La Chua Trail - Paynes Prairie State Preserve - Member Hike
| Hike Name: | La Chua Trail - Paynes Prairie State Preserve |
|---|---|
| Country: | United States |
| State: | Florida |
| Nearby Town: | Micanopy |
| Rating: |  |
| Directions: | Paynes Prairie State Preserve off hwy 441 in Micanopy Florida just south of Gainesville. Go Gators! |
| Total Hike Distance: | 3.50 miles |
| Hike Difficulty: | Easy to Moderate |
| Permit Required: | No |
| Hike Type: | One-Way, Shuttle Hike |
| Hike Starts: | in Paynes Prairie |
| Hike Ends: | same |
| Trails Used: | La Chua Trail |
| Backcountry Campsites: | No |
| Backcountry Water Sources: | None |
| Management: | State Park Service |
| Contact Information: | http://www.prairiefriends.org/index.html |
| Best Season: | Winter, Spring |
| Users: | Hikers |
| Road Conditions: | Secondary Paved Roads, Maintained Gravel or Dirt Roads |
| Hike Summary: | The state park website said: "La Chua Trail Update - August 10, 2007 During the recent drought, an extraordinary number of alligators congregated along the La Chua Trail - one of the last remaining areas of water within the prairie basin. The close proximity of an unprecedented number of alligators and trail visitors was alarming. In May, safety concerns and observed visitor behavior led the Florida Park Service to close the trail. " When I read this warning on the park website, I had to grab my camera and sneak out on the LaChua Trail in Paynes Prairie. I hiked out there on Sunday August 19,07. It was hot as blazes. The gators were hardly to be seen this day. I did see one big snapping turtle on the trail. Paynes Prairie is a beautiful Florida wilderness - just off 441 near Micanopy. It is peaceful quiet out there, no road noise and much wildlife. Vegetation was very lush and fragrant |
3 replies on “La Chua Trail - Paynes Prairie State Preserve - Member Hike”
La Chua Trail – overrated, overstated, anemic and too civilized. They should remove the signs that caution the potentiality for encounters with wildlife – unless they’re talking about the buzzards, hawks and fire ants. The boardwalk eliminated the “wild” from wilderness and the fact that there are barely any gators present means the only ones to be seen are more than a hundred yards in the distance, nothing more than an attraction now, one absent animals. An utter disappointment, even when taking into account the overblown advertising, certainly not worth a 2 ½ hour drive.
While the entrance to Paynes Prairie State Park is located south of the prairie near Micanopy, the “La Chua” Trail is located on the north side of the prairie in Gainesville, several miles from Micanopy. Maybe this report is akin to the writing of “The Old Folks at Home” (“Way Down Upon the Suwannee River”) by Stephen Foster, who never set foot in Florida or Georgia.
Go Gators!