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Exploring the Beautiful Salt Springs Recreation Area in Ocala National Forest

Salt Springs Recreation Area is one of the highlights of the Ocala National Forest.  The forest is just north of Orlando and is the perfect day trip for nature lovers!  It is a great spot for hiking, paddling, swimming and camping.  Within the forest there are four crystal-clear, picturesque springs just begging to be explored!  The springs are Juniper Springs, Salt Springs, Silver Glen Springs, and the lovely Alexander Springs.

One of our favorite things about Salt Springs is that it is perfect for families!  Most of the swimming area is actually quite shallow- once you get away from the entrance area. The park also permits floats, which makes the springs extra fun for kids!  We found a cove across from the entranceway and it was the ideal spot for our littles.

The closer you get to the spring vent, the deeper- and rockier- the water gets.   Rows of limestone rocks line the floor the the springs- almost as if an earthquake rumbled through the area causing a massive ancient ruin to collapse.  Other rocks look like giant fingers reaching out from the underworld.  It’s really quite magical!   These rocks allow you to stand around the vent, which can be very slippery at times.  You’ll probably want to pack some water shoes with you!  These will help protect your feet from the rocks and the blue crabs that inhabit the area.

Several visitors tried their hand at diving into the spring vents only to find they were almost immediately forced back up to the surface by the pressure.  Salt Springs is a 2nd magnitude spring which pushes about 55 million gallons of water out through the four vents.  That’s a lot of water pressure escaping through these small caverns!

The water at Salt Springs is a constant 72-degrees, which can be quite an adjustment in the summer months.  Once you’re in the water though, you’ll acclimate quickly.  You probably may have guessed by the name that the springs are a little salty.  The water is nothing like you’ll find at the beach however, it does have some salinity to it due to natural magnesium, sodium, and potassium salts.

Yes! There are most definitely alligators in the springs. And snakes. In fact, a rule of thumb here in Florida is that you should assume that there is an alligator in every body of freshwater.  That being said, alligators typically want nothing to do with you.  They are completely content laying on the bank of the spring catching some rays.  As long as you don’t approach them, you’re typically fine. Even during the summer, when the springs are jam-packed with people, there will be alligators present.  They tend to situate themselves outside of the run (where you can’t swim or tube) so that they don’t have to deal with you.  Chances are, if you kayak, canoe, or paddle board, you’ll spot a gator sunning on the banks.

What Animals Live at Salt Springs?

Around the springs you’ll find bears, racoons, deer, and an impressive number of vultures.   Inside the springs you may find fish, otters (in the early morning hours), turtles, and alligators.  During the winter months, you may also spot a manatee.  The spring is also well-known for having blue crabs.  These crabs are a small reminder that Florida was once completely underwater millions of years ago.  This is also why you can find shark teeth in Central Florida!

Where is Salt Springs Located?

The springs are a part of the Ocala National Forest.  Salt Springs  is easily accessible as a day trip from Orlando, Daytona, and Jacksonville.

Physical Address:  13851 SR 19, Salt Springs

Visiting Information

The hours vary by season so be sure to check their website to plan accordingly. During the summer months it is typically open from 8 AM until 8 PM.

The current fees are:

Weekday Day Use:  $8/person
Weekend Day Use:  $11/person

What is there to do at Salt Springs?

It goes without saying that most people visit this park to visit the springs.  This is a great spot for swimming and snorkeling.  

Other activities include hiking, camping, boating, and fishing.  

Hiking:  There is a 1.4 mile Bear Swamp Trail loop that begins near the campground.  There is also the Salt Springs Observation Trail which is a 1.9 mile easy loop.

Camping  There are over 150 campsites at the park.  In fact, Salt Springs is home to the largest campground in the Ocala National Forest.  

Boating & Fishing:  Just outside of the park, you’ll find the Salt Springs Marina.  Parking is $10 and the site features a boat launch and kaya rentals.  There is not boating, paddling, or fishing permitted in the swimming area, so if you want to get your pole or paddle wet, you’ll have to do it here.

Fun Fact:  The above mentioned marina butts up to the edge of the park.  Many of the locals enjoy the springs from the boat launch rather than the park because it is more cost effective.  

Nearby Springs

The four springs of the Ocala National Forest all are within a 30 minute drive of each other.  Many visitors choose to “spring hop” and visit more than one spring in a day.  We like to take things a little slower, however, so we pick just one spring to visit each day.

When is the Best time to Visit? 

The springs are phenomenal year round!  If you want a glimpse of the manatees, come during the winter (January and February seem to be peak times).  If you want to kayak, canoe, or paddle board you can do so year round, but you’ll find it less crowded in the cooler months.  Just remember that you’ll have to launch from the marina next door as the park doesn’t allow paddling within its boundaries.

If you’re brave, you can swim year round.  The water temperature is the same all year.  Florida’s weather is really inconsistent in the winter.  We can go from being in the 80s one day to the 50s the next.  As long as you can handle the outside temperatures when you exit the springs, you can absolutely swim in the springs 365 days a year.

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