Wes Skiles Peacock Springs State Park

This small family friendly state park is a popular spot for cave diving, swimming and picnicking, and protects one of the longest underwater cave systems in the U.S. Originally purchased to protect a unique old growth maple forest, the park lights up in the fall when the leaves change to a glowing gold. The 1.2-mile interpretive trail meanders through the upland forest communities following the path of the cave system below, and provides a firsthand look into the Floridan Aquifer at Olsen Sink. The aquifer is one of Florida’s most precious natural resources, suppling clean drinking water to millions of Florida residents and four additional southeastern states. In spring and fall, look and listen for migrant songbirds like Swainson’s Thrush, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Red-eyed Vireo, Hooded Warbler, and Northern Waterthrush. Pileated Woodpeckers are common here and judging from all the holes in the dead trees they’re busy as well! Like other North Florida trail sites, Brown Creeper, Golden-crowned Kinglet and Winter Wren may be found in the winter. During the warmer months, both Mississippi and Swallow-tailed Kites cruise overhead and Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Acadian Flycatcher and White-eyed Vireo all nest in the park. Butterfly viewing is excellent at this site. Look for Hackberry Emperor and Giant Swallowtail cruising by and Zebra Longwing, Texan Crescent and Carolina Satyr visiting patches of wildflowers by the springs.