Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park - Florida

Address:4732 Millhopper Road
Gainesville, Florida
Tel: (352) 955-2008

Florida's only geological State Park, Devil's Millhopper was formed by the collapse of an underground cavern roof and was named for its similar appearance to the hopper of a mill. The main attraction here is the sinkhole cutaway with sides of limestone, which contains a miniature rainforest within it. Due to the streams that trickle down into the cavity, lush vegetation is alive and thriving inside and researchers have used the fossils, and shells found within it to learn more about Florida's natural history. The Park itself spans 67 acres and has three distinct geological environments, including sandhill, hammocks, and swamp. Devil's Millhopper offers guided tours as well as nature trails and areas for picnicking, and ranger walks on Saturdays.

In the midst of north Florida's sandy terrain and pine forests, a bowl-shaped cavity 120 feet deep leads down to a miniature rain forest. Small streams trickle down the steep slopes of the limestone sinkhole, disappearing through crevices in the ground, and lush vegetation thrives in the shade of the walls even in dry summers. A significant geological formation, Devil's Millhopper is a National Natural Landmark that has been visited by the curious since the early 1880s. Researchers have learned a great deal about Florida's natural history by studying fossil shark teeth, marine shells, and the fossilized remains of extinct land animals found in the sink. Visitors can enjoy picnicking and learn more about this sinkhole through interpretive displays. The park is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. Located two miles northwest of Gainesville, off State Road 232.