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

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Silver Springs

Silver Springs

Florida’s original tourist destination, Silver Springs is both one of the world’s largest springs and the name of the community that grew up around it in the 1800s.

Florida’s original tourist destination, Silver Springs is both one of the world’s largest springs and the name of the community that grew up around it in the 1800s when steamboats followed the snaking curves of the Ocklawaha River up the Silver River to dock at these immense springs.

Nearby: Belleview, Palatka, Ocala, Ormond Beach, Salt Springs

Now adjoining the city of Ocala, Silver Springs is the western gateway to the Ocala National Forest and the Cross Florida Greenway.

Find hotels in Silver Springs on TripAdvisor


Trails and Parks near Silver Springs

  • Bear-N-Oak Trail Bear-N-Oak Trail - The Bear-N-Oak Trail at Indian Lake State Forest provides a fascinating look at habitat diversity centered on Indian Lake, a sinkhole lake that connects to the aquifer
  • Carney Island Carney Island Conservation Area - At Carney Island, the breeze carries the scent of orange blossoms from some of the northernmost remaining commercial groves in Florida. Lake Weir is a palatable presence, even though the trails stick to the oak hammocks
  • Florida Trail Marshall Swamp Cross Florida Greenway - Stretching 90 miles from the St. Johns River near Palatka to the Gulf of Mexico, the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway is a mile-wide recreational corridor with hiking, biking, and equestrian trails as well as paddling and boating access.
  • Blue blaze to Marshall Swamp Florida Trail, Baseline to Marshall Swamp - 2.7 miles. A walk in an urban forest, the Baseline section of the Florida Trail showcases restored sandhill habitat
  • Marshall Swamp on the Cross Florida Greenway Florida Trail, Cross Florida Greenway - 43.8 miles. A prime destination for backpacking and day hiking south of Ocala, the Florida Trail follows the Cross Florida Greenway through woodlands between the Withlacoochee and Ocklawaha Rivers
  • Marshall Swamp Trail Florida Trail, Marshall Swamp - 3 miles. Marvel at towering trees in an ancient forest along this Florida Trail segment on the Cross Florida Greenway
  • Juniper Prairie Wilderness Florida Trail, Ocala - 72.3 miles. The birthplace of the Florida Trail and home of the world’s largest sand pine scrub forest, the Ocala section is Florida’s top backpacking destination
  • The Island at Santos Florida Trail, Santos to Baseline - 5.1 miles. Anchored by historic Santos and Silver Springs Shores, this narrow strip of the Cross Florida Greenway is a linear woodland in suburbia.
  • Cypress Lakes Preserve Florida Trail, Western Corridor - 241 miles. With segments linking Withlacoochee State Forest and the Cross Florida Greenway, the Western Corridor provides access to wild spaces between Tampa and Ocala
  • Indian Lake Indian Lake State Forest - Purchased to protect an uplands recharge area for one of Florida's largest springs, Indian Lake State Forest centers around a deep sinkhole lake called Indian Lake
  • Lake Eaton 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
  • Florida Trail north of Farles Prairie 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
  • Ocklawaha Prairie Ocklawaha Prairie Restoration Area - At Ocklawaha Prairie, east of Lake Weir and south of Marshall Swamp, trails lead to some of the best birding in the region from levees along the extensive marshes of the river basin.
  • Paddling Juniper Run 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.
  • Paddling the Silver River Paddling the Silver River - What to do on a hot summer's day? Try the naturally air-conditioned Silver River for a paddling trip.
  • Silver River Connector Silver River Connector - Built to showcase the Cross Florida Greenway, the Silver River Connector is a 3-mile round-trip from the Ocklawaha Visitor Center to Ray Wayside Park.
  • Silver Springs Conservation Area Silver Springs Conservation Area - Silver Springs Conservation Area protects upland habitats crucial to recharge of Silver Springs. Two stacked loop trails (with a cross-trail on the upper loop) provide several options for hiking.
  • Swamp along the River Trails Silver Springs River Trails - With more than 4 miles of hiking in two trails, the River Trails of Silver Springs State Park are the park's most popular walks, as they lead you to views along the Silver River.
  • Sandhill Trail Silver Springs Sandhill Trail - At Silver River State Park, the Sandhill Nature Trail (which can also be reached from the Sinkhole Trail) is a 1.7-mile loop through a longleaf and wiregrass sandhill habitat.
  • Sinkhole Trail Silver Springs Sinkhole Trail - On the 2.5-mile Sinkhole Trail, take a hike around a giant sinkhole and explore the uplands above the Silver River at Silver Springs State Park
  • Glass-bottomed boats at Silver Springs Silver Springs State Park - One of the world's largest and deepest springs, Silver Springs pours out more than 550 million gallons of water daily, forming the Silver River
  • Sunnyhill Levee Trail Sunnyhill Levee Trail - At Sunnyhill Restoration Area, the Levee Trail provides a scenic stroll atop a levee paralleling both the Ocklawaha River channel and its vast marshes favored by wading birds.

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CENTRAL FLORIDA

CENTRAL FLORIDA OVERVIEW
East Coast Greenway. Florida Trail

Brooksville. Coast to Coast Trail. Cocoa Beach. Cross Florida Greenway. Crystal River. Dade City. Daytona Beach. Kissimmee. Lakeland. Leesburg. Ocala. Ocala National Forest. Orlando. Sanford. St. Petersburg. Tampa.

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Discovering the Florida Trail

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A visual journey the length of the Florida Trail, covering more than 1,500 miles from the Everglades to Pensacola Beach. Hardcover, 196 pages. $24.95 + tax and shipping.

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Florida Trail Hikes

Florida Trail HikesThe best day hikes, overnights, and weekend trips on the Florida Trail. Full hike descriptions and maps, full color. 376 pages. $24.95 + tax and shipping.

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50 Hikes in Central Florida
Explorers Guide North Florida Panhandle
The Florida Trail Guide (third edition)
Five Star Trails Orlando
Five Star Trails Gainesville & Ocala

The Florida Trail

Florida Trail large coffee table book cover of trail down swamp causeway under ancient pines

Our history of the first 50 years of the Florida Trail, from its founding in 1966 to becoming a National Scenic Trail to volunteer efforts today.

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Florida Trail App

Guthook GuidesGuthook Guides Comprehensive logistics and offline maps for the Florida National Scenic Trail.

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Our recent park & trail updates in this region

Pieces of wood in a creek

Triple Creek Nature Preserve

Triple Creek Nature Preserve
Orange blaze in dense woods

Bronson Northeast Loop

Bronson Northeast Loop
Orange blaze on oak in Bronson State Forest

Bronson River Trail Loop

Bronson River Trail Loop
Live oak canopy over hiking trail

Lake Runnymede Conservation Area

Lake Runnymede Conservation Area

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