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Hopkins Prairie Wilderness

You might think that time has not changed this wilderness much, but the reality is that the land is constantly changing with the whims of nature. Hurricanes, drought, and fire have all had their influence here, and yet nature does go on, as it has for hundreds of years.



Right now the water is low and looks more like a prairie, but it becomes a lake and fisherman’s haven when the rains come.



Hopkins Prairie is a pristine area where I will be returning many times. This was our campsite on a point of land facing west, overlooking the sometimes prairie, sometimes lake.



Another view with slanting evening rays.



We started our fire, grilled hamburgers and settled in to await the anticipated sunset.



Belle was anxious to roast a marshmallow.



Sunset over the prairie



Some sights from our evening walk:

We didn’t actually see the alligators, but we know they are there. You’ll know too if you listen to the night sounds.



I’m not sure what this structure is, but my guess is a bat house…anybody know?



Even the prairie has its phallic symbols…



It wasn’t really the sounds of silence, but rather the symphony of natural sounds that impressed me as darkness fell. The sounds were accentuated due to the absence of human sounds. If you look and listen carefully, you’ll see the fireflies and hear a variety of bird, insect, amphibian, and the unmistakable grunts of the alligator. Here are the sounds of the night:



This was my view out my bedroom window when I awoke:



And these were the songs of the morning I enjoyed with my morning coffee.



There were very few fellow campers, and all nice people. I met a local man who was fishing from his homemade wooden kayak. Wished I’d gotten a picture of it. There was another man from Flint Michigan who was taking a short vacation after being laid off from an auto industry job. A couple from Wisconsin is here for a month, staying at a different forest cg, but came to check out Hopkins Prairie at sunset. Two other men had a boat they planned to take up the Ocklawaha River today.

After a breakfast of fresh fruit, we headed out to the Yearling Trail. I’ll put that in another thread.

Thanks Liz! What a great camping area. And yes, I heard the alligator! Haven't heard that since Alabama.

what great pictures, that really looks like a very nice place to go, but I'm wondering
about the alligators, do they wander the campground at night? I've never been anywhere
that had alligators, well except the zoo, and that just doesn't count

I don't think the alligators wander the cg, but they weren't far away. Just to be sure, I made my two little gator baits go inside the camper.

Re: alligators ..... I camped near Mobile on the gulf,.... yep,...signs to not little children or pets at the water's edge. My step-son warned me to not lean far over the railing on the little fishing pier. He said they can jump up out of the water,... was he teasing me? I took it serious. But that may have been a joke on me,...don't know. I did see the sign. I saw alligators around under the pier.

Just lovely..my kind of place. I didn't see the fireflies, but I heard you whispering that they were there.

I kinda figured he was serious,... I knew I didn't want those big jaws and teeth getting close to me.

Liz, the video sound clips really added to the experience. Thanks for including them, too.
Are you getting use to your PW or are you regretting not getting another RT?

enjoyed that so much!! what part of Florida where you at? the morning one I didn't hear the sounds wasn't sure if it was the silence we were suppose to hear or if it didn't work on mine...guess it didn't work on mine as others heard sound...really nice.
I have a niece that just move to Miamie and she loves to camp bet she would really like this area
sheila

Hopkins Prairie cg is in the Ocala National Forest off Rte 19.

There are actually more sounds on the morning clip and you can hear the gators grunt several times. Try turning the volume up on your computer.

What I wasn't able to catch on the evening clips was the number of those grunts coming from every direction...and as they began to sound closer....sort of circling us in a half-moon, I made Bandit and Roe go inside the camper....didn't want them to become gator bait. I sat out and listened a few more minutes, but it was so peaceful, I got sleepy soon. I've never heard what you describe in the Everglades....future advnture!