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    Juniper Springs Recreation Area

    3.8 (89 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

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    Feet in the spring---with minnows bumping my feet
    Dawn D.

    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.

    Shelby W.

    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.

    Leah A.

    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!

    Juniper spring
    Joel C.

    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.

    Pool book

    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 $$!

    Family picture while camping
    Max C.

    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.

    Juniper Springs
    Tamara P.

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

    Bridge to springs
    Jesus S.

    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.

    See it!
    Rob S.

    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.

    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.

    Ellie W.

    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.

    Mill house
    Melissa C.

    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

    Entry... really nice gals!
    C P.

    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!

    The swimmin' hole!

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

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Juniper Springs Recreation Area

    Is it dog friendly?

    No dogs allowed unless they are service dogs from what I witnessed.

    Are dogs allowed?

    No only service dogs

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Juniper Springs Recreation Area

    Crystal-clear water, shady trails, and total calm at Juniper Springs in Ocala National Forest.

    Mentioned in 5 reviews

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    Riverwalk Park - Nice boardwalk path leading you to the small, beach strip at the end.

    Riverwalk Park

    4.5(2 reviews)
    88.4 mi

    I had an enjoyable visit to Riverwalk Park and Nature Center in Rockledge. This 6.37 acre community…read morepark is now a family friendly, nature centered destination that will inspire a love of the outdoors among its youngest visitors. It wasn't always that way. In 1999 the park was named Hoo-Hoo Park from a fraternal order of lumbermen called Hoo Hoo International that contributed to the building of the park's boardwalk. A Sheriff's Office sting operation arrested 32 men on sex charges. Over 300 people were charged with improper sexual activities during the 10 years the park was open. Brevard County closed the park and worked on rebranding it for the community with a new name, Riverwalk Family Park. They added a nature center and invested $275,000 in park improvements. Today this a destination anyone who loves nature would be happy to visit. I started out in the charming nature center where I met Tommy, Pringles, and Chips, the resident turtles who swam right up to the glass to say hi. The nature center has displays about the animals and plants that live near the Indian River, maps and information on other local nature parks, and it also offers nature programs. On the day I visited they had binoculars for use in the park and free water color painting set up. Behind the nature center is a 915 foot boardwalk that takes you to the Indian River Lagoon. Although it is shorter compared to other nature boardwalks in Brevard County, it is the perfect length for the same children who would enjoy the nature center. In 2016 Riverwalk Park received a $20,000 grant from the National Recreation and Park Association. They used the money to build a Nature Explore Classroom set between the trees of the nature preserve. The interactive play zones radiate around a central grassy area with an old tree stump as the focal point. Some of the areas are a water play area, plants and play, a deck for tree forts, and musical instruments. The park also has a picnic pavilion, restrooms, and a butterfly garden.

    Excellent little boardwalk path. Fun to enjoy when no one else is there…read more I love the unique rock formations by the water, though I was surprised how short the walk is. Wish the boarded path would lead over the ravine and into a nice picnic/play area. I like how some of the plants along the walk are marked. Did not appreciate the cigarette butts by the water. This isn't the park's fault, but all it takes is one negligent person to destroy everything.

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    Riverwalk Park
    Riverwalk Park
    Riverwalk Park

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    Falling Creek Falls - spiderweb with water droplets with waterfall in background

    Falling Creek Falls

    4.4(8 reviews)
    93.7 mi

    It's very nice waterfall when there's enough water to actually fall. A cute little park for the…read morekids to play picnic area for parties and a nice walk in the woods to the fall.

    Small little Columbia County Park co-managed with Suwannee River Water Management District- this…read morepark has a boardwalk out to view the falls, picnic tables, a playground and a historic building- a church. Parking lot is small- can hold maybe 20 cars, this park is north of Lake City and right off I10. I had read about this little known waterfall recently and when we stopped at a gas station for a pit stop, I saw the sign and off we went! Directions: Travel north on US 41, pass under I-10, turn right on NW Falling Creek Road; travel 1 mile. The park is on the right before crossing the creek. The boardwalk splits at one point for a loop that leads parallel to the creek, while the other (clearly marked Falls with an arrow) leads to overlook the falls. It's only a quarter mile hike in and you will hear the water before you see it. Rusty- dark color water flows down the creek, the limestone rock worn from the water. The forest around is lush and green. The only critters we saw was one turtle, spiders galore and a butterfly. We heard birds- but I didn't spot them. Tiny little pit stop gave me some great photo opportunities! I recommend bug spray if you are heading out!

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    Falling Creek Falls - Foam from waterfall

    Foam from waterfall

    Falling Creek Falls - Chocolate river

    Chocolate river

    Falling Creek Falls - Chocolate waterfall

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    Chocolate waterfall

    Blue Springs Park - The platform for jumping off (not gonna say diving because not a proper dive platform) on a nice spring day.

    Blue Springs Park

    4.4(11 reviews)
    62.3 mi

    County-owned and run park with a beautiful natural spring. There is a "dive platform", which I put…read morein quotes because as a platform diver myself, it's not high enough to be a proper dive platform but still you can do basic stuff or just jump off. Most of our state parks sadly have removed their dive platforms (Fanning, Madison Blue, Gilchrist Blue) so it's nice to find one. There are picnic tables and a I think a playground for little kids plus a sand volleyball court which gets very popular on weekends. Actually, the entire place gets very popular on weekends and I'd advise going on a weekday if possible. Otherwise, it's super-crowded and mostly rowdy teens. There are a lot of fish in the springs but if you want to freedive or snorkel and see them, come on a weekday, ideally in the morning. Once kids come around after school, the dive platform is the highlight and there's enough kids jumping off it to make the water very murky so you won't see anything then underwater. Tips: --It's cash-only, $2 admission for adults, not sure what for little ones. --No footballs: volleyballs are allowed, but no footballs! I asked why and was told by the girl at the concession stand "two boys playing football trampled a Karen who complained". So yeah, that. --The focus is very much on family fun: again, if coming to see nature come on a weekday, ideally early. --If you dive/jump off the platform, swim clear off it immediately. There's likely a middle schooler jumping right after you. Some run, jump, and don't look down and I've been hit before by flying tweens. --The road leading to the park is pretty long and paved. People drive like proverbial bats out of hell on it, 60 MPH or more. Be careful.

    The good is it is a nice family swimming hole. With extras like volleyball ball, play ground and a…read moredock the kids jump off of. So many here is supposed to be another her so here goes. Police were there a lot so they have security law enforcement to keep the peace there.

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    Blue Springs Park
    Blue Springs Park - You can dive off the dock

    You can dive off the dock

    Blue Springs Park - Always beautiful!

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    Always beautiful!

    Cedar Lakes Woods and Gardens - While you walk the gardens be sure to say "Hi" to Fuzz Ball, and look for soft paws.

    Cedar Lakes Woods and Gardens

    4.6(90 reviews)
    48.7 mi

    What a gorgeous park for people to visit!…read more A former quarry, this is now a tierd garden of beautiful flora and fauna. The fountain at the bottom is truly the centerpiece. At Christmas they did a gorgeous job of lighting up in holiday lights. And if you're like me, You go looking for painted rocks ala the Kindness rocks project.

    This was a fun walk around a garden that must have seen better days - or today was a dry day. We…read morehad fun, it was an old quarry where the owner envisioned and created a cool upper and lower path around and filled with some water, waterfalls, koi fish, swans, ducks, turtles, and oodles of plants: some unique some local- and even a Japanese stile garden with Tori gate et all. Today we didn't see the center fountain many admired, and sadly the water levels must have been low as the cascades were thin (at best). Nonetheless- we had a good time walking about and spotting an old bonsai tree, some Japanese-style bridges, and even a slithering water snake! How exciting!! In all it was a fun stop that broke our long drive from Tallahassee to Fort Lauderdale, so we had a good time. Entrance fee was a bit steep at $ 12 (for what was offered imho) and there is a veteran/military discounted admission ($6)but make sure you have your DD214 or Retired ID to show or else you will Not qualify. Enjoy!

    Photos
    Cedar Lakes Woods and Gardens
    Cedar Lakes Woods and Gardens - Picturesque scenery

    Picturesque scenery

    Cedar Lakes Woods and Gardens - Fuzz ball is one of many cats that consider our garden home.

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    Fuzz ball is one of many cats that consider our garden home.

    Juniper Springs Recreation Area - parks - Updated May 2026

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