Paynes Prairie, now a State Preserve, is a large, flat, marshy plain covered by grass and scrubby trees. It measures eight miles long with a width of one to four miles. Water draining into the Prairie goes underground through the soluble limestone of Alachua Sink. Historically Paynes Prairie has alternated between being a lake and a prairie. At Paynes Prairie you can enjoy magnificent vistas, abundant wildlife, and amazing plant diversity. Florida's first people were drawn here over 10,000 years ago. It was occupied by Timucuan Indians until the late 1600s when the land served as a large cattle ranch for the Spanish. In 1774 the famous naturalist William Bartram visited the Prairie and described this area as the great Alachua Savannah. In 1871 the sink was plugged with logs and debris and so became the Alachua Lake, plied by low-draft steamboats like the "Cicola" which shipped citrus. In 1892 the sink became unplugged and rapidly drained, once again reverting to its prairie state.

As the site of the first cattle ranch of Spanish Florida, Paynes Prairie still has Spanish cattle and horses. It's also home to innumerable deer, turkey, bobcats, otters (and, unfortunately, way too many armadillos) and is well-known as a birders' paradise. Not to mention the alligators! The Preserve contains more than 30 miles of trails, with facilities for camping, picnicking, fishing, bicyling and horseback riding.

If you like an abundance of opportunities in one place, you'll appreciate Paynes Prairie. The visitor center will get you oriented to this 21,000-acre preserve. Watch the video, view exhibits, see stunning wildlife photography, pick up a trail map, and observe panoramic views of the prairie from the 50' observation tower.

Paynes Prairie 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.

Over 20 distinct biological communities provide a rich array of habitats for wildlife, including alligators, bison, wild horses, and over 270 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.

Website: www.floridastateparks.org/paynesprairie

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