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    Ocala National Forest

    4.0 (32 reviews)

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    Dave O.

    Exploring the Ocala National Forest requires preparation, as beautiful as it is it's not a county or city park that you just drive up to park and enjoy. The thousands of acres are intriguing to me this forest actually covers over 441,925 acres or 609.5 square miles (as an example of its size Houston, Texas is approximately 637 square miles) this forest is a place I love going off road and exploring areas of the park that maybe inaccessible to the majority of those that venture into this forest but I never take it for grand-it or go unprepared. My 2004 Jeep Wrangler TJ is built for the terrain that encompasses the majority of this National Park, with its off-road over size 33.5" tires, a lift kit and a FOX aftermarket suspension that's rugged and strong, a robust four wheel drivetrain with custom drive shafts and universal joints, a powerful winch and rigging and a strong and a dependable supercharged engine that provides almost double the stock horsepower, but that's only part of it, I grew up exploring remote locations so my experience is the other part of the equation I'm as confident that I'll make good decisions as I am in my equipment. With all of this I still must be prepared to survive the elements so I always carry plenty of water and protein snacks, a backpack filled with emergency supplies and I wear the proper clothing and footwear even for a planned day trip and lastly personal protection. Once I go off-road I'm entering the unknown and an environment that can be hostile with (bears, snakes, alligators, coyotes, wild boar, bobcats and monkeys (yes monkeys) and the the unfriendly plants and insects (Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, Poison Sumac, Stinging and Wood Nettle to name a few plants to avoid and as far as insects fire ants, scorpions, spiders, mosquitoes and yellow jackets), and unfortunate there's also the criminal elements these are all things I don't want to encounter these hazards with only a pair of hiking sticks or a pocket knife, even if it has a nail file lol so you may want to carry a pistol and / or a rifle if you are qualified and trained, this is legal in the forest if you follow the State of Florida laws, if you can't or don't want to carry I suggest you maybe stick with the county parks and beaches, this is the wilderness so don't be naive. Okay so you're ready to have fun then you've definitely come to the right place whether you hike in, have a ATV or other off-road vehicles this place is a natural playground and filled with amazing structures and trails that will provide you with an unlimited opportunity of adventure and it can all be done safety if you're prepared. I personally love the remoteness, the endless number of trails that will challenge you on every level but most of all I love the beauty of nature. When was the last time you experienced total isolation from the outside world, no noise pollution, no people interactions, no communication, it's such a unique experience and definitely outside the norm for most of us, the adrenaline rush starts with the moments of unsettling thoughts but that passes pretty quick knowing you are prepared, for me it's reconnecting with nature, for some it's maybe the first time they ever disconnected so enjoy the gift that's before you. I'm sure you'll discover somethings you've never experienced and hopefully see things you've never seen before, so whether it's a few hours or a few days this place will provide you with memories that will last a lifetime...

    Old pine farms that are now being converted to forest
    Rob S.

    Old pine farms take up most of the flora of the region with palm bushes under all the canopies. Like oaks and springs are oasis which are throughout the Forest. Hunting here can be dangerous, the locals during hunting season are not the friendliest and I witnessed alot of spot lighting at night for deer. The Forrest service does a great job of managing the forest with controlled burns. Saw a black bear mom with her cubs, they came down and drank from a small pond, incredible to watch.

    Amy R.

    After driving around for hours in what seemed like the middle of nowhere looking for decent places to snorkel, we were finally guided to Alexander Springs. What an amazing place to swim and snorkel. Drove up paid our fee which I think was about $3 to park asked the kind woman about snorkeling and she told us where to go and also affirmed that there were alligators in the area, but most likely wouldn't come out until dusk or until they got hungry- Great. We set up on the sand, put all of our snorkel gear on and slathered on some SPF and swam out to the hot snorkeling spot. There were a bunch of other people snorkeling also, so I was happy thinking maybe the alligators would go for them first if they ever made an appearance. The water was nice, The clear part was super deep. I think another snorkeler said it was about a 40 foot drop. I did my fair share of snorkeling, but must admit I was a pit paranoid and afraid of running into an unwelcome alligator even though I was the visitor in their habitat. Note to self and potential visitors. Avoid watching when animals attack prior to going snorkeling. The park was clean with not a ton of people. A nice little area to change, bathrooms etc. Would definitely go back and visit. So many great things to see underwater.

    Glass bottom boat tour
    Brian M.

    Inexpensive and nice glass bottom boat tour. We did the half hour tour which our captain did in 45 minutes which we didn't mind a bit. Educational and fun at the same time

    Primitive camping in ONF
    Keith R.

    Ocala National Forest is the jewel of Central Florida, if you love the outdoors you will really be in heaven here!!! Camping, fishing, canoeing & kayaking the lakes & springs, miles & miles of forest roads & trails to explore.... My favorite is the primitive camping you can really get back to nature!!!

    Backpacking in the Juniper Prairie Wilderness in Ocala National Forest

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    6 months ago

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    7 months ago

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    1 year ago

    Pretty fun day riding ATVs, hope to come back soon, pretty big place to explore and enjoy nature around!!!

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    2 years ago

    Went riding through the forest in our jeep. Awesome weather and saw some deer. Definitely a fun time.

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    9 years ago

    Well run, clean campgrounds and great camping. Some trails too close to highway in spots. Very nice!

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    Review Highlights - Ocala National Forest

    My girlfriend and I always love driving up to Ocala from South FL for a few days of backpacking and camping.

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    Silver Springs State Park - Cabin 5 back porch

    Silver Springs State Park

    4.3(61 reviews)
    2.6 mi

    Walking the trails was peaceful and scenic, with lots of shade and chances to spot wildlife (we saw…read morea few monkeys in the distance, which was wild!). The whole park is well-maintained, and the staff were helpful and friendly. Whether you're kayaking, hiking, or just relaxing by the springs, it's a great day trip that feels like a little escape into old Florida.

    I liked this state park enough to buy a handsome t-shirt in the gift shop. The shirt doesn't say…read moreFlorida on it anywhere which is pretty funny to me and actually makes me like it more. The waters here are absolutely lovely but even on a weekday in late December they were pretty heavily traveled. It might not be fair but the place being clogged with so many of my fellow pesky humans is the only thing that keeps me from putting SSSP in the vaunted five star category. I kayaked the river and saw birds and a gator. Bout time I saw a Florida gator in the wild! Only took five visits. I also got right over a manatee. I thought they were a big rock til they started moving. I could have clubbed em with my oar if I wanted to though it seems like that would be not just cruel but stupid, too. At any rate, no wonder they're endangered. Poor sluggish, dumb creatures. There were quite a lot of other kayakers and canoeers on the water. The guy dressed like Santa was pretty hilarious but for most of the trip I was denied the splendid isolation I longed for. Needless to say, the glass bottom boat tour didn't appeal to me, even with the clear view down. Beautiful scenery, though. Checking in and out was quick and painless even if the separate entrance briefly threw me for a loop. Afterwards I hiked a shorter trail and it was pretty mid, nothing special. For a while it ran too close to a road which kind of ruins the whole thing for me. And there was the aforementioned gift shop, chock full of wares. There was another t-shirt I liked a lot and had trouble choosing between the two, always a good problem to have. It's the end of the review here and I probably should have said this at the beginning but the entrance sign is just lovely, very classy and retro. I can see why this is a local icon but as an out of state visitor I don't know if this place has the staying power for many repeat visits for the locals. I was glad I came here once though. Funny to think this park is what Stevie Nicks wanted Lindsey Buckingham to be. Jk.

    Photos
    Silver Springs State Park - FWC Wildlife Rule-

    FWC Wildlife Rule-

    Silver Springs State Park
    Silver Springs State Park - Glass bottom boats, you make the rockin world go round

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    Glass bottom boats, you make the rockin world go round

    Silver Springs State Park - Glass Bottom Boat Tour Pick-Up

    Silver Springs State Park

    4.4(321 reviews)
    2.4 mi

    My parents were reminiscing about when they were middle school aged and came here for field trips…read more I was surprised to find out that Silver Springs State Park and the glass bottom boat tours have been around for that long! It was about a 1.5 hour ride from Orlando. Woke up real early on a Saturday (on honestly one of the coldest days of the year) to arrive at the park around 8am. I highly suggest purchasing glass bottom boat tour tickets online about a week in advance atleast since time slots fill up! We purchased the 1.5 hour tour on the boats. Our tour guide was incredible and shared so much knowledge and facts about the wildlife and park. I got to see tons of manatees! Plus getting to see gators, turtles, birds, and even monkeys! The glass bottom gives such a cool perspective on viewing the wildlife and plants underwater. Aside from the tour, we walked several trails to enjoy the great outdoors. Also, we had coffee in the morning when we first got here and lunch after the tour. The food was pretty good and filling. At the gift shop I made sure to leave with a magnet and Christmas ornament to remember such a great day here.

    What a breathtaking location! From the parking lot, it doesn't look like much. They are redoing the…read moreentrance sign, and from the outside, it seems like the place might be pretty rundown. However, once you walk through, you are quickly transported. The entrance to the park is only two dollars per person, and honestly, in my opinion, they could charge just a little bit more. The glass-bottom boat tours run faster than you might expect, so if you have the time (which we didn't during our visit), opt for the longer boat ride; it doesn't cost much more. They also have little shops to explore and plenty of outdoor seating so you can take in the beautiful surroundings. If you're a water lover, make sure to plan ahead and reserve a crystal-clear kayak or paddleboard to enjoy the water--it'll be worth every penny. The only hiccup in our plan was that we booked everything on the day of our visit, so we ended up with a shorter tour on the glass-bottom boats and got locked into the last kayaking time slot. The woman at the reservation desk for the kayaks was not very pleasant. She told us that despite showing a 5 o'clock slot, they were no longer taking reservations. I showed her the option on my phone, but she still refused to let us sign waivers. Luckily, we found the manager in charge of the rental hut, who advised that we could still make our reservation online. I showed him on my phone, and although we'd have to pay full price and probably have less than an hour, that was perfectly fine with us since we were in the last slot. The lake was practically empty, so we had the entire waterway to ourselves--so beautiful and peaceful. Honestly, it felt like we were in another country, surrounded by nature. If you don't have the chance to kayak, there's also a walking path where you can see monkeys left behind from one of the movies that was filmed on location. We walked part of the path, and it was just as beautiful. Any chance my kids and I get to be outside in nature, we gravitate towards it, putting away our phones to enjoy everything around us. What a great way to spend your day and your vacation!

    Photos
    Silver Springs State Park - Entrance

    Entrance

    Silver Springs State Park
    Silver Springs State Park - Boat launch area

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    Boat launch area

    Ocala National Forest - parks - Updated May 2026

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