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Top 5 Natural Wonders for Canoers & Kayakers

​As a destination with more than 600 lakes, rivers and springs, it is no wonder that Ocala/Marion County is the perfect place to enjoy a day on the water!

The area is ideal for boaters, kayakers, canoers and tubers alike to drift along the glassy, cool waters in picturesque surroundings. With so many options to be found, we took the time to highlight some of the best spots in the destination to kick back and float.

1. Rainbow River

Anchored by the stunning natural landmark of Rainbow Springs State Park , the Rainbow River in Dunnellon is a family-friendly river shimmering with silver and turquoise hues, surrounded by towering palm trees, ferns, gardens, and waterfalls. The river maintains a cool 72-degree temperature year-round, perfect for a refresh from those balmy Florida days. It’s the perfect place to enjoy swimming, snorkeling, tubing , canoeing, kayaking, and paddleboarding.

Rainbow Springs State Park is open 8 a.m. to sunset and has a variety of amenities including parking, restroom, showers, picnic pavilions, concession and restaurants, a playground and more.. There is a $5 entrance fee per vehicle for up to 8 passengers, and a $2 fee to enter the headsprings for guests ages 6 and older.

KP Hole Park is also on the spring-fed Rainbow River and is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in summer and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in winter. The crystal-clear waters are the perfect place for snorkeling, tubing, canoeing, diving, and boating. KP Hole also has an entrance fee of $5 per user and hand-launch vessels, $20 per motorized vessel, and $25 per person for a tubing package that includes entry fee, tube rental, and return shuttle service.

2. Silver River

Silver River is fed directly by Silver Springs , which is the largest natural artesian spring in the world, producing 550 million gallons of water per day. Located in Silver Springs State Park , the river itself allows kayakers, canoers, and paddle boarders to experience a natural forest surrounded by some of the state’s best-managed sandhills. Here, the clear waters and lush subtropical vegetation make this one of the most scenic rivers in Florida. Wildlife abounds at the river with manatees , turtles, otters, ospreys, anhingas, and more all seen along the banks.. Silver Springs State Park is the best access point for the Silver River, as it is home to a variety of amenities for boaters including canoe and kayak launches, paddling, rentals, shower stations, restrooms, and more.

The park is open from 8 a.m. to sundown 365 days a year, and a $2 per person fee is required for entrance. A fee of $4 is imposed for launching personal canoes or kayaks.

3. Juniper Run

Juniper Run is ideal for more experienced paddlers seeking a true aquatic adventure. This natural flowing spring is one of the top canoe runs in America, set under a dense canopy of old-growth forest. At about 7 miles long, the run provides an exciting and challenging day on the water. The first 1.5 miles are beautiful – swift, narrow and winding, with crystal clear, shallow waters. The middle section alternates between wider, deeper water and narrower runs, including a short rapid. At the bottom, it expands into impressive wetlands before arriving at Juniper Wayside. The entire trip can take anywhere from 4-5 hours. A variety of wildlife can be spotted along the banks including deer, otters, raccoons, alligators, birds, and black bears. Our tip: arrive early as the run can get very crowded, especially on the weekends. The Juniper Springs Recreation Area boasts picnic tables, toilets, drinking water and parking.

The canoe launch at Juniper Springs Recreation Area opens at 8 a.m. The latest you can arrive to launch a rented canoe and be picked up by the shuttle at the other end is 11:45 a.m. With your own canoe and self-shuttle, last launch is 4 to 5 hours before sunset. Canoe rentals are available at the concession stand until 11:30 a.m. In addition, no plastic bags or disposable containers are allowed including items such as chip bags and candy wrappers. Fees for the run are $42.00 per canoe or $47.00 per tandem kayak, which includes shuttle transportation. If you bring your own canoe or kayak, a $12 reverse re-haul fee is imposed and reservations are a must!

4. Silver Glen Springs

The Silver Glen Springs recreation area features a beautiful freshwater spring run and an important archaeological site, letting you experience the wild natural landscape with a taste of significant Florida history . Perched on the border of the Ocala National Forest’s Big Scrub, the sparkling clear waters remain a refreshing 72°F year-round. You can enjoy kayaking and canoeing as well as swimming and snorkeling in the tranquil spring, and the surrounding recreation area offers amenities such as drinking water, portable toilets, picnic tables and parking. During the summer months, Silver Glen Springs receives a high volume of visitors and life jackets or flotation devices are highly recommended for less experienced swimmers. Boats are not allowed in the swimming and snorkeling area.

The recreation area is open from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. with some seasonal variation. Entry costs $6 per person and on-site canoe rentals are available, but if you bring your own canoe or kayak, you can use the park launch at no additional charge.

5. Salt Springs

Salt Springs is another popular spring located in the lush, semi-tropical landscape of the Ocala National Forest. This recreational jewel is named after the naturally occurring minerals that rise to the surface from deep natural fissures in the earth, providing a slight salinity not found in other nearby springs. Boats and canoes can be rented at the Salt Springs Marina, or guests with their own canoes and boats can launch using the Marina’s ramp or the gravel ramp located at the back of the recreation area’s campground. The regulations of the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission apply to freshwater boating and fishing along the Salt Springs Run. In addition to boating and fishing, be sure to take a dip in the glittering blue-green waters of the Salt Springs basin within clearly marked areas.

