After a week at theme parks suck as Hollywood Studios and Epic Universe - we tackled Spring break by adding nature and make it peaceful. Crystal-clear water, shady trails, and total calm at Juniper Springs in Ocala National Forest. Skipping the crowds never felt so good. read more

What a gem of a campground. Immerse yourself in nature here with the family. Has something for everyone. Well maintained trails, a beautiful turquoise water spring swimming hole with and old working water mill built in the 1930's. Bathrooms and showers available. Park was dog friendly as well. Kayak rentals available for a 7 mile paddle. All of the sites seemed nice and large. Easy to get in with a camper/rv. Quite at night for small camp fires in built in pits - picnic tables included. Honestly, this could be the nicest camp site I've ever been to. read more

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We knew we needed to make the trip over to Juniper Springs when three different locals recommended it as where they liked to hang out. We were not disappointed. The fee was $15 a piece for admission which seemed a little high but we did enjoy the relaxed atmosphere around the spring. There is a working water wheel that made the experience picturesque with the added benefit of the gentle movement of water which I love. We spent several hours there. There were spots for grilling and spots for hammocks and everything in between. There were people taking naps and people enjoying a nice soak in the 72 degree spring. This place is certainly worth a visit if you are in the area. read more

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Cool little place to escape with walking trails, campsites, canoe launch and a natural spring. Cool water felt great. Many of the trails weren't accessible as the boardwalks were being repaired. Guide at the toll gate was misinformed and didn't tell us about the spring. He just directed us to the Florida trail which was ok but the pool area was much nicer which we found on our own Gift shop was closed---maybe because of the government shutdown. read more

Juniper Springs Recreation Area - Feet in the spring---with minnows bumping my feet - Parks Near Me - Silver Springs, Florida

Nice springs, a good crowd but didn't feel crowded. Multiple speakers playing, but nothing overbearing. Water is cool. Definitely bring water shoes.. rocks/ledge can be slippery from the algae read more

Quiet and clean! Springs are beautiful. Not a great place if you dislike spiders.. bring a bug catching kit for the kids!! So fun!

Located in the Ocala National Forest is this beautiful fresh water spring! It cost $12 per person to get in and you won't regret it because there is so much to do and see. The Spring was surprisingly small compared to other Springs that I have been too. Not only can you swim in the Spring but it's also a great place to go snorkeling. I think 70 degrees all year round so it's a little chilly! There is a Mill House exhibit next to the Spring that you can walk in and read the history of. There are a lot of camp sites to set up camp or to even bring an RV. There is a beautiful walking trail that you can walk. If you forgot anything for the day you can always go to the front where they have a little shop with supplies that you might need or have forgotten. I definitely recommend coming here for a nice day trip or to even have a little vacation here and stay on the property. read more

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Amazing fresh water spring in the Ocala National Forest! This is a very relaxing spot for a day trip and not too far from the Jacksonville area. There's camping, a canoe launch, a mill with historical information, walking and biking trails, proper picnic areas, outside grills and a giant outdoor fireplace, restroom facilities and showers, covered trash receptacles, a small gift shop and nature all abound! There's no alcohol allowed and maybe why this recreational area is not super crowded. Either way, it's a breath of fresh air without the party scene of other Florida fresh water springs. A perfect place to just chill, hike or take a 7 mile canoe ride to Lake George nearby... We paid $12 per person for the entrance fee and it was worth every penny. Bring your own steaks, snacks, drinks (non-alcoholic) and oversized picnic blanket and prepare yourself for a epic time in what I consider the "real" Florida. An outstanding gem in the heart of Florida where you can really take in your surroundings and appreciate this natural resource right in the amazing state in which we have the privilege of living. Absolutely an incredible place to visit! read more

