to local orders, facial coverings or masks are required inside buildings for staff and visitor safety. Camping is by reservation only. Due to high water levels on the prairie basin, portions of the La Chua and Cones Dike trails are inaccessible. Restroom availability may be limited. The visitor center is open. Visitors are expected to maintain distances of at least six feet apart.

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History

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Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park is biologically, geologically and historically unique. This park became Florida's first state preserve in 1971 and is now designated as a National Natural Landmark. Noted artist and naturalist William Bartram called it the great Alachua Savannah when he wrote about his visit to the prairie in 1774.

More than 20 distinct biological communities provide a rich array of habitats for wildlife and livestock, including alligators, bison, horses and nearly 300 species of birds. Exhibits and an audio-visual program at the visitor center explain the area´s natural and cultural history. A 50-foot-high observation tower near the visitor center provides a panoramic view of the preserve.

Eight trails provide opportunities for hiking, horseback riding, and bicycling, including the 16 mile long, paved Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail. There is a fishing pier on Lake Wauberg, and a boat ramp provides access for canoes and boats with electric motors in Lake Wauberg. Gasoline powered boats are not allowed. Full-facility campsites are available for overnight visitors.

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Videos about Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park

  • Natural Florida: Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park
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Florida State Parks

Main Menu

  • Plan your visit
    • Accessibility
    • FAQs
    • Fees
    • Rules & Regulations
    • Camping & Lodging
    • Outdoor Florida
  • Find a Park
  • Learn
    • Newsletter
  • Resources
  • Experiences & Amenities
    • Educational Opportunities
    • Programs
    • Research & Collecting
  • Events
  • Get Involved
    • Corporate Partners
    • Doing Business with Parks
    • Work for Us

Have Questions?

Contact the Statewide Information Line:
(850) 245-2157

Or send an email to:
FSP.Feedback@FloridaDEP.gov

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