Floridiana Magazine

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A Visitor’s Guide to Devil’s Millhopper

Exploring Florida can take on many twists and turns, ups and downs.  For visitors to Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park in Gainesville, that exploration literally takes you down to a sinkhole that has attracted curious individuals since the late 1800s.

What is Devil’s Millhopper?

Devil’s Millhopper, 120 feet deep and about 500 feet across, formed when the limestone underneath it collapsed.  More than 100 feet of geologic rock layers make it unique as it is one of the few places in Florida where they are exposed.  The further down you go into the sinkhole, the older the rocks.  Established as a state park in 1974, it was also named a National Natural Landmark in 1976.

Devil’s Millhopper | Photo by Doris Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

How Did Devil’s Millhopper Get its Name?

As is the case with other Florida locations, there are several tales told to explain how Devil’s Millhopper got its name. One says the devil kidnapped a Native American princess and created the sinkhole to trap her rescuers.  The other claims early visitors, who found bones and fossils at the bottom, believed animals and beasts went there to meet the devil.  In reality, it was named because of its shape – a funnel-like shape similar to one you find at the bottom of a grain hopper on a farm.

Visitor’s Center

You can learn more about the Millhopper inside the Visitor’s Center at the entrance to the park.  Make sure to stop, pick up a brochure about the sink, or ask the park ranger on duty any questions you might have.  Interactive exhibits inside provide more information about how it formed and what has been found at the bottom.

Visitor Center at Devil’s Millhopper | Photo by Doris Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

The Walk Down

Even though I lived in Gainesville about 30 years ago, I never made it to Devil’s Millhopper.  Now I know what I was missing.  A walk to the bottom takes you away from the noise of the city into a peaceful rainforest-like setting that offers picturesque views of ferns and other vegetation, along with small waterfalls and streams. On the day of our visit, those views included bright turquoise water and turtles sitting on old tree branches that had fallen into the water.  The water level in the sink is dependent on the amount of rainfall.

Sinkhole at Devil’s Millhopper | Photo by Doris Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

Turtle on log at Devil’s Millhopper | Photo by Doris Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

At one time there were 232 stairs you would have to walk down to get to the sinkhole, but Hurricane Irma in 2017 caused extensive damage and the stairs had to be rebuilt.  Now there are 132 steps and they are relatively easy to manage.  Just remember, going back up is still a little tougher than going down.

Boardwalk leading to the sinkhole | Photo by Doris Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

Hiking the Trail

Besides the stairs down to the sinkhole, there’s a hiking trail that takes you along the rim. Before Hurricane Irma, the trail was a complete loop around the top of the sink, taking you over a bridge that crosses a gully flowing into the sink.  Due to safety concerns, the bridge is currently closed, and your hike will have to be modified.  As you walk the trail, make sure to look all around you.  There are some amazing sites to be seen if you take the time.

Along the trail at Devil’s Millhopper | Photo by Doris Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

Visiting Basics

Devil’s Millhopper is part of the Florida State Parks System and is located off County Road 232 in northwest Gainesville.  Before Hurricane Irma, 60,000 people visited the park per year.  Without the steps down to the sink, that number decreased, but park officials are expecting it to go back up now that the new boardwalk is open.

The park is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 Wednesday through Sunday and is closed Monday and Tuesday.  A $4.00 per vehicle fee is collected at a cash box at the entrance to the parking lot.  Of course, if you have an annual pass to the State Parks, you can write in your pass number on the envelope and the hang tag for your car and forego the charge.

Pack a lunch and a bottle or two of water, take your camera, and wear closed-toe shoes.  It’s definitely a trip worth taking.

Interesting Fact:  Construction on the new boardwalk had to be delayed a year because funds were diverted to parks devastated by Hurricane Michael (2018) in the Panhandle.  Those funds were reallocated for Devil’s Millhopper in 2019 with construction beginning in January and finishing in June.

 

Other Things to Do Nearby

If you are looking for other things to do while in Gainesville, here are a few of our favorites:

Dudley Farm Historic State Park –  Located in Newberry, this farm portrays life on a farm in the mid-to-late 1800s.

UF Bat Houses – Join others along Museum Road on the University of Florida campus for the nightly exodus of  400,000 bats.  The show starts about 15 to 20 minutes after sundown.

Sweetwater Wetlands Park – The park is a man-made habitat located on the north end of Paynes Prairie on Williston Road in Gainesville.  There are more than three and a half miles of easy trails on 125 acres, with amazing views of plants, animals, and more than 215 species of birds.  If you are lucky, you may get a chance to see the wild horses or the bison roaming the prairie.

 

Sweetwater Wetlands Park

Traveling the state, visiting “old Florida,” provides many opportunities to experience life the way it used to be.  But there are times when those travels drop you off in the midst of some of the state’s most picturesque locations, yet close enough to the real world.

