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Hike Bike Paddle Camp Florida with authors Sandra Friend and John Keatley as your guides

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fish in Salt Springs

Salt Springs

Surrounded by the Ocala National Forest, the community of Salt Springs is a hub for outdoor recreation, with direct access to trails on both land and water

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.

Resources

The Florida Trail Guide book cover North Florida Panhandle Explorers Guide book cover Five Star Trails Gainesville Ocala book cover 50 Hikes in North Florida book cover Complete Guide to Florida Wildflowers Hikers Guide to the Sunshine State book cover The Hiking Trails of Floridas National Forests Parks Preserves book cover

Disclosure: As authors and affiliates, we receive earnings when you buy these through our links. This helps us continue to provide public information on this website.

Featured Destinations

Juniper Prairie Wilderness

Florida Trail, Ocala

Florida Trail, Ocala
Salt Springs Loop

Salt Springs Loop

Salt Springs Loop
Big cypress Bear Swamp Trail

Bear Swamp Trail

Bear Swamp Trail
Florida rosemary and sandpine

Florida Trail, Eaton Creek to CR 316

Florida Trail, Eaton Creek to CR 316
Florida Trail, Pat's Island to Hidden Pond

Florida Trail, Pat’s Island to Hidden Pond

Florida Trail, Pat’s Island to Hidden Pond
Springs in open spring basin

Juniper Springs

Juniper Springs
Davenport Landing

Davenport Landing Trail

Davenport Landing Trail
Riverside Island north of FR 11

Florida Trail, Lake Delancy to Rodman

Florida Trail, Lake Delancy to Rodman

ALL Destinations

Articles

Ocean Pond Olustee

National Forests in Florida Implement New Fees

July 24, 2019//  by Sandra Friend

Effective July 26, 2019, fees go up at many National Forest campgrounds, boat ramps, and recreation areas

Bear bags hanging at sunset on the AT in Georgia

Do Not Feed the Bears

February 27, 2018//  by John Keatley

Bear bagging is the art of hanging your food properly out of reach of bears. If you’re a Florida backpacker and haven’t learned how, here’s a short course. Securing your food from bears is required in the Ocala, Osceola, and Apalachicola National Forests.

Paddling Juniper Run

Paddling Juniper Run

January 5, 2017//  by John Keatley

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.

ALL Articles

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

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