Little Orange Creek Preserve
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
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.
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Summary
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.
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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
Little Orange Creek Nature Park
Ordway-Swisher Biological Station
Lochloosa Wildlife Management Area
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings County Park
Longleaf Flatwoods Reserve
Lochloosa Lake
Newnans Lake
Santa Fe Lake
Swan Lake
Lake Santa Fe