Sweetwater Wetlands Park | Photo by Doris Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

One such location is Sweetwater Wetlands Park in Gainesville.  Sweetwater Wetlands is a man-made habitat located on the north end of Paynes Prairie.  The park, which is said to be shaped like an alligator head, was created to improve the water quality in the Alachua Sink and the Floridan Aquifer.  With more than three and a half miles of easy trails on 125 acres, Sweetwater Wetlands offers amazing views of plants, animals, and more than 215 species of birds.

Our most recent visit gave us a closeup look at some of the wild horses that live in Payne’s Prairie.  Six of them grazed just off the main trail, and at times, on the trail.  Of all the wildlife seen this day, it was easy to circle back and watch these beautiful animals.

Wild Horses at Sweetwater Wetlands Park | Photo by Doris Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

Viewing platforms, trails and boardwalks provide a look at life in the wetlands and the ponds, from alligators lurking in the hydrilla to great white herons keeping a watchful eye for an afternoon snack.

Boardwalk at Sweetwater Wetlands Park | Photo by Doris Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

Gator lurking at Sweetwater Wetlands Park | Photo by Doris Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

A lot of wildlife to see at Sweetwater Wetlands | Photo by Doris Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

Although we did not see any, there are also bison that roam the Prairie and the park.  To learn more about the history of Paynes Prairie and Sweetwater Wetlands visit the website. Oh, and don’t forget to leave a note for others about what you saw during your visit.

Sweetwater Wetlands Park Location and Rules

Sweetwater Wetlands Park is located at 325 SW Williston Road in Gainesville. If you are traveling on Interstate 75, use Exit 382 and drive about three miles east.  The entrance will be on your right.  A few rules before you get there:

  • No pets
  • No horseback riding, biking, camping or cars
  • No fishing
  • No drones

There is a $5.00 fee per vehicle, or $2.00 per person for bicyclists, pedestrians or buses.

Park Activities

Activities at the park include guided tours, birding walks, and sunrise wildlife walks.  Check the calendar on the website for dates and times of the events.

Sweetwater Wetlands Park Hours

The park is open seven days a week, even on holidays, from 7:00 a.m. until sunset. If you visit during the summer, make sure to take a bottle of water with you, although there is water at one of the viewing platforms.

Mom and baby gators | Photo by Doris Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

Here are a few more of our photographs from our visits to the park.

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A Florida Destination Sure to Drive You “Batty!”

There’s no doubt if you’ve been outside just after sunset you have seen a few bats flittering here and there.  No big deal.  If you’re like me, you might duck when one flies too close to you, but you don’t think much about them other than that quick flyby.  But, did you know that Florida is also home to the world’s largest occupied bat houses? In fact, they have become quite the nightly attraction.

Bats, Bats and More Bats!

As the sun starts its descent for the day, a crowd gathers along Museum Road at the University of Florida campus in Gainesville.  Lined up along a fence just across from Lake Alice, they position themselves near two bat barns and a bat house.  They are waiting for the nightly exodus of the 400,000 bats.

Three types of bats dwell in the structures.  The Brazilian free-tailed bat is the most common one you will see, but you can also catch a glimpse of the Southeastern bat and the Evening bat.  Each night these bats may travel as far as 25 to 30 miles from their home and consume about two and a half billion insects – that’s 2,500 pounds of bugs!

Let the Show Begin

About 15 – 20 minutes after sundown, a few bats will start to emerge in search of food and water. Within minutes, what looks like a river of bats can be seen along the treetops, many heading out toward Lake Alice.

 

Bat History at UF

Just where did these bats come from?  The first bat house was built in 1991 to provide a new “home” for a colony of bats that were left homeless after a fire destroyed Johnson Hall in 1987.  Two-thousand bats that once lived in the hall then inhabited the concrete bleachers at two of the athletic fields on campus. The smell, the stains and the close proximity to spectators prompted the athletic association to take action.  After the first house was built, the bats were captured and relocated.  However, they didn’t stick around.  It took three years before bats permanently moved into the house.  As the bat population continued to grow, the first bat barn was added in 2010 and the second in 2017.  The original bat house, said to be deteriorating, will be removed at some point in time.  While it’s estimated 400,000 now occupy these dwellings, they can hold up to 750,000.

If you’re curious about what bats do during the day, the University of Florida provides a livestream from inside the bat houses.  Click here.

Fast Facts

  • The best time to view the bats is spring through early summer, when temperatures are above 65 degrees.
  • The bats will not come out if there are high winds, heavy rain or cold temperatures.
  • Bats eat many types of bugs, including moths, beetles, mosquitos, flies, and gnats.
  • Do NOT touch a bat if it lands on you or falls to the ground. Bats can carry a number of diseases, including rabies.  A phone number is provided at the bat houses for you to call if a bat is on the ground.