Lush Appalachian-Style Habitats

This weekend I packed up the car and headed out with my dog to enjoy some hiking and exploring. I know what you are thinking, Florida is not an interesting hiking area since it is flat, right? Well yes, but every now and again I find a hidden gem.

You'd think you were in the Amazon, or Hawaii, when you hear and see the tumbling cascades behind a screen vegetation. But the ephemeral waterfalls that occur at Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park are a delight to be found in this small but intriguing state park. Each landing reveals a new layer of forest, each crevice a bounty of botanical wonders. The creek tumbles down into the abyss through a succession of rock outcroppings. The best time to visit is after a heavy rain, when tall waterfalls gush down the sides of the sinkhole. A 0.9-mile trail rings the top of the sinkhole, leading you through habitats very different than what you'll find below.

Directions & Location From I-75, take Gainesville exit 390 and head east into Gainesville on SR 222 for 3.4 miles, passing Santa Fe Community College. Turn left at the traffic light for NW 43rd Street. Drive 1 mile to NW 53rd Ave (Millhopper Road) and turn left. The park is on the right within 0.3 mile.