Silver Springs (or Silver River, if you prefer... they are a little behind on the name change) Ocala Florida

Date of visit-  Sunday, March 9 2014.  

Hit this park on the way down to Wildwood to pick up the coach. 

Silver Springs State Park

This Park has more than 15 distinct natural communities, dozens of springs and miles of trails.

On the River side: Visitors can canoe down the crystal clear river ( there is no fee to launch on this side but there is a ½ mile hike to launch area), hike or bike along one of the nature trails, or just sit and watch for the wide variety of birds and wildlife.

The picnic area features three pavilions with grills that may be rented for group outings and a playground for the youngsters.

For overnight stays, the River side has a full facility campground and 10 luxury cabins.  There is also a primitive campground for use by organized groups (scouts, church groups, etc.)

The River side of the park is home to a pioneer cracker village and the Silver River Museum and Environmental Education Center. The center is operated by the Marion County School District in cooperation with the park and is open to the public on weekends and holidays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00. p.m. Admission to the Museum is $2.00 per person. Children under 6 are free. For more information please visit Silver River Museum

On the Spring side:  Visitors can view the spring head from a covered viewing deck, walk along the river on the paved trails and see the ornamental gardens and Spring head.  Glass bottom boat rides are offered for $9.99 + tax per person and run on the hour daily from 10 AM until 4 PM.  Our concessionaire offers food at the Spring Side Restaurant 10 AM until 4:30 PM daily.  There is a canoe and kayak launch located at the South East corner of the main parking lot. Rent a canoe or kayak at the park from 9 AM to 3:00 PM or bring your own. There is not a shuttle at this time for pick up and drop off at other locations. There is a $4.00 per boat launch fee if you bring your own canoe or kayak.  There is no land access from the water at all along the river and in the spring head area unless you enter from the parking lot and use the boat launch to access land, fees apply. 

There are two entrances to Silver Springs State Park. The entrance to the Spring Side is located on State Road 40 at 5656 E Silver Springs Blvd, Silver Springs, Florida 34488 and the entrance to the River side is located on State Road 35 at 1425 NE 58th Avenue, Ocala Fl 34470.

History and Culture

In the 1820s, the springs became a tourist attraction for adventurous visitors who poled their way along the narrow stream through overhanging cypress and Spanish moss. With the invention of the paddlewheel, Silver River and Springs became a distribution center for Central Florida. Plantations growing vegetables, tobacco and oranges sprang up along the banks as nearby Ocala grew. In the late 1870s, Phillip Morrell fixed a piece of glass in the bottom of a rowboat and a new enterprise began. Silver River's glass-bottom boat tours have been world famous for more than over 100 years.

Early View of River

This early view of the Silver River shows what has attracted people to the area for thousands of years: abundant water, wildlife and beautiful scenery.

Entrance Signs

The Silver River Museum and Environmental Center and Silver Springs State Park both opened to the public in 1987. For several years, however, the Silver River Museum and Education Center was the only developed area at the park. The continued relationship with the park and the Marion County School Board has given many local school children the opportunity to participate in environmental education programs at the Center.

Cracker House

The Cracker Village at the Silver River Museum and Education Center consists of a reconstructed Cracker house and several other structures representing the life of early pioneers in Central Florida.

Entrance Station

The entrance station, completed in 2000, was one of the first park buildings constructed at Silver Springs. Since that time, a campground, cabins, picnic area with playground and a canoe and kayak launch have been added, providing additional recreational opportunities for park visitors.

Country Days

The Ocali Country Days is one of several special events held regularly at the park and the museum and education center. The Ocali Country Days is an annual two-day event honoring Central Florida's history. Here two men dressed as Florida 'crackers' relax near a campfire in the Cracker Village