Just a hop, skip, and jump away from several of Gainesville's upscale neighborhoods, are 232-steps that wind down into the devil's torture pit! Oh, well, that's according to old Florida Indian folklore and this devil's den of doom is actually a conical shaped sinkhole and the centerpiece of Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park -- one of Gainesville's six Florida State parks.
It was the plethora of animal bones that the native Floridians regularly found at the bottom of this deep bowl that lead them to conclude the Millhopper was the ultimate resting place for the devil's victims. Now it's just a great (and safe) place to visit.
Trekking down 120-feet on the winding, but ever so sturdy, wooden boardwalk is an exhilarating "only in Florida" adventure indeed. If you opt to 'trek' in summer here's the good news: your round trip descent will make for a great calorie busting workout especially if you warm-up with a hike around this State Park's 67-acre gentle hiking trails.
Your reward is that at the bottom, it's several degrees cooler. Almost cave, plus canopy-like, cooler. It's also cooler in the awe-inspiring kind of way. With trickling waterfalls and a labyrinth of green leafy vines, it's as if you've been magically transported to a exotic Tahitian island. But caveat hiker...if your exercise regime is well, a bit dusty, step slowly, take cool water and apply plenty of bug repellent.
So do hop, go ahead skip and jump at the chance to see the Sunshine State's only geological state park and one of Gainesville's natural treasures.
