Fox Pen Preserve

Accessibility Information

Parking Lot Description

The trailhead for Fox Pen is a fenced-in dirt parking lot.  The trailhead contains an informational kiosk with printed maps.  There are no restrooms, water, trash cans, or seating.

Orange Trail

Trail Length: 1.7 miles

Steepest slope: 2%

Total elevation gain: 22 feet

The Orange trail begins at the parking lot and takes visitors through a successional slash pine forest planted by previous owners for timber.  The forested area has become heavily shaded and dominated by laurel and water oaks due to the elimination of prescribed fire.  The trail surface is primarily soil and leaves.  There are some roots and old tree stumps scattered throughout the trail.  About 300 feet into the trail, visitors come to a fork in the trail where they can go left or right on a loop.  Taking a left, visitors will continue through the successional pine forest until coming to a clearing with a picnic table (non-accessible) and a beautiful view of Moss Lee Lake. 

The trail continues along similar terrain for another 0.1 mile until coming out of the woods to a road.  The trail becomes mowed grass as it turns to the left.  The trail is mostly sunny for the remainder of the way as the trail hugs sandhill restoration areas.  ACT staff are removing unwanted hardwood trees, removing invasive exotic plants, conducting prescribed burns, and planting native grasses and longleaf pines.  There are also 2 educational signs about the restoration work.  As the trail cuts back to the north when it nears Holden Park Road, the trail becomes very loose sand for a few hundred feet before cutting back into the woods towards the trailhead.

Contact ACT for more information or comments about our accessibility of our preserves by calling (352)373-1078 or emailing info@alachuaconservationtrust.org