Back to albums list

Mill Creek Preserve - National Trails Day 2011

by floridahikes

Conservation land in northern Alachua County, home of the southernmost American beech forest and other interesting natural communities. Images taken during the National Trails Day event on Saturday June 4, co-led by the Florida Trail Association and Alachua County DEP

57 photos · 875 views

Dennis Miranda and Chris Bird at the kickoff

One of several trails leading from the trailhead

We followed the Yellow Trail

Pine plantation dominates the area nearest the trailhead

Dennis leads through the pine plantation

Into a denser understory of young oaks

Sandy points out a gopher tortoise burrow

More gopher tortoise burrows in the clearing

Follow the yellow blazes

A peek at devil's walking stick

Pause in the shade

Onto the orange trail - don't miss it!

Trees keep increasing in size

Ferns and dense understory

Keep looking up: American beech

Now the trail's a narrow path, the way we like it

Stopping for some birdwatching

On the move

Sun-dappled understory

Canopy keeps rising

Crossing tributaries

A stop in the slope forest

Beautiful hardwoods

Terrain is sloped due to tributaries feeding creeks and sinks