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Juniper Springs Recreational Area Adventure Ocala LLC ***CAUTION*** ***DANGEROUS*** Kayaking the Juniper run can be extremely difficult and technical. This is NOT something you want to do if you or anyone going are remotely a beginner or not physically in shape and a strong swimmer. You will NOT have an enjoyable time . I cannot stress this enough. I will elaborate below under Juniper run. JUNIPER SPRING The spring its self is beautiful. It is well maintained with a quaint little paddle mill. Thats where it ends.. PRO- TIP: Go during the week, off season and Get there early... Unless you like to go swimming in super packed public pools. You will not be able to see the springs water if it's crowded - one of the main reason that compels people to go to springs.. There were literally around a thousand people in and around the spring. Don't make our mistake and go in July, luckily we where camping with a reservation so we where allowed access as the park quickly hits capacity. Make sure to read the rules as they are strict and do cooler checks. JUNIPER SPRINGS TRAIL ***CLOSED*** The trail, Fern hammock spring and the boardwalk which are almost all of the pictures you'll see besides the spring head online is and has been closed since 2021 do to extreme disrepair. as of 2024 no repairs have begun. This as well as many of the structures surrounding it - fern hammock arch bridge and pavilions etc are blocked off. This disrepair situation is one of the saddest things I've ever seen in a Florida state park to date. - CAMPING The situation(s) above are mirrored in the campground. Understaffed and underfunded. No power hookups, bathrooms/showers are abysmal - but they do have them. Generators only during daylight hours - even super quiet ones. Primitive, it is what it is. Plan accordingly. THE JUNIPER RUN I am a 33/yo active lifestyle male. Highly suggest not to be in the first group sent down the run and highly suggest to completely avoid going after any storms or bad weather the night before. If you do, DO NOT use the tandem kayaks. These shouldn't even be offered as an option to rent until the run has been verbally cleared as passable. Highly suggest bringing a knife, eye protection and a small rope. This is the main reason for the review. I would like to highlight the number one issue of it and how it is the number one contributing factor to this nightmare. They are supposedly NOT allowed to use any power tools in removal and clearing of obstructions. This means no battery or gas cutting devices chainsaw, trimmers, articulating saws etc which makes this kayaking adventure adherently UNPREDICTABLE and DANGEROUS. They DO NOT send down the run a lead kayak or canoe to check conditions before allowing people to launch in the AM. They rely on the kayaks after 7 miles (3-4 hours of kayaking) at the pick up to relay that information. Which is extremely irresponsible and dangerous. The cell phone signal is spotty and their contact information is not always correct if there is an extreme obstacle and kayakers need to be warned or the run shut down. A walkie talkie secured to the lead kayak in a dry box on the first AM run could potentially save a life.. If you decide to go on this kayak run - I hope you like spiders. read more

Juniper Springs Recreation Area - Juniper spring - Parks Near Me - Silver Springs, Florida

This place is a great hidden treasure! We spent the days relaxing and swimming in this amazing spring fed natural "pool". The water and air were the same temp, 72°. The sun was a bonus! Price was a little high $13 per person esp since most of the trails are under construction, but as a car group we decided it was worth the $$! read more

Juniper Springs Recreation Area - Pool book - Parks Near Me - Silver Springs, Florida

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Truly Beautiful! Me and my family went there for camping -- very good place for vacation. me and my family went on different trails, and they were very fun. the spring there was very cold, and it was rainy when we got there. but how can nature affect a camping sight? (Now that I just heard of that I sound stupid) but actually, juniper Springs is outside, so it gets affected by rain. I don't really have anything else to say except that this place was beautiful. read more

Juniper Springs Recreation Area - Family picture while camping - Parks Near Me - Silver Springs, Florida

Beautiful and tucked away. Peaceful place to unwind and cool off. Water wheel and wheel house to explore. Plenty of shaded areas to sit. read more

Juniper Springs Recreation Area - Juniper Springs - Parks Near Me - Silver Springs, Florida

When I went all the toilets were clogged and there was no toilet paper and the showers were not working . Then a rude lady came up to us and told us our dog was not allowed to come there anymore . There was also a bunch of smoking read more

What an amazing spot and surprise we had today. We had planned to go to the Salt Springs area but they were full. We decided to check this other Springs area and what a gem we discovered. Very clean, staff was so attentive, great hike and scenery and the area was exactly what we needed. We will be back and hopefully camping in the cooler temperature season. read more

