Silver Glen Springs

Silver Glen Springs discharges about 70 million gallons a day from two vents at the edge of the Ocala National Forest — one of only thirty-three first-magnitude springs in Florida and widely described by Recreation.gov itself as "one of the most beautiful." The eastern vent sits at 18 feet; the southwest "Natural Well" drops to 40 feet. Both fill a semicircular pool of otherworldly clarity, with visibility routinely exceeding 50 feet.

East of the springhead, behind a fence that visitors must not cross, a series of earthwork mounds rise above the tree line. They are Timucuan shell middens — among the largest pre-Columbian archaeological sites in North America, dated to at least 10,000 years of continuous human habitation. Stone Age tools and pottery fragments have been recovered on-site.

The spring is beautiful. What came before it is remarkable.

• Location: Ocala National Forest (Marion County), on SR-19 between Salt Springs and Astor
• Address: 5271 FL-19, Salt Springs, FL 32134
• Hours: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. (summer); earlier close off-season
• Day-use fee: $14.50 per person (children 5 and under free)
• Weekend vehicle reservation: $20 per vehicle (Sat/Sun + holidays, Memorial Day–Labor Day)
• Water temperature: 74°F year-round
• Magnitude: First-magnitude (~70.5M gallons/day)
• Spring pool: ~200 ft × 175 ft; eastern vent 18 ft deep, Natural Well 40 ft deep
• Camping: Day-use only — no on-site camping
• Phone: 352-669-3522

• Ocala: 45 minutes (~30 miles east on SR-40, then north on SR-19)
• Orlando: 60–75 minutes (~67 miles northwest)
• Daytona Beach: ~75 minutes (SR-40 west, SR-19 north)
• Jacksonville: ~90 minutes (I-95 south to SR-40 west)

The entrance is on SR-19, roughly 6 miles south of Salt Springs village and 15 miles north of the SR-40/SR-19 junction. Cell service is unreliable — download your reservation and maps before leaving town.

Day-use is $14.50 per person at the gate (children 5 and under free). Federal America the Beautiful and Senior passes do not cover this concessionaire-managed fee.

Summer weekends and holidays (Memorial Day–Labor Day): A $20 per-vehicle reservation is required, purchased in advance at ReserveOcala.com (opens 14 days ahead at 10 a.m. ET). This is in addition to the per-person gate fee. The lot holds 95 vehicles and fills fast.

The Springs Hopper Pass ($80/year/person) covers Silver Glen, Juniper, Alexander, Clearwater Lake, and Wildcat Lake.

• Swimming and snorkeling in the wide, sandy-bottomed pool — one of the most visually stunning swim areas in any Florida spring. Gradual sandy entry is ideal for children; depth increases toward the vents. Scuba and free diving are prohibited. No lifeguards.
• Kayaking and canoeing