Prairie Pines Preserve + Brunch Factory
Details
Prairie Pines Preserve covers over 2,600 acres of protected flatwoods and marshland. For this outing, we’ll stick to the main loop, which is approximately 2.5 miles of level terrain consisting of crushed shell and boardwalks. Most groups finish the walk in about 1 to 1.5 hours at a steady, conversational pace, though we may pause at the wildlife blind to see if any gopher tortoises or wading birds are active.
The environment is very open, meaning there is limited shade along the prairie sections. You should expect a mix of sun-drenched paths and some pine canopy, so a hat and water may be necessary. The trails are well-marked and easy to navigate, but since this is a natural wetland area, the humidity can be high even on clear days.
We’ll meet at the main trailhead parking lot, which has restrooms and a small picnic area nearby. There is no fee to enter the preserve, and the lot typically has plenty of space. We’ll head out shortly after our scheduled meeting time.
After, we’ll head to The Brunch Factory for a bite to eat 😋