Rescheduled Sweetwater Wetlands Park

Event Description

Sweetwater Wetlands Park consists of more than 125 acres of wetlands and ponds and was created to improve the water quality of wetlands in Paynes Prairie and the Floridan Aquifer. Now a thriving habitat, the park is filled with vast numbers of plants and animals, including birds, butterflies, alligators and Florida cracker horses. At the park, you can walk more than 3.5 miles of crushed gravel trails and boardwalks, experience the lush landscape from viewing platforms, and learn about the habitat through educational signs and tours. 

We will drive to this location. Travel time is estimated to be 2 hours. This requires an earlier than usual start to arrive at this location for "birding time". I suggest that we arrange for carpools with our Covid buddies in advance since this is going to be a long trip in a car. If we do this we can forego meeting in Ormond to arrange carpools. Please contact me and let me know if you are coming and for any questions that you might have: members@halifaxriveras.org.

If your party decides to leave a little later, feel free to do so. The property is is quite open and when you arrive, you can contact the early birds to get our location in the park. You will in all likelihood be able to see us from one of the vantage points.

Upon arrival at the wetlands, proceed to the entrance center. Here are the only available restrooms. Proceed down the hill through the woods and meet with the group just inside the fence.

We will leave our cars in the parking lot (there is a $5.00 fee for parking each car) and travel by foot exploring the impoundments. We expect to walk upwards of 3 miles at a very leisurely pace. There are many spots where you can sit and enjoy the scenery if you do not feel like walking the entire day. Carry water and snacks on the trail, at times we might be quite far from our autos.

Click here for a look at the park layout from the air and some other photos

Please follow our field trip guidelines by clicking the link. We will require that you sign a waiver before joining the trip. Forms are available online and at check in.

Field Trip Guidelines