Double Run Preserve
Rate this placeNearby: Trimble Park Summerall Park
Last Updated: December 5, 2025
Double Run Preserve is a 6,000-acre nature preserve located in the state of Florida, known for its stunning scenery and diverse wildlife.
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Summary
It is a popular destination for hiking, birdwatching, and wildlife photography.
One of the main attractions of Double Run Preserve is its extensive network of hiking trails that offer visitors the opportunity to explore the diverse habitats within the preserve. Visitors can enjoy scenic views of wetlands, forests, and prairies, as well as observe a variety of wildlife including alligators, bobcats, and bald eagles.
In addition to hiking, Double Run Preserve also offers opportunities for fishing, kayaking, and canoeing, as well as guided tours and educational programs. The preserve is also home to several historic structures, including a 19th-century pioneer cabin and a restored schoolhouse.
Interesting facts about Double Run Preserve include that it was once used as a cattle ranch and was later acquired by the state of Florida for conservation purposes. The preserve is also home to several unique plant species, including the carnivorous pitcher plant and the rare Florida bog violet.
The best time of year to visit Double Run Preserve is during the winter months when the weather is mild and the wildlife is most active. However, the preserve is open year-round and offers a variety of activities for visitors to enjoy throughout the year.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
Trimble Park
Summerall Park
Bishop Field
Palatakaha Park
Fern Prairie Preserve
Lake Idamere
Indianhouse Lake
Lake Arthur
Lake Spencer
Lake Carlton