Three Florida state parks were named fall foliage 'hidden gems' by Mixbook
In most states, fall foliage is a sure sign that autumn is here. In Florida, many joke that fall’s arrival isn’t marked by leaves changing color but by the license plates of snowbirds.
In truth, leaves do change color in Florida and there are plenty of places you can go to experience true fall foliage. In fact, three Florida spots were just labeled as fall foliage “hidden gems” by voters surveyed by Mixbook, a popular photo book company.
Falling Waters State Park (No. 31), Blackwater River State Forest (No. 47) and Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park (No. 55) all ranked on a list of 150 spots showcasing hidden gems around the U.S. where visitors can catch the best fall foliage.
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Falling Waters State Park — No. 31
Falling Waters State Park, located at 1130 State Park Road in Chipley, is home to Florida’s tallest waterfall. It has huge trees with fern-covered sinkholes along Sink Hole Trail and a boardwalk that leads straight to the waterfall.
Falling Waters Sink is a 100-foot-deep, 20-foot-wide pit where water flows from a small stream that drops 73 feet to the bottom.
Hours: 8 a.m. until sundown every day.
Fees: $5 per vehicle (for groups between two to eight people); $4 for single-occupant vehicles; $2 for pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers and passengers in the vehicle with the holder of annual individual entrance passes.
Camping: Overnight camping is available for $18, plus tax, a nonrefundable $6.70 reservation fee and a $7 nightly utility fee for RV, cabin, bungalow, boat and yurt units. The utility fee doesn’t apply to tent camping. The utility fee includes water, electricity and sewer.
Blackwater River State Forest — No. 47
Blackwater River State Park centers around a beautiful river that winds its way through the Florida Panhandle before emptying into the Blackwater Bay and ultimately the Gulf of Mexico.
Blackwater River’s transparent, golden-brown waters contrast against white sandbars peppered throughout parts of the Blackwater State Forest and Park, serving as the perfect outdoor escape for anyone looking for a canoeing, kayaking or lazy day on the river.
Hours: 8 a.m. until sundown every day.
Fees: $4 per vehicle (for groups of up to eight people); $2 for active Florida National Guard members; $2 for anyone with an active Florida EBT card; $2 for pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers and passengers in vehicle with annual individual entrance passes.
Camping: Camping is $20 per night, plus tax, a nonrefundable $6.70 reservation fee and a $7 nightly utility fee for RV, cabin, bungalow, boat and yurt units. The utility fee doesn’t apply to tent camping. The utility fee includes water, electricity and sewer.
Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park — No. 55
Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park is truly a unique and diverse preserve with wild-roaming bison, horses, nearly 300 species of birds, alligators, deer and tons of other animals.
The park has eight trails, including the 16-mile, paved Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail, that take visitors through the park’s interior to experience the various wildlife. And the 50-foot tall observation tower makes for the perfect picture to cap any visit.
Hours: 8 a.m. until sundown every day.
Fees: $6 per vehicle (for groups of up to eight people); $4 for single-occupant vehicles; $2 for pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers and passengers in vehicle with annual individual entrance passes.
Camping: Camping is $18 per night, plus tax, a nonrefundable $6.70 reservation fee and a $7 nightly utility fee for RV, cabin, bungalow, boat and yurt units. The utility fee doesn’t apply to tent camping. The utility fee includes water, electricity and sewer.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Florida state parks named as fall foliage hidden gems by Mixbook