The recreation area is open from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. with some seasonal variation. The Salt Springs Recreation area's day use fee is just $6.50 per person and includes use of the park amenities, including bathrooms and picnic tables. Parking at the Salt Springs Marina costs $10. Powerboats are not permitted in the spring area, and boaters and anglers are not permitted to enter the swimming area.

There is no shortage of spots to enjoy a day on the water in Ocala/Marion County! From lakes to springs to rivers, the destination offers up plenty of options to cool down in real Florida. Remember, with most places having no lifeguards on duty, swimmers should be comfortable in the water or use flotation devices. So grab your tube, kayak or canoe and plan a perfect day on the water!

• https://www.fs.usda.gov
• https://www.floridastateparks.org
• https://www.paddleflorida.net

Explore More

A Day on Rainbow River

Manatee Season in Ocala/​Marion County

Your Guide to Rainbow River Tubing in Ocala/​Marion County

The Ultimate Guide to Silver Glen Springs

Natural Springs Must-Do Activities in Marion County

A Guide to Glass-Bottom Boat Rides at Silver Springs State Park

Kayaking, Tubing, Canoeing & Boating

Canoes, kayaks, tubes, and boats of all sorts are available throughout the area, or bring your own and enjoy our many waterways, including 600 lakes, rivers and springs in the Ocala National…

Related Content:

Rainbow Springs State Park 19158 SW 81st Pl Rd Dunnellon, Florida 34432 United States

KP Hole Park 9435 SW 190th Avenue Road Dunnellon, Florida 34432 United States

Juniper Springs Recreation Area 26701 E Highway 40 Silver Springs, Florida 34488 United States

Salt Springs Recreation Area 13851 N Highway 19 Salt Springs, Florida 32134 United States

Silver Glen Springs Recreation Area 5271 N Highway 19 Fort McCoy, Florida 32134 United States

Silver Springs State Park 5656 E. Silver Springs Blvd. Ocala, Florida 34470 United States

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Juniper Springs Kayaking & Canoe Run in Florida | Ocala National Forest

Mar 14, 2020 | Adventure , Video

Juniper Springs has one of the best kayaking and canoe runs in Florida . On our recent car camping trip, we were looking forward to kayaking in Juniper Springs more than anything! It’s about as old-Florida as you can get paddling through untouched Ocala National Forest with old-growth trees, vibrant wildlife, and peaceful serenity.

We even floated near a couple alligators! ??

Juniper Springs in Ocala is famous for its seven mile canoe and kayak run and when you’re done kayaking, you can enjoy the crystal-clear swimming hole that stays a constant 72 degrees year round.

Check out the video and subscribe to our YouTube channel . It helps us make more videos for you!

Juniper Springs Kayaking & Canoe Run

It’s one of our favorite parks for kayaking in Florida, especially near Daytona Beach. We’ve paddled down that canoe and kayak run more times than we can count and it’s a different adventure every time.

How long does it take to canoe Juniper run?

Depending on your skill level and general fitness, it can take anywhere from three to five hours to canoe or kayak Juniper run. It’s worth noting that this is not a beginner’s course and we consider it at least an intermediate level course. Once you start, there’s no turning back or turning off. At some point on your trip, you might even need to get out of your boat to pull or push it over downed logs, or maybe a bathroom break.

We’ve had to for both on a few trips!

If you’ve never been canoeing or kayaking with a partner, this run can be a serious relationship tester for less-skilled paddlers. Some have even called them “divorce boats.” ? Not even kidding.

Steering is critical, especially for the person in the back of the boat since there are endless hairpin turns in the forest section that require sharp maneuvering. Be prepared to end up in the bushes at some no matter how hard you try!

Also one thing to note is you have to bring your canoe or kayak on a cart quite a walk down to the launch and then walk your cart back so you can pick up your life vests and whistle. After hours of paddling, at the end of your journey you also have to hoist your boat out of the water onto the dock to be put onto the shuttle bus.

How much does it cost to get into Juniper Springs?

At Juniper Springs , a kayak rental cost us $47 for a tandem kayak. A canoe rental was $42 and both also required a $20 deposit plus taxes. One big plus for people like us that don’t have a truck or trailer to bring our own kayaks is that they pick you up at the end and shuttle you back to the park which is included in the fee. If you bring your own kayak or canoe, there’s a $6 launch fee and a $12 pick-up fee to have them bring you back. For day use, it costs $5.50 per person to get into the park.

What kind of containers are you allowed to bring on Juniper run?

Short answer: Nothing disposable.

Before dropping into the water and starting the run, there are cooler checks to make sure no one brings anything that could end up polluting the waterways. Anything not specifically made to be a reusable container won’t be allowed and also no glass. So that means, no wrappers of any kind, cans, glass bottles, or disposable plastic bottles.

That starts to get a bit confusing, but as long as you bring plastic “reusable” containers you should be good to go. Also no alcohol. You might be able to get some things past if you don’t get checked, but it’s not worth the annoyance.

Can you swim at Juniper Springs?

Yes! At the main recreational area, there’s a large natural swimming pool where you can swim and snorkel. On the Juniper canoe and kayak run, we’ve seen people swimming, but only in the clear areas. We don’t like to swim because of the next item on the list, alligators.

Are there alligators in Juniper Springs?

Yes! If you go on the canoe & kayak run you will most likely see an alligator or two resting on a bank in the sun. Most of the time we saw alligators at about the halfway point around a bend and didn’t see any more on the last quarter of the adventure. But just because you don’t see them, doesn’t mean they aren’t there which is why we don’t like to swim on the run.

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