nationalnaturallandmark

Wakulla Springs State Park

Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park boasts the world’s largest and deepest freshwater springs. It may be most famous for the movies Tarzan’s Secret Treasure (1941) and Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954) that were filmed in the park. Wakulla Springs State Park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is designated as a National Natural Landmark. It is located just south of Tallahassee in Wakulla County.

Stop by the Visitor Center to access an interpretive display where you will learn the history of the park from Paleolithic times until today. Observe cave diagrams, learn about the indigenous people who first inhabited the land, the men and women who resided or visited there, Edward Ball whom the park is named after, and the wildlife who live there today.

Saunter along the 9 mile Nature Trail, the 1.4 mile Cherokee Sink Trail, or the Bob Rose Trail. Bike or take a guided bike tour on the Cherokee Sink Trail and the Nature Trail. Discover the animals and plants that thrive in the cool waters when you enjoy swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, or cave diving. For the more daring, jump or dive from the 22-foot observation tower/dive into the 70* spring. Bring a blanket to the beach and sit for a while at the shore or under the shade of a cypress tree.

Explore Southern hardwood forests. maple-cypress habitats, an upland hardwood forest, pine forests, 80-foot-deep sinkhole lake, and ancient cypress swamps.

Bring your camera. Watch for resident and migratory wading birds and songbirds including cedar waxwings, phoebes, and chimney swifts. Look for white-tailed deer, bears, alligators, manatees, and more. Marvel at the variety of wildflowers including terrestrial and epiphytic orchids.

Bring your picnic and enjoy your lunch at one of the provided tables. A playground is nearby. View Wakulla Spring while dining in the Edward Ball Dining Room where breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served. Be sure to stop by the Soda Fountain for an old-fashioned malt or milkshake on the world’s longest marble countertop.

Rooms are available at the historic 1930’s Spanish-style Wakulla Springs Lodge. Plan your reunion or wedding at this popular park. Three conference rooms are available for events, meetings, and retreats.

Well-behaved pets are welcome in designated areas while on a 6-foot leash. Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park is wheelchair accessible and offers wheelchair access to riverboats, access to a manual wheelchair upon request, accessible picnic shelters, and accessible benches.

For more information: https://www.floridastateparks.org/WakullaSprings

Photo Credit: Bobby Putnam

Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park

Visit a miniature rainforest at Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park. When the limestone beneath it collapsed, a 120-foot deep sink was created. Since the 1880s, Devil’s Millhopper has captured the imaginations of visitors who marveled at this natural wonder located in Gainesville.

The state purchased the site in 1974. When the steps into the sinkhole were completed in 1976, Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park was designated a National Natural Landmark.

The history of Devil’s Millhopper has been passed down over generations. Oral history tells us that the Civilian Conservation Corps constructed the limestone entrance and a stairway into the sinkhole in the 1930s. How did Devil’s Millhopper get its name? In the 1800s, grain was ground in a gristmill. A funnel at the top of the mill, known as a hopper, held the grain as it was fed into the grinder. Fossils and bones of animals were found at the bottom of the sinkhole. Legend has it that the Devil used the Millhopper to capture the animals. A few remaining Catface pines remind us of the turpentine industry from long ago. Natural history abounds in the sink as researchers have discovered marine shells, shark teeth, and the fossils of extinct land animals.

Today, Devil’s Millhopper is a welcome reprieve from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. A nature trail loops around the 500-foot rim of the sinkhole. Let your senses absorb the sights, sounds, and smells as you meander down the stairs into the rainforest. Take in the multiple shades of green as you slowly descend into the rainforest. Listen for the sounds from the treetops as their leaves rustle in the wind, and birds sing their melodies. Hear the water trickle through creeks and over waterfalls before disappearing into the limestone. Feel the temperates drop as you near the bottom of the sink and travel under the canopy of the lush trees.

Look for grey treefrogs, fox sparrows, and golden-banded skippers as well as rabbits, squirrels, and a plethora of reptiles and amphibians. There are Saturday guided walks with a park ranger and a picnic area. Dogs on a six-foot leash are welcome.

For more information:

https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/devils-millhopper-geological-state-park

Photo Credit: Aymee Laurain and Bobby Putnam