Visiting Silver Springs takes you back to "Old Florida"
Silver Springs State Park is known for its crystal clear spring-fed water, natural landscape, and abundant wildlife. With miles of hiking trails, a huge campground, glass bottom boat tours, and the largest artesian spring in the country, there is something for everyone to experience in this park. The pristine Silver River is perfect for paddling and being surrounded by untouched nature.
Getting to Silver Springs
Silver Springs State Park is located in central Florida just outside of the Ocala National Forest. Situated about an hour and a half north of Orlando and an hour south of Gainesville, the springs are tucked away in one of the remaining sections of true “old Florida”. A visit here is an easy day trip from the theme parks but feels like it is a world away!
The best time to visit a Florida Spring
Visiting Silver Springs during the off season is best, any time from fall through spring. The wildlife is more active at this time, manatees visit the river and springs more frequently, and the park is less busy. Also the weather in Florida is temperate, cooler than usual, with less bugs and lower humidity.
There is no swimming, tubing, snorkeling, or diving allowed at Silver Springs in order to maintain the pristine and untouched nature of the Silver River. There are several other springs in the area that are great for swimming and snorkeling, such as Rainbow Springs, Salt Springs, Juniper Springs, and Silver Glen Springs. Due to the constant water temperature of 72° year-round, these parks are best enjoyed when the weather is warmer.
History of Silver Springs
Silver Springs began as a historic tourist attraction in the 1800’s, and quickly became Florida’s first “theme park”. After the Civil War the springs began to attract tourists from the north via steamboats traveling on the Silver River. News traveled about the springs via national guidebooks and Silver Springs became a must-see attraction when visiting Florida. Eventually attractions grew to include a carousel, jeep safari tours, a lighthouse ride, animal shows and even a small zoo.
To aid conservation and preservation efforts of the river and surrounding forest and grounds, the area was taken over by the state of Florida to create Silver Springs State Park in 2013. This 4,000-acre state park encompasses not only the springs, but the entire five miles of the Silver River and surrounding sandhill forest.
The park maintains the “Cracker Village”, a 19th century pioneer settlement replica with buildings, homes, and a schoolhouse showing what life was like in this part of Florida at the turn of the century.
Silver Springs was a popular filming location in the early-to-mid 1900’s as well. Movies such as The Seven Swans, Tarzan, Creature from the Black Lagoon, and the television series Sea Hunt were all filmed in the park, mostly due to the incredibly clear water.
Glass Bottom Boats at Silver Springs
While the grounds of the park are lush and welcoming, the main draw is the crystal clear spring-fed Silver River. With over 30 springs in the Silver Springs group pumping out around 800 million gallons of natural spring water each day, there is so much vegetation, wildlife, and historical artifacts to explore just below the surface.
The Main Spring in the park (also called Mammoth Spring) is the largest artesian spring in the United States. Glass bottom boats were developed for tourists to see this “underwater jungle” in the springs in the late 1870’s, and have been modified and updated to continue this tradition. 365 days of the year these boats run tours every 20 minutes, providing breathtaking views of the underwater life in the spring.
Silver Springs is named for the silvery limestone lining the bottom of the river. Visitors can see the silvery flecks of stone flowing in the river and being pushed around by the forceful springs through the clear glass in the boats. Also large fish, turtles, alligators, and manatees can be spotted while on the tour.
Paddling the Silver River
Because of the amount of water pulsing out of the springs, the Silver River maintains a slow and steady flow downstream at about 3 miles an hour. This current, along with the clear water and untouched forests surrounding the river, create a paddler’s paradise. Read all about paddling the Silver River for tips and launch points for kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards.
While you paddle keep watch for the Rhesus monkeys that live in the trees lining the riverbanks. They are playful and curious, often seen leaping from tree to tree. Once part of an early “Jungle Cruise” attraction, these non-native monkeys have spread their habitat and continue to thrive in this area.
Camping at Silver Springs State Park
The Silver Springs State Park campground is not located in the same area as the actual state park, but there are hiking trails connecting the two. The entrance to the campground is at 1425 NE 58th Ave. in Ocala, FL, about five minutes from the park. Guests of the campground are welcomed to visit the park and can get in for free with proof of a camping reservation; a photo of your campsite tag on your phone will suffice.
The state park campground also has a launch point on the Silver River that guests can access for free located at the two mile mark when heading downriver from the headsprings. However, the walk from the closest parking area to the water is over half a mile away.
Unlike many state parks, the Silver Springs campground offers some sites with full hookups including sewer, which is nice for longer stays. The sites were large, shaded, and quiet. The facilities were clean and tidy, which we have found to be the same at every Florida state park we have camped at so far.
Tip: Camping reservations for Florida state parks open 11 months in advance, and for the more popular parks they book up right away. Choose your camping dates well ahead of time to get the site you want! You can make camping reservations on the updated Florida State Parks site.
Hiking Trails in Silver Springs State Park
Silver Springs offers hiking trails ranging from a 0.8-mile loop to a five mile trail, including a trail covering a section of the 1,300-mile scenic Florida Trail. The main entrance of the park has two popular trails, the Creek Trail and the Spring Connector Trail.
An additional five trails can be accessed in the camping area, taking hikers through sandhills filled with tall pine trees, near swamps, and past the Silver River. The park also has equestrian trails, and areas that are great for bicycling and mountain biking.
For those with mobility issues or who just prefer a leisurely pace to explore the park, there is a wide boardwalk that is perfect for strollers and wheelchairs. This 0.7-mile loop takes you to beautiful overlooks of the Silver River and even has a “Swamp Stage” where small local shows are performed.
The Gardens and Grounds at Silver Springs
The historic gardens in the park have recently been restored and are a sight to behold. Without using fertilizer or irrigation to avoid contaminating the nearby river, native grasses, wildflowers, tropical plants, trees and shrubs are now flourishing throughout the park. Winding sidewalks take visitors through jungle-like pathways alongside the Silver River.
The Twin Oaks Mansion, amphitheater and event lawn host wedding receptions, family reunions, concerts, and other large events.
Taking a glass bottom boat tour at Silver Springs State Park is a great way to experience Florida’s natural beauty. Spend time meandering through the forests or paddling down the river to really get away from it all. Experience the true Florida at Silver Springs!
Some of our other favorite Florida Springs to check out:
- Paddle in Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
- See the manatees at Blue Spring State Park
- Make pancakes at DeLeon Springs State Park
- Kayak, tube, and snorkel at Rainbow Springs State Park
Happy Travels!
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