ashleyryanadventures-blog
Natural Treasures of Florida
My name is Ashley Ryan. This Tumblr page is for MMC2100 at the University of Florida. I am a resident of Gainesville, and want to share my passion for adventure by showing what natural treasures can be found in the Gainesville area.
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Relax on the loops of Sweetwater Wetlands Park
Sweetwater Wetlands Park is my personal favorite place to take a relaxing walk. I took my family here after dinner one evening while they were visiting, and we spent a little over two hours here on a relaxing stroll around the trails. The park can be found at 325 SW Williston Road, Gainesville, FL 32601.
The park itself is more than 125 acres of a man-made wetland habitat that acts as a filtration system to improve the water quality in Payne’s Prairie. There are three loops of trails throughout the park as shown in the aerial photo below that can be walked. The trails are made of crushed gravel and boardwalks atop the levee system that helps to provide the filtration.
Photo By: sweetwaterwetlands.org. Aerial shot of Sweetwater Wetlands Park.
Alligators, whitetail deer, bison, Florida cracker horses, a wide array of bird species and so many more animals can be viewed at this park. There is a whiteboard at the trailhead asking visitors to write what wildlife was spotted that day; every time I have been to the park the board is full of different animal sightings. Below are two images of alligators that I personally took on my last trip to the park, about 10 feet off the gravel trail on the levee.
Photo by: Ashley Ryan. Alligator catching sun rays at Sweetwater Wetlands Park.
Photo by: Ashley Ryan. Alligator with cut tail at Sweetwater Wetlands Park.
There is a fee for this park, $5 per car or $2 per person if pedestrian or cyclist. Annual passes are available for regular visitors for $78 and can be purchased a the Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs offices during their business hours Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.– 5 p.m. The park is open from 8 a.m. to sunset each day.
Ranger-led tours are offered on the first Saturday of each month from 8:30-11:30a.m. On Wednesday mornings a bird walk takes place from 8:30-11:30 to discover the rich diversity of over 215 species of birds that can be seen in the park! All walks and tours are free with admission to the park, and a full list of events can be found on the Sweetwater Wetlands Park activities page.
To end this post, I want to share my some of my favorite photos of my family and I at the park. The scenery here is perfect for graduation, engagement, or any type of photo shoot that nature can play a key role in.
Photo By: Jeremy Shepard. Rachael Ryan (left), Christine Ryan (middle), and Ashley Ryan (right) at Sweetwater Wetlands Park.
Photo By: Rachael Ryan. Ashley Ryan (left) and Jeremy Shepard (right) sharing a kiss on a bridge at Sweetwater Wetlands Park.
Photo by: Ashley Ryan. Christine Ryan (left) and Ashley Ryan (right) taking a selfie at Sweetwater Wetlands Park.
Sources:
http://www.sweetwaterwetlands.org/
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Hike a levee at Barr Hammock Preserve
Photo by: Ashley Ryan. Barr Hammock Preserve entrance.
Barr Hammock Preserve is just outside of the city of Gainesville. The trailhead entrance can be found at 14920 SE 11th Drive, Micanopy, FL 32667. I took my sister here while she was visiting to complete the 6.5-mile unpaved loop trail that circles a wet prairie at the north entrance.
Photo by: Ashley Ryan. Image of Yeti tumbler on the north loop of the Barr Hammock Preserve.
The 6,000 acre preserve is off the west side of Interstate 75, just south of Gainesville. Entrance to the preserve is free, but keep in mind there are no restrooms on sight. A south entrance to the preserve was opened on June 17, 2017, as explained by the Gainesville Sun, however, the trails on the two entrances do not connect.
Photo by: Ashley Ryan. Sign at entrance of Barr Hammock Preserve warning visitors to stay on the levee.
I have not been to the south entrance yet, but the north levy loop is a daylong adventure of moderate hiking and wildlife viewing. When first entering the trailhead there is a sign that warns to stay on the levee with images of the consequences of disobeying. The main concern is the possibility of sinking in the deep mud and alligator attacks if one were to wander off the path.
The entire north loop is sitting on top of the levee system. We saw alligator footprints on the path while we were on our hike, but we didn’t get a glimpse of any actual alligators.
