Payne's Prairie is widely known and visited by UF students, but most people overlook what I think is the best trail in the park.
Bolen Bluff, located on 441 South just after you cross the prairie central, is lower key than the other entrances at La Chua to the East and the visitor center to the South. Just a small parking lot on the left, the trail starts with a tunnel of wild orange trees and proceeds to drop through a pretty oak hammock to sweetgum lowlands, and then a causeway into the marsh itself.
I've yet to visit this trail and be disapointed, when the causeway isn't not buzzing with dragonflies it's whooshing with sandhill cranes and other migratory birds on their way to fairer climes. There's a wooden platform at the end of the causeway that allows for a panoramic view of the prairie.
While La Chua has more alligators, and the main entrance can't be beat for eagles (there is a bald eagle nest right beside the walkway!), Bolen is the best for a quick hike through all the major habitats of the prairie. Watch for horses, pigs and geocaches (I've stumbled upon two so far). The best time to visit is at dusk, when the horses (and sometimes bison) are in the area, but be wary of the time. The gate closes at sundown, with the precise time adjusted for the seasons on a sign in the parking lot.
