Salt Springs

Exploring Salt Springs

With fish camps on Lake Kerr, campgrounds, and cabins for rent, Salt Springs is a great destination from which to base explorations in the Ocala National Forest.

There are many nearby trails and waterways, including the Ocklawaha River and the St. Johns River. A small marina provides a launch point into Salt Springs Run.

Based around its namesake spring, Salt Springs Recreation Area draws many visitors for swimming, paddling, and camping.

Right in the community, trailheads provide direct access to both an extensive system of ATV trails and to the Florida Trail, which circles around Salt Springs to the south and west.

A ride through the forest to the historic Fort Gates Ferry connects you with Bartram Trail sites in Welaka on the opposite side of the St. Johns River.

Trails and Parks around Salt Springs

Bear Swamp Trail Little known except to those who frequent Salt Springs Recreation Area in the Ocala National Forest, the Bear Swamp Trail provides a walk into an ancient forest.

Caravelle Ranch Take a stroll among pine forests and shady hammocks in the Ocklawaha River watershed on a network of well-marked trails edging the Ocala National Forest.

Davenport Landing Trail Deep in the Ocala National Forest, the Davenport Landing Trail provides a scenic loop to a historic landing and archaeological site along the Ocklawaha River.

Florida Trail, Eaton Creek to CR 316 11.9 miles. North of Eaton Creek, the Florida Trail showcases spectacular sand pine forests and unique species adapted to this arid environment within the Big Scrub.

Florida Trail, Hopkins Prairie to Salt Springs 9.6 miles. Sweeping along the shoreline of one of the largest prairies in the Ocala National Forest, this section of the Florida Trail lingers on prairie panoramas.

Florida Trail, Juniper Springs to Hopkins Prairie 10.6 miles. Marvel at a mosaic of ancient scrub forest, vast prairies, and pine islands while crossing the Juniper Prairie Wilderness north of Juniper Springs.

Florida Trail, Kerr Island to Lake Delancy 6.4 miles. Across a mosaic of sandhills and scrub, expect black bear and scrub-jay sightings on this Florida Trail segment north of Salt Springs.

Florida Trail, Lake Delancy to Rodman 6.7 miles. Experience a sense of perspective on a piece of the Florida Trail traversing rolling hills topped with a majestic forest of longleaf pines.

Florida Trail, Ocala Spanning 72.3 from the birthplace of the Florida Trail into the world’s largest sand pine scrub forest, the Ocala section is Florida’s top backpacking destination.

Florida Trail, Pat’s Island to Hidden Pond Entirely within the Juniper Prairie Wilderness, this 8.4 mile round-trip in a no-hunting-zone on the Florida Trail in the Ocala National Forest immerses you in the Big Scrub.

Florida Trail, Rodman to Buckman Lock 6.5 miles. Providing views across the Cross Florida Barge Canal from a high levee, the Florida Trail between Rodman and Buckman Lock mainly follows the Cross Florida Greenway.

Florida Trail, Salt Springs to Kerr Island 10.4 miles. Crossing a patchwork of scrub ridges and longleaf pine islands, the Florida Trail makes its way southwest of Salt Springs around Lake Kerr to The 88 Store.

Juniper Springs Experience crystalline waters emerging from the midst of the world’s largest scrub forest in a subtropical forest at Juniper Springs in the Ocala National Forest.

Lake Eaton Sinkhole Trail Go deep into the Ocala National Forest on a staircase leading into a massive sinkhole along the Lake Eaton Sinkhole Trail, a 1.8 mile loop in the Big Scrub.

Lake Eaton Trail Gently descending from ancient dunes down to the forested shores of its namesake lake, the 2.3-mile Lake Eaton Trail provides a great deal of habitat diversity in a short hike.

Lake George Trail Connecting Silver Glen Springs with the river it feeds, the Lake George Trail provides an easy day hike to picturesque views of Lake George on the St. Johns River.

Ocala National Forest Established in 1908 as the first National Forest east of the Mississippi, the Ocala National Forest is a mecca for hikers and campers, and the birthplace of the Florida Trail.

Paddling Juniper Run Paddling Juniper Run from Juniper Springs to the take out at SR 19 in the Ocala National Forest, a popular paddling trip along this sinuous, spring-fed waterway that winds through the Juniper Prairie Wilderness.

Salt Springs Loop Savor the beauty of the Big Scrub and habitats along crystalline Salt Springs Run on this easy loop on the outskirts of Salt Springs.

Salt Springs Recreation Area See the beauty of William Bartram's "amazing crystal fountain" as you gaze into the depths of this rocky spring in the Ocala National Forest

Silver Glen Springs With a strong aquamarine hue accented by refracted rainbows as sunlight plays across the ripples on its sandy bottom, Silver Glen Springs is a first-magnitude spring in the Ocala National Forest.

Spring Boils Trail A delight to visit, the Spring Boils Trail showcases bubbling springs both big and small, starting within sight of the main springs at Silver Glen Springs before it leads you to coves of tiny bubblers

The Yearling Trail On Pat's Island, discover the landscape and the history that inspired Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings to write her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Yearling in 1938.

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NEARBY: Cross Florida Greenway, Ocala, Palatka, Silver Springs, Welaka | PART OF: North Florida, Ocala National Forest