I highly recommend bringing plenty of water and snacks while on this trail. 6.5 miles took us almost four hours to complete. Sunscreen and bug spray are also essential when hiking in the Florida elements.
Dogs are not allowed at the park and it is a good idea to leave small children at home. Planning out a hike is the smartest way to get the most out of an adventure when somewhere new. I always make sure someone knows where I am when go off on an adventure, just in case something bad happens
Photo by: Rachael Ryan. Ashley Ryan sitting by the wetlands of the Barr Hammock Preserve.
Sources:
http://www.gainesville.com/news/20170612/barr-hammock-south-entrance-to-open
https://floridahikes.com/barr-hammock-preserve
http://www.visitgainesville.com/listing/?lid=744
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Sink into the Alachua Sink on La Chua trail
Photo from: https://floridahikes.com/paynes-prairie-lachua. La Chua trail.
La Chua trail, in my opinion, may be a treasure of the past but is still a key spot for wildlife viewing. The trailhead is located at 4801 Camp Ranch Road Gainesville, FL 32641. Entry to the park is $2 a person or $4 a vehicle and can be paid to the iron ranger as you enter the park.
Wildlife viewing is incredible here where you can regularly see bison, Florida cracker horses, many species of birds and the main attraction: masses of alligators. The boardwalk stretches for half a mile before ending to a trail out in the prairie, a round trip of 3 miles. Note the signage when entering the park, the prairie is a free range and extreme caution is needed to ensure safety in these animals’ home.
Here La Chua trail leads to the Alachua Sink, which is the drain in Payne’s Prairie that leads down to the Florida aquifer. If the sinkhole gets blocked by debris or the aquifer is full, the prairie fills with water and becomes a lake. The Alachua Sink clogged in 1871 and the prairie was known as Alachua Lake, however it mysteriously unclogged in 1891 which caused the lake to drain about eight feet of water in 10 days.
Since hurricane Irma, the sink has clogged again leaving the prairie full of water unable to drain. The boardwalk is now closed off at the end because the trail, as well as most of the prairie, is underwater and not safe to explore anymore. Updates can be found at Friends of the Payne’s Prairie Facebook page.
The first two images below were taken in May of 2017 before the hurricane. I was about a mile out on the trail after the boardwalk had ended. The last photo shows the current state of the trail and the closing off of the boardwalk.
Photo by: Jeremy Shepard. Ashley Ryan holding hands on the La Chua trail in May of 2017
Photo by: Ashley Ryan. La Chua trail in May of 2017.
Photo by: Ashley Ryan. End of La Chua trail boardwalk closed due to flooding of the trail.
Hopefully one day the prairie will drain again to allow visitors to make the hike to an observation tower at the end of the trail- that may or may not still be there when water levels return to normal. However, the park is still a place to connect with nature and gain first-hand experience observing some cool wildlife.
Sources:
https://floridahikes.com/paynes-prairie-lachua
http://www.visitgainesville.com/attractions/la-chua-trail/
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Hike an urban forest at Bivens Arm Nature Park
Bivens Arm Nature Park opened in 1981 as Gainesville’s first nature park. The park is open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily with a playground, restrooms and marsh side pavilion at the trail-head. The park is located at 3650 S Main St, Gainesville, FL 32608.
The park connects the southernmost creeks and streams of Gainesville to the wetlands of Payne’s Prairie. Entry into the park is free for all to experience the 57 acres of marsh and oak hammock.
The trail isn’t even two miles long, and it is situated between highways and apartments in the city. However, this urban forest area provides a spot to get outside, clear your head and take a step away from the surrounding hustle and bustle of the city.
The trail is an easy hike- with flat ground and no strenuous inclines. The oak canopy can be seen with Spanish moss draperies catching the sunlight that seeps through. Florida Hikes gives a detailed description of the entire trail throughout the park.
The trail passes East Tumblin Creek. A tree had fallen over and I decided to cross; be sure to use extreme caution when on any trail or in potentially risky situations. Respect for the wildlife throughout these parks is something that I take very seriously, this is home to many different animals, and they deserve to live in it peacefully.
Photo by: Ashley Ryan. Tumblin Creek at Bivens Arm Nature Park.
Photo by: Jeremy Shepard. Ashley Ryan crossing a fallen tree over the Tumblin Creek at Bivens Arm Nature Park.
