Paynes Prairie

This new paperback edition of Paynes Prairie still offers the sweeping history of the shallow-bowl basin in the middle of Florida, just south of Gainesville, but now adds a guide to outdoor activities that can be enjoyed in the state preserve there today, along with maps of trails for biking, hiking, and canoeing.

Lars Andersen's lifelong love of outdoor exploration began with his childhood forays into the remotest reaches of Paynes Prairie. Thanks to a patient mother, who drove him out in the morning and picked him up at sunset carrying a sack full of the day's finds (usually snakes), he developed the passion for and intimate knowledge of Paynes Prairie that resulted in Paynes Prairie: The Great Savanna: A History and Guide. Today he guides nature and history tours of nearly 30 north Florida natural areas for Adventure Outpost in High Springs, Florida. His favorite trip is still the Paynes Prairie History Hike.