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We got engaged at Fern Hammock Springs on New Years Eve. Per Juniper Springs website, it looked like everything was kept up and springs would be accessible and lovely. Unfortunately that wasn't the case. A lot of areas were shut off and unkept. Fern Hammock was still beautiful to see despite being untidy and the bridge being closed off. We do not see walking through Juniper Springs worth $12 a person. They are making plenty of money to keep the Recreation area looking nice, just a shame they're spending more time in camping areas than on the trails. Not sure if it's worth coming back. A shame that such a beautiful spring is becoming overgrown. read more

Wildlife is everywhere, the water is clean and a cool 72 degrees. I have been to many florida springs and this one has birds, alligators and snakes. Went for a dip with my sister's kids and look who chased us out of the water. I have never been so scared. This water moccasin must of had a nest close because as you can see from my photos it was on a mission to chase bite us. The snake chased us out of the water. Water moccasins are venomous and can kill you if you don't get the anti venom after being bit. read more

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Juniper Springs rec area and campground is all kept very natural. The spring swimming area is beautiful and refreshing. Be aware that if you are camping, there is no electricity at any of the campsites. Even the pull throughs for RVs. Some tent sites are very remote and primitive, but they do have several water spigots to share throughout the campground and bear proof food lockers. It will be extremely dark at night as there are no lamps. The most unfortunate about this park is that the trails and boardwalks are not kept up and repaired so they are just closed off and has been for a long time. There are just a few short trails available to walk. Old shelters are just closed off as well. It must have been very nice at one time when the boardwalks were open. Bathrooms are good, the showers at our loop had timer buttons to push and the water will come out pre- mixed of hot / cold so it can't be adjusted. Firewood and ice for sale at ranger station which is a plus. read more

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This place is beyond magical -- forget Disney World an hour away, this is where the magic of nature happens. And literally the lagoon scenes from The Little Mermaid, minus the singing frogs. We initially thought this was going to be a day of easygoing canoeing, but lo and behold, it's actually a mixture of blood, sweat, and surprise rapids. Still beautiful though, despite it being definitely difficult and not for the weak of heart or mind. You can explore Juniper Creek via hiking trail or on the water, and while we chose the canoe path, I hadn't realized it was a 7.3 mile water obstacle course, so just be prepared to feel like a contestant on Naked and Afraid. The canoe path is full of fallen trees you'll get stuck on, huge spikey trees you'll have to maneuver around so you don't lose an eye, and rapids you'll have to conquer, so definitely avoid if you're a beginner canoer. I thought I'd be able to rest a bit while canoeing, but it was either rest or avoid having a fallen tree toss my canoe or get jammed in the face with spikes, so I chose to canoe for 5 hours straight instead. BUT, despite all that, it's definitely a scene to behold. The river is gorgeous, with all kinds of greenery and wildlife you never see up close, so it is indeed magical. You end up feeling a bit like an early Spanish explorer on the river, since it's pretty empty and often it's only you, the water, and wildlife. We saw turtles, schools of jumping fish, a number of tropical birds I can't possibly identify, gators... This place is chock full of alligators (we saw at least 5, about 8 ft from our canoe), the woods full of bears, boars (heard them), panthers, and nameless other things that could probably kill you, so it's unfortunately not a river you can dip your toes (unless you're up for a missing toe or two), but it's really one of the most unique nature experiences I've ever had, so I can't wait to go back again one day. read more