This park is the perfect place to go when I only have about an hour of free time but want to find somewhere to clear my head. Be sure to check out A hike through Bivens Arm Nature Park- a blog written by floridaadventurer that gives her experiences in this hidden gem.
Sources:
https://floridahikes.com/bivens-arm-nature-park
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Gainesville: a natural treasure
My name is Ashley Ryan and I am a second-year Advertising major at the University of Florida. As a student life can get stressful, and sometimes I feel like there is so much hustle going on in the city of Gainesville- I need an escape. I am writing this blog to show my love of nature, and the natural treasures that can be explored in Gainesville, Florida.
Photo by: Jeremy Shepard. Ashley Ryan posing on a trail in Gainesville, Florida.
Photo by: Ashley Ryan. Sign warning visitors of possible alligators on trail at Bivens Arm Nature Park in Gainesville, Florida.
Gainesville is a city with a rich mixture of culture, nature and innovation. I have lived in this city for two years now, and as a resident I have fallen in love with the beauty in the natural landscape Gainesville has to offer.
Home of the University of Florida, Gainesville is commonly referred as “The Gator Nation”. I have an interest in potential alligator sightings throughout Gainesville, as the land is mostly wetlands, and has a high population of American alligators that inhabit these lands.
I have found that by connecting with nature I can calm the anxiety that life brings to me. The sounds, sights and experiences that I gain from exploring new places can’t be matched.
Popular activities for nature enthusiasts include geocaching and letterboxing. Be sure to check out the City of Gainesville’s geocaching and letterboxing policy and guidelines.
There are so many opportunities for outdoor recreation throughout the city. I hope anyone residing in or simply visiting Gainesville takes advantage of the treasures I share that can be found here.
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A lantana growing on March 22, 2018, at Lake Wauberg, Micanopy, Florida. Flowers blooming are a sign that Spring is in full-swing at Payne’s Prairie. During these warming months, flowers bloom all throughout the prairie, and make for beautiful photography opportunities.
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Sailboats line the north shore of Lake Wauberg, Micanopy, Florida. As the water warms and Spring progresses, sailing is a popular sport to be seen on the lake. University of Florida students may check out a sail boat after passing a swim test, written test and practical test.
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Pictured from left to right: Josh Light, third-year architecture major; Jacob Weldon, first-year engineering major; and Julia Vanwarner, first-year event management major, work for RecSports at the Lake Wauberg Boathouse, Micanopy, Florida. Grace Dentel, first-year engineering major, uses her GatorOne ID card to check out a kayak and paddle. Other equipment available for checkout includes: canoes, john boats, Frisbees, volleyballs, footballs and more. All activities are free of charge for University of Florida students, and a valid University of Florida ID card is required to check out equipment.
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Lake Wauberg Boathouse, Micanopy, Florida. University of Florida students are able to enter the park and rent equipment at the boathouse through RecSports. The boathouse was originally built in the 1930s when the university took over the property on the lakeside. Students can apply to work in the boathouse year-round, but applications are taken in the spring to prepare for the rise in lake-goers upcoming summer months.
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Marley Preston, 20, of Fort Meyers, Florida, aims her camera to capture an eagle flying across the lake. Eagles participate in migration during Spring months, and they can be seen throughout Payne’s Prairie regularly during this time.
“My favorite thing to take pictures of is the wildlife out here,” Marley said.
Alligators, fish, turtles and a wide range of species of birds can also be observed at the lake.
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Marley Preston, third-year animal science major, and Milica Jovonovic, third-year linguistics major, partake in a picnic and photography session of the scenery the lake has to offer, Micanopy, Florida. They routinely pack snacks and spare batteries to prepare for a day on the water.
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Wooden pier at Lake Wauberg north shore, Micanopy, Florida. Spring hours of operation are noon-6 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday and 10a.m.-6p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The pier closes a half hour before park closing each night.
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Lake Wauberg is located in Payne’s Prairie State Park, in Alachua County, Florida. University of Florida students have access to activities including swimming, fishing, boating and sunbathing. The Spring months bring warm weather throughout the state of Florida, which makes the lake a hot spot for students to participate in outdoor recreation activities. The entrance can be found at 133 Regatta Dr. Micanopy, FL 32667. These photos were taken March 22, 2018.
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