Nature Preserves

Alachua County works with partners in land protection and land management. ACF acquires inholdings within state parks and wildlife conservation areas, and co-owns preserve properties with several partners, including the ones below:

Cofrin Nature Park

In the heart of urbanized west Gainesville, Cofrin Nature Park features a beautiful half-mile long, pet-friendly hiking trail, pla​yground and covered picnic area. Once a horse farm, much of this park is returning to forest through natural succession. Large hardwood trees are found in the forest along picturesque Beville Heights Creek, and seepage wetlands on the slopes above the creek support lush growths of ferns and wildflowers. In 2013, the Friends of the Crisis Center established the Survivors of Suicide Memory Garden — “a place of comfort, meditation and healing for those who have lost a loved one through suicide.” To learn more visit: Cofrin Nature Park

Little Orange Creek Preserve & Nature Park

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.  To learn more visi:t Little Orange Creek Preserve

Longleaf Flatwoods Reserve

The Longleaf Forest Reserve is a diverse area of intact natural communities. The uplands are comprised mainly of wet and mesic flatwoods and sandhill. Several small wetlands drain to the southwest into a larger basin swamp, which drains to the River Styx, then drains to Orange Lake. One of the special highlights of this property is the variety of upland and wetland ecosystems that can be viewed from the trail systems. Pitcher plant wetlands and longleaf wiregrass savannas can be seen within a short hike. The natural community diversity at Longleaf Flatwoods Reserve provides habitat for a wide variety of plant and animal species. You might see gopher tortoise, white-tailed deer, turkey, bobcat and a diverse bird population.To learn more visit: Longleaf Flatwoods Reserve

Newnans Lake Conservation Area

One of the special highlights of this property is the numerous meandering creeks that flow through the property. Some of the pines on the Hatchet Creek Tract are nearly 120 feet tall. The Newnans Lake area is a popular wildlife viewing area. Common wildlife sightings include white-tailed deer, fox, otter and a variety of snakes. There are several bald eagle nests not far off the trails of the North Tract. Common bird sightings include bald eagles, osprey, wild turkeys and several varieties of warblers, wading birds and shore birds.​To learn more visit: Newnans Lake Conservation Area

Santa Fe River Preserve

Santa Fe River Preserve protects 934 acres on the banks of the Santa Fe River near Worthington Springs. The preserve includes high bluffs along the river and an interesting tangle of floodplain forest where the New River converges with the Santa Fe.

The preserve has an interesting mix of flora which in turn support a wide diversity of wildlife. There are wild azaleas and rain lilies on the banks; large birch trees, cypresses, and gums in the bottomlands; and a ridge of live oaks and pines in the uplands with lots of sparkleberry and wire grass in the understory. Bears frequent the river corridor, and there is a rare and endangered mussel in this watershed. To learn more visit: Santa Fe River Preserve

Serenola Forest Preserve

Serenola Forest is home to threatened plant and wildlife species and connects the woodland hammock to Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park. Thus offering larger wildlife much needed room to roam and protection. Saving Serenola Forest not only benefits natural space, but also people who love to hike, bike, view wildlife, and gather together with the people they care about. To learn more visit: Serenola Forest Preserve​

Fox Pen Preserve

Alachua County and Alachua Conservation Trust joined together to purchase Fox Pen in early 2019. The preserve includes 578 acres of land in eastern Alachua County that are part of a key tract in the Lochloosa Forest project area. The preserve is also located within the Orange Creek Basin, which includes several outstanding Florida waterways.  The preserve includes a diverse mix of longleaf sandhill habitat, flatwoods, wetlands, mesic hammock, and shoreline of Moss Lee Lake. It also provides habitat for a diversity of wildlife, including gopher tortoise, Northern bobwhite quail, multiple species of reptiles and amphibians, and Florida black bear. To learn more visit: Fox Pen Preserve​

Santa Fe River Ranch

A wide stretch of the Santa Fe River forms the northern boundary of the Sant Fe River Ranch property. A well developed river levee runs along the River with floodplain forest and floodplain swamp to the south. These high quality natural communities are in excellent condition. The mesic flatwoods, basin swamp, baygall and blackwater stream on the property are in good condition. SRWMD contributed 75% of the acquisition cost and manages the site as part of the Santa Fe River Ranch to preserve wetlands and natural floodplain function and to improve the quality of the forested landscape. To learn more visit: Santa Fe River Ranch​​