Little Orange Creek Preserve
Accessibility Information
Parking Lot Description
The trailhead is a mowed grass parking lot with lots of space for equestrian trailers. The trailhead contains an informational kiosk with printed maps. There are no restrooms, water, trash cans, or seating
Kathy Cantwell Trail (Orange)
Trail Length: 2 miles
Steepest slope: 5%
Total elevation gain: 65 feet
The Kathy Cantwell Trail is marked with Orange trail blazes. Trail users enter a shaded forest planted with slash pines in rows by the previous owners for timber. The trail surface is mostly compacted soil and pine needles. The trail slopes downhill for 0.25 miles with a few protruding roots. Visitors come to a junction where they can turn right and go on the Sandhill Restoration trail marked with Blue blazes or continue on the Orange trail.
The Orange trail hugs a wetland on the left and the restoration trail on the right. The trail eventually curves to the East as it approaches Little Orange Creek. This part of the trail is often wet and muddy during wet seasons. It also has numerous protruding roots.
At 0.9 miles into the Orange trail, a bench with beautiful views of a marsh. At the 1-mile mark, the trail comes to a junction. At the junction is a 2-story observation tower with stairs. There is also the option of turning right and taking the Sandhill Restoration Blue trail back towards the parking lot. Visitors can elect to continue on the Orange trail for another mile as the trail hugs marshes on the left.
At the end of the trail, visitors come to an 85-foot boardwalk that is 4 feet wide. There are steps to get up the boardwalk and handrails on both sides. At the end of the boardwalk is another 2-story observation tower that provides sweeping views of Fowler’s Prairie.
Sandhill Restoration Trail (Blue)
Trail Length: 0.5 miles
Steepest slope:
Total elevation gain: 26 feet
The Sandhill Restoration Trail is marked in Blue blazes. The trail surface is mostly mowed grass with a few areas of soil and leaf litter. When turning off the Orange trail, users climb through a small section of upland hardwood forest and come out into the sunshine of the sandhill restoration area. The trail climbs and winds gently over a hill top. The area is being restored by ACT to longleaf pine forest by conducting prescribed burns, treating exotic invasive plants, removing unwanted hardwood trees and planting longleaf pine and native grasses. After cresting at the top of the hill, the trail begins to lose elevation as it slopes back down and terminates at the first overlook along the Orange trail.
Contact ACT for more information or comments about our accessibility of our preserves by calling (352)373-1078 or emailing info@alachuaconservationtrust.org
