Park

Little Orange Creek Preserve park

Florida, USA St. Johns watershed 29.602°, -82.079°
Today high
--
Tonight low
--
Nearby campgrounds
6
Loading current conditions…
Loading next 24 hours…
Loading 7-day outlook…
Little Orange Creek Preserve -- Florida park
Little Orange Creek Preserve Florida · St. Johns watershed
About this park

Little Orange Creek Preserve

Little Orange Creek Preserve is a natural area located in Hawthorne, Florida, covering over 1,200 acres of diverse habitats like freshwater marshes, sandhills, and hardwood hammocks. The area is maintained by the Alachua Conservation Trust, which works to preserve and protect natural habitats in North Florida.

Visitors can enjoy hiking, bird-watching, and exploring the various trails throughout the preserve. One of the trails, the Florida Trail, runs through the preserve and is a popular destination for hikers. The area is also home to a variety of wildlife, including gopher tortoises, woodpeckers, and wild turkeys.

One of the most significant points of interest at Little Orange Creek Preserve is the Historic Lochloosa Schoolhouse, a historic school building that dates back to the early 1900s. The school was used until 1958 and has since been restored and turned into a museum.

The best time of year to visit Little Orange Creek Preserve is during the cooler months of the year, from October to March, when temperatures are milder and the wildlife is more active. However, visitors should be aware that the area can be prone to flooding during the rainy season, which typically runs from June to September.

Overall, Little Orange Creek Preserve is a unique and beautiful natural area that offers visitors the opportunity to explore the diverse habitats of North Florida and learn about the area's history.
StateFlorida
WatershedSt. Johns
Latitude29.6017°
Longitude-82.0794°
Land designation

Park & land designation reference

A quick legend for the federal and state land categories Snoflo tracks. Each designation comes with different rules around access, recreation, and resource extraction.

National Park
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 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.
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.
Detailed forecast

Plan your visit down to the hour

Same weather feed Snoflo's iOS app uses -- updated continuously from NOAA / yr.no.

Hourly detail

Next 5 days, hour by hour

Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.

Loading hourly forecast…
Deep dive

5-day forecast table

Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind.

TimeConditionTemp (°F)Snow (in)Rain (in)Humidity (%)Wind (mps)Wind dir
Loading detailed forecast…
Long-term outlook

15-day temperature & precipitation

Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.

Loading 15-day outlook…
Stay nearby

Area campgrounds

Snoflo-tracked campgrounds within reach of Little Orange Creek Preserve, with reservations status.

Campground Reservations Toilets View
Kenwood Rec Area
Puc Puggy Campground
Paynes Prairie State Park
Camp Crystal Lake
Rodman Rec Area
Mike Roess Gold Head State Park

Responsible recreation & Leave No Trace

Know before you go
Check the operator's site for hours, permit requirements, seasonal closures, and fire restrictions before heading out.
Stay on trail
Stick to marked paths to protect vegetation, prevent erosion, and avoid disturbing wildlife habitat.
Respect wildlife
Observe from a distance, never feed wildlife, and store food securely if camping is permitted on-site.
Pack it in, pack it out
Carry out all trash, food scraps, and gear. Many parks have limited or no trash service.
Leave what you find
Don't take rocks, plants, or artifacts. They make the park what it is for the next visitor.

Set push alerts in the Snoflo app

Save Little Orange Creek Preserve as a favorite, set a custom threshold (precipitation, freezing temperatures, fire-restriction days), and the iOS app will push the moment conditions cross.

FAQ

About Little Orange Creek Preserve

What can I do at Little Orange Creek Preserve?

Most Snoflo-tracked parks support hiking, picnicking, and wildlife viewing. Check the operator's site for activity-specific rules (camping, fishing, paddling, hunting).

How fresh is the weather data?

The hourly forecast updates throughout the day from NOAA / yr.no. Streamflow comes live from USGS streamgauges.

When is the best time to visit?

Use the 15-day temperature & precipitation outlook on this page to plan -- pick a window with comfortable temperatures and low precipitation.

How do I get to Little Orange Creek Preserve?

Tap Directions in the hero above to open driving directions in Google Maps, or Open in map to center the Snoflo interactive map on the park.

Can I get alerts when conditions change?

Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this park, set a threshold (temperature, precipitation), and you'll get a push the moment it crosses.

More parks

Other parks near here

Snoflo-tracked parks within driving distance of Little Orange Creek Preserve.