San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park

Spring and fall are especially good times to visit this state park and Important Bird Area on the northwest side of Gainesville. From the south entrance on Millhopper Rd., there are three hiking trails that run past sinkholes and through sandhills and mature hardwood hammocks. Breeding birds found here include Wood Thrush, Hooded Warbler, Yellow-throated Vireo, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Summer Tanager and Red-headed Woodpecker. From the north entrance, 20 miles of multi-use trails are available (dogs are not allowed). Scan the improved pasture for winter sparrows, raptors and other grassland birds. Check the oak edges and swamp during migration also (fall is best) for Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Veery, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Baltimore Oriole and 20+ wood-warbler species. Other wildlife recorded at the park includes Pinewoods Treefrog and uncommon butterflies such as Yucca Giant-Skipper, Hoary Edge and Harvester.