Little Orange Creek Preserve & Nature Park

SUMMARY

Size: 2,883 acres
Years conserved: 2012 to present (several separate acquisitions)
Partner organizations: Putnam Land Conservancy, Alachua County, Conservation Florida, Friends of Little Orange Creek, and the City of Hawthorne, Florida Communities Trust

ABOUT THE PRESERVE & NATURE PARK

Little Orange Creek Preserve & Nature Park is a partnership between Alachua Conservation Trust, Alachua County, Friends of Little Orange Creek, Putnam Land Conservancy, Conservation Florida (formerly Conservation Trust for Florida), and the City of Hawthorne to protect an extensive tract of undeveloped lands near Hawthorne, Florida. Alachua Conservation Trust is leading the management and acquisition for this project.

Little Orange Creek Preserve & Nature Park now covers nearly 2,900 acres of the upper Little Orange Creek watershed, and protects a patchwork of diverse wetlands that feed into and form Fowlers Prairie, including the pinelands and hammock that surround it. Large parts of Little Orange Creek Preserve are basin swamp with a mix of cypress, tupelo, and red maple. The uplands were historically a mix of sandhill and flatwoods that were steadily converted to planted pine many years ago.

The rich variety of habitats supports a wonderful diversity of plants and animals. Bears regularly travel through the area, and have been photographed numerous times using trail cameras. Other large mammals include deer, coyotes, bobcats, and otters. The freshwater marshes and swamps provide excellent habitat for many species of wading birds and other wetland dependent species.

Located to the south of the preserve, across Highway 20, the Nature Park includes a nature center, playground, covered pavilion, and an outdoor fitness equipment station. During the school year, students are invited to Little Orange Creek Nature Park as part of the Creekside Environmental Ed for Kids Program to learn about the basics of wetland and wildlife ecology.

RESTORATION EFFORTS

Considerable progress in conserving this region has been made since the preserve was established such as:

  • The preserve has more than doubled in size through numerous acquisitions and a lot donation program.

  • A new nature center has been completed and now supports the Creekside Environmental Ed for Kids Program.

  • Land managers and volunteers have planted over 140,000 longleaf pines on the preserve.

  • Fire lines have been established and a controlled burn program initiated.

  • A network of trails running 2 miles opened to the public in 2017.

There is much more work ahead to return these lands to a more natural state, and the management of the entire complex of conservation lands will be closely coordinated between the various government and non-profit organizations involved. Restoration will involve the thinning of overgrowth, controlled burns, and longleaf pine tree planting. In addition, ACT is working with adjacent landowners and exploring the possibility of expanding the preserve in the future.

TAKE A VIRTUAL HIKE WITH ACT

A film by Will Parson.

TRAILHEAD ADDRESS

Please use the following GPS coordinates to access the North Entrance of the preserve with access to the Kathy Cantwell Trail:

29.594806, -82.062938 (Google Map)

GENERAL RULES & GUIDELINES

  • Preserve is open from sunrise to sunset.

  • Dogs are welcome as long as they remain on a leash.

  • Trails are unpaved and in some places can be muddy, uneven, or wet.

  • Drones are not permitted without permission from ACT.

  • Motorized vehicles are prohibited.

TRAIL MAP

Click on the map to download the full preserve guide.

A portion of Little Orange Creek Nature Park & Preserve was purchased with funds from the Florida Communities Trust.

Banner image by Alison Blakeslee.