Juniper Springs Recreation Area - Parks Near Me - Silver Springs, Florida

5 Stars for well-situated camp sites, super easy nature walks, a beautiful spring, and cool old mill. This park was a great choice for a friends' camping trip with some newbs (see: me.). We were able to drive right in and park right by our site, which had a good amount of room to the next site, so we could hang out at night and not be too much of a disturbance. It was also situated very close to a bathroom, which was well-maintained and clean. Like others have mentioned, the shower uses one of the push knobs, so expect to be pushing it on the reg during your shower. But who's out there looking for a long shower anyway?? We had a fire pit and grill as well as picnic table on our site (and seemingly on all sites) and were able to buy wood at the front desk. Though we could have walked to the springs, it would have been a bit of a trek and we had seen bears in the area, so we decided to drive. The parking was easy and close there as well and on Saturday nights the park ranger hosts an eel viewing party where you can show up with a flashlight and catch a glimpse at the many eels in the spring. The spring isn't the largest I've seen, but it is beautiful. It has an old mill to one side with the mill house turned into a small learning center with info on the walls about its purpose and use historically. Again, really well-maintained. And finally, the nature walks around the mill are on elevated wooden walkways making it easy for anyone (presumably, even for those with physical limitations). You can also rent canoes and kayaks and take them out for the day, but swimming in any area other than the designated swimming hole is strictly prohibited due to gators. Overall, a great camping spot that's not too far from civilization if you need to re-up on hotdogs. read more

Springs hopping with mini me. Juniper Springs by far has the prettiest water and amazing hiking. The swimming hole is deep but beautiful. Went through the Old Mill House. Hiked the trail to the end and the water is the brightest blue it looks fake. This springs is more for older kids and adults I would say. Not as populated and plenty of parking. I am a tree fanatic and I was in heaven here. Had several dragon flies land on me and refuse to leave. Also find the Springs Boils here too. #Amazing Mommy Daughter Fun Day #JuniperSprings read more

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Really nice, large Springs with clear water, fish, turtles, Waterwheel House, places to picnic, lots of places to lay out & dry off, after a cool swim; 'day walk' paths &' a nice little wood bridge over Juniper Springs headwaters. Saw a few turtles, and an 8' gator sunning ithemselves, before the gator decided to go fishing.... exciting to watch it catch a few fish. Lots of Palm fronds & ticks, apparently. I'm still checking my skin for the little critters. Definitely worth the few bucks entry! read more

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My reason for the one star is that contact to reserve is awful. I called the 877 number and could not understand a word they were saying. When I asked that they transfer me they hung up. I tried to call the number listed for canoe rental to report and the number is no good. When I called the 352 number it is always busy or off the hook. May be a good location, but if you cannot contact them what is it worth. read more

Juniper Springs is an Ocala National Forest Recreational facility off SR 40 west of SR 19. It has camping as well as day-recreation activities like swimming and apparently you can rent a canoe, too, though I've not done this. I've only gone swimming here, so my review will focus on that and the general aspects of the park. It cost $5.36 to get a car in for a day, which is good for 8am-8pm. That's pretty standard to USDA/National Forest facilities but higher than Florida's State Parks I believe. Once you're in, you park and there's bathrooms which also have the nice little changing cubbies and also showers as do the ones at Alexander Springs, also in the Ocala National Forest. The spring itself is in a large pool which has been ringed with stone steps and a seating area with a pic-nic area beyond that. There's a really cool little platform to dive off of into the deeper part of the springs, too, and a historical exhibit of an old water-powered mill directly behind this platform. The main draw it seemed was swimming, which was great, though there's a lot of botanical presence with all manner of aquatic plants growing in this spring and nearby trees that also drop leaves in so the water is not as pristine as some Florida springs like Rainbow River and Alexander. You'll find leaves floating about a lot and the sandy bottom of the spring seems to stir up and muddy the waters moreso than most Florida springs. Still, it's a great place to go swimming on a hot day and I'd also really like to go camping here soon. read more

Juniper Springs Recreation Area - The swimmin' hole! - Parks Near Me - Silver Springs, Florida

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First time coming to this spring. Saw an eel swimming in the fern. Lots of sea creatures and a fun trail to follow around. There's an old Mill you can walk in and explore. You can set your stuff down around the spring and not worry about anyone touching it. Plenty of areas to lay out and dry off after a dip. We spring hop all the time so if you are in the Ocala area check them all out read more

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Such an marvelous park to visit and walk through nature! Got plenty of shots to look at and edit. The trails are great and mainly wood which is great. Wasn't overly crowded which was also nice. Plenty of animals to witness. Didn't know you could swim wish I brought my trunks because the water looked crystal clear and beautiful. I definitely will be coming back soon and we'll be prepared. read more

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Beautiful scenery, great swimming, all of the people in our party had a great time. I have camped in the past, the campsites are secluded,large and well kept, and the canoe trip is worth doing read more

This is one of the most beautiful places I've seen in Central Florida. Blue, crystal clear water, a picturesque mill house, plenty of seating around the spring, and camping nearby. Pro tip: Rent a canoe and go down the Juniper Springs run - 8 miles of gorgeous wilderness and they pick you up and bring you back. You'll thank me later! read more

Juniper Springs Recreation Area - Juniper Spring - Parks Near Me - Silver Springs, Florida

I would give Juniper Springs zero stars if I could. Nothing was open except a small swimming area with no lifeguard. Every access point to Juniper Run was blocked off, so there was no way to launch a kayak. Concessions were non-existent and the rental shop was closed - at noon. The boardwalks have been closed since 2020 with no apparent attempt to repair them. The staff was non-existent except to take your money. We paid $12 per person to see a small spring and a big black snake (the only wildlife we saw). This place is a rip-off, and wouldn't be worth going to if it was free. The management company needs to be replaced immediately. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY OR TIME GOING HERE! read more

Loved our hike at Juniper Springs :) The boardwalk trail was magical! It was a manageable hike, only took us about 45 min with stopping for photo ops. It was very picturesque. We enjoyed the spring at the end of the hike. The color of the water was the most crystal clear turquoise. And it was so cool to see all the wildlife around the spring- turtles, snakes, fish. Didn't see any gators. Then we went on the trail near the entrance to the park. I wasn't a huge fan of this trail. I didn't like that there were too many plants hitting you in the face! And the sound of the highway was very prevalent. But we did see a black bear which totally made our trip! Unfortunately I was too scared to take a pic, but it was such a cool experience!! read more

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First time visiting this park and I got to do it with my son's new Scout Troop! We had a blast and this campground is beautiful. The RV's must boon-dock it because the sites don't have power or water, so a generator and alternate water supply is needed. However, if you're a scout and looking to do some real camping, this is an ideal park. Spacious sites that are completely surrounded by woods and wildlife are what you will experience. The springs are gorgeous and make for a refreshing swimming experience. Bring googles and snorkel because there is lots to see underneath the springs. I also recommend going on one of their nature hike tours. Our tour guide (James I believe) was phenomenal. He was so knowledgeable and really cared about what he was showing us. He actually loved to be interrupted if someone found something interesting so that he could tell us all about it. Ocala National Forrest has one of highest (if not THE highest) population of black bears, but I did not see any on this trip. Guess that's a good thing? Can't wait to go back with the Troop or the family! read more

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Nice campgrounds. People are very friendly and the facilities are clean. Camping was great; very quiet. We had spot 75. The spring itself was a bit smaller than we had anticipated and cloudy. I think it's because the natural flow is slowed down by the mill. Ichetucknee was much nicer for snorkeling. We did see a deer and a gorgeous spring on the nature hike. Not sure if we'll be back though. Camping at Salt Springs in October. Stay tuned. read more

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We went camping and had a great experience! It was a family experience! Site were great but bathrooms could have been a little cleaner and hot /warm water would have been a real plus! read more

This was such a relaxing campground. I loved how the sites were a good enough distance away from each other to have some privacy and not hear every little thing someone said or did. They have a lot of rules so be sure to follow or you will get a warning. On your third warning you'll have to pay a $75 fine. Keep your trash away and your food secured in car or bear bin. It is very dark once it's night time so make sure to have lanterns. Site comes with lantern hook, bear locker, fire pit, and long picnic table. There's plenty of showers and bathrooms and they're kept clean throughout the day. Walking trails are great and the springs are so cool. The rec area was extremely relaxing just to sit and read, swim, or take a nap. Canoeing is NOT for beginners it's a 4/5 hour trip - I wanted to kayak/canoe but just for fun. They have firewood and ice available at the camp host and at the rec area. Rec area has all you may need Incase you forgot something - toothbrush, deodorant, lighter, floats, blankets, etc. read more

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This review is from the perspective of a camper. We are Florida Natives, so we've visited a great many springs. This spring was nothing to write home about, in comparison - however, it was neat how they turned it into a recreational area. With that said, we visited in February to camp and check out the Spring. It was a beautiful trip, we enjoyed our pad, saw deer, wild turkey, and lots of coons. Our pad was within a short distance from the hot showers and restrooms, which was nice. The trails and exploration was a lot of fun. We spent two days wandering around through the trails and had a blast. read more

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I had lots of fun at Juniper Springs with my friends this weekend. We swam in the springs; made new friends and went on nature trails! Towards the end of our day there was a thunderstorm but luckily the very knowledgeable and kind Park Rangers got us out of the springs quickly to make sure we were all safe from the thunder and lightning. They have a changing area (Which isn't all that common) so you don't have to feel gross stepping on the bathroom floor. If you do plan on heading up there, make sure to bring lots of bug spray and sunscreen just in case. I'll definitely make sure that I'll be going back soon and preparing better for my trip! read more

Juniper Springs Recreation Area - Parks Near Me - Silver Springs, Florida

We are a couple of British guys travelling the states for two months driving from Orlando to Washington DC. Juniper Springs was our first stop off on the journey. When we arrived we were greet by a lovely gentleman called Mike who made us feel really welcome to centre and gave us other recommendations to do on our journey. During our time at the centre we loved the crystal clear waters and the clean environment. It had an amazing area to relax and have lunch on the picnic benches and It was a amazing to view the old mill house on the spring as well. There are lots of springs in Florida but what makes this spring so special is the people involved in running it. Now here is where the story gets great... we hired a truck for our trip and we were keen to try out one of the forest trails nearby in the truck. We tried the trail just outside of juniper springs and a mile down the sand track we were hit by a really bad thunderstorm (Us brits aren't used to this sort of storm, it was scary!). So what do you do when your car is stuck in sand and you are in a mini hurricane, you call Mike. Mike said don't worry about it he will get someone to come helps us out of our situation. We walked down the track to be greeted by Squirrel and Don in their 4X4 kitted our with chains and ropes to save us. They picked us up and drove us back to the truck. Whilst the storm continued both Squirrel and Don pulled our truck back to safety and followed us out onto the main road to make sure we didn't get stuck again. After almost an hour of digging and towing Squirrel, Don, Mike and Jodi invited us back to raise a glass to the success of the rescue mission. Without their help we would have been in a really bad situation with no one to helps us. Their hospitality and kindness can't not be expressed in words so go down and check out Juniper Springs because the people that make this place are 11/10. read more

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This is a great place to swim, just be prepared for the depth and 72 degree water. There aren't many places in this swimming hole where your feet can touch the bottom so if you aren't a strong swimmer, bring a float of some kind. The great thing is the ledge lining the perimeter of the area where you can stand if you get tired. There are also four sets of stairs where you can get out. There are hundreds of little minnows swimming around and I saw a turtle pop up too! We walked the small boardwalk back to the springs which was great. We saw a smooth green snake on the walk, so watch your feet! There is an alligator that lives in the spring back there so swimming is not allowed. People should also know that the only way back to the swimming hole is the same way you got there. I didn't do the kayak run, but everyone should know that it is classified as an intermediate level run and will take approximately 4-5 hours. They stop renting out kayaks and canoes after 11:30, so get there early if that's your plan. read more

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honestly just a big pool, after 2 hours you get really bored. super crowded. if you plan on bringing a big float, don't. So many people give you dirty looks because the spring area is so small. read more

Juniper Springs Recreation Area - Parks Near Me - Silver Springs, Florida

BEAUTIFUL! My first experience at a spring and it couldn't have been more amazing!! :) The grounds are incredibly well kept /though/ the groundskeepers could have been more social and welcoming ((just my opinion)) I throughly enjoyed the walking trails. On my walk i saw tons of skinks, spiders, squirrels and fishes. I will be recommending this spring to anyone in the future :) read more

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Beautiful ! A designated swimming area located in the beginning . You cannot swim in the other areas ,however ,they are absolutely breath taking . read more

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