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.

I drove through here on the way home from the Panhandle. It reminded me of what I thought Florida…read morewas like when I was a child growing up in Massachusetts. Forrests and springs, fishing, canoeing, swimming, and yes, gators. There are over 400,000 acres in the Ocala National Forest. It needs more than one visit to fully explore this wonder. There are many opportunities for camping and backpacking. I want to come back soon to go on a nature hike. Like Dave O. says, this is the wilderness so don't be naive. You must go in prepared with water, protein snacks, and emergency supplies. This is not Disney, this is the real Florida adventure.

Another spot of beautiful nature in Wild Florida…read more I love going on nature hikes, and this trail has plenty of wildlife and plants to see. Even with the paths seeming wild and free, they're easy to follow and I wasn't afraid of getting lost.

Labor day 2018 stayed here for the long weekend found the park just as described on the website…read more owner and staff very friendly and easy to check in. campground is well-maintained nice pool, Jacuzzi, restrooms with showers, and laundry facility very well-maintained. Other campers very friendly and you feel very safe here. We will be back.

Great park and great staff. Had a great time at some of the many functions. Great rates, too!read more

Very nice place to stay, the laundry room, bathrooms and showers are very clean. Gated community.read more

Great little camp ground next to the Santo mountain biking trail head. also conveniently located to…read morethe Greenway trails for hiking and horseback riding. Not a whole lot to do in the campground itself but if you are into biking, hiking, horseback riding, bird watching or just chilling at your campsite, this ciuld be the place for you.. This camp ground is located adjacent the start of the Greenway trail... Where there are miles of trails, both paved and wooded, for you to enjoy no matter which activity you prefer... The campground itself is small and mainly set up for RVs and trailers.. Most are pretty open but there are a few sites set back in the woods just enough to feel like your in the forest... Each site has electric and water as well as a picnic table and fire ring... Only things I can complain about are the location, middle of nowhere (or this ciuld be a plus) and the trains that pass nearby several times a night, blowing their horns. They sound like they're in the park... All in all this is a perfect place to get away for a little break.. Cheers..

I am reviewing based on camping in an RV. There's no sewer…read morehook up, only a dump station. Otherwise I would give them a higher rating. Lovely, peaceful campground with small hiking trails. If you're actually into BMX, then this is your spot. We were just looking for a campground close to Don Garlit's drag racing museum and so the lack of a pool and a playground and sewer hook up affected our rating.

This RV park is really nice. The camping pad is spacious. In fact, I've never seen them this…read morelarge. Plenty of space to walk the dogs without having to run over to the dog park with a senior dog. It also has some awesome trails and clear river . Really beautiful. Totally recommend this camp site.

Awesome place concrete pads plenty of space in between RV's. Didn't use the pool or other amenities…read morebut we did take our dogs on hikes around the park. The park has long tree covered trails and borders a river that comes from silver springs. The water was clear and beautiful.

The park has a pool and hot tub, Both managers were awesome and very welcoming, The road leading to…read morethe park is short but rough, the managers fix them but the next rain tears it up again, They are doing upgrades, they keep the services running and respond to maintenance issue immediately. The bathrooms are cleaned daily, but some campers are not very sanitary when using the facilities, but the bathroom is clean the following day. They have laundry facilities that are a welcome sight, The sites are roomy and well maintained, The electric has been upgraded recently, This is the only RV park that allowed me to stay with three miniature dogs, Most parks allow 2 dogs only less than 60 lbs. They have a lot of permanent campers, they are nice campers. The managers keep a good handle on things and are on top of any issues. I would stay here again.

I've paddled the Emerald Cut a few times now. Initially I didn't like the idea of paying to launch…read moremy own paddleboard. However, it's only $10 now that I have my own life jacket (saving me additional cost of $5 to use one of theirs, as required). Well worth the low cost for some soul-enriching, communing with nature. I have never made a reservation. I normally arrive around 10:30, most recently on a Friday. Parked for free on Baptist Camp Rd. Just a bit of a walk from there with my inflated paddleboard, but I don't mind the extra exercise. You can unload your stuff closer, if preferable. There are port-a-potties available. You can count on there being a line in the check-in office. Various recreation supplies are available there for purchase. The process moves reasonably enough. A reservation will guarantee your entrance, however, and possibly aide quicker personal info collection. I always plan to do the Emerald Cut in roughly 3 hours round-trip, allowing myself several stops to enjoy the surroundings. You do run into (quite literally at times) novice paddlers along the way, which can be a bit tricky, yet not a real nuisance for me. In general, there's friendliness along the waterway. Slighty rowdy, party vibes in some spots, but also opportunities for solace and zen in various nooks. Encountering wildlife, fragrant elderberry, and other captivating flora along this stretch is always gratifying. It's a popular recreation destination for good reason.

Many tourists don't realize Florida is home to stunning crystal-clear spring rivers--perfect for…read moreswimming, kayaking, and tubing aka "hidden gems". My Hubby and I love kayaking, so we booked an excursion months in advance for Rock Springs through TripAdvisor. Our Tour Operator was Get Up And Go Kayaking located at Kings Landing in Apopka, FL. I LOVE saying Apopka ;) The good news: Apopka is a quick 1 hour drive from Orlando. Make sure you don't miss the turn to King's Landing, because the entrance is located on a narrow dirt road. You must drive past Kelly Park (which fills up fast). There is a Park Ranger located here who will guide you to King's Landing. As you get closer and if you see a parking spot, grab it! Check in is located in the Cabin like office where you will have to sign a waiver. If you do not want to take a clear bottom, guided Kayak tour, you can either rent or BYO Kayak versus taking a semi private, clear, guided kayak tour. NOTE: ONLY use their Sunscreen/lotion which is provided at no cost. It protects the wildlife and the Springs. We wanted the full experience as we have previously enjoyed renting clear Kayaks. Our guide for the morning was: Megan, who was fantastic! Full of energy, information and helpful tidbits about the Springs and its human and wildlife inhabitants. Our group was small and capped at 10. We paddled through both narrow and open stretches, and stopped to swim in the warm, crystal-clear water. One highlight was a banyan tree with an 8-foot natural "jump hole"--such a cool experience! It was a serene, memorable day, and fun fact: this is the very spring featured in the Visit Orlando commercials! Yeah, definitely take a day away from crowded Orlando to relax and enjoy Mother Nature! You will Thank Me ;)

My husband, son, and I spent the weekend here and had a very enjoyable stay. We stayed 4 nights at…read morethe RV resort. We arrived after 7 pm, the gate was closed so we had to call the after-hours number. Someone answered promptly, and a couple of employees were driving around in a gold cart and let us in and even guided us to our site. Check out was through text and was easy. The resort is clean and quiet, and every spot can fit a full class A motor home, so there is no worrying that they might not have a spot to accommodate your rig. The resort had a large pool, tiki bar, office with a pool table, ping pong, games, and an exercise room. Unfortunately, the hot tub was out of order during our stay. Everything else seemed to be in good working order. I thought it was really convenient that they will pick up your trash as long as you set it by the street by 10 am. Rating from F to A +++. I give it an A+++.

Worse Regional Manager. let me start by saying we have gone…read morethere for 3 yrs as snowbirds. This year was the worse and we will not be going back next year. They brought it a Regional Manager Janine, and the place has gone downhill ever since. No more food trucks, limited activities, and now having to pay for any arts and crafts. This was a luxury resort, but not anymore. The sites are great, pool is nice and pickleball courts are always being used in the mornings. But when you take away all the little extras, it slowly goes downhill. Hopefully the owners will figure out how to correct these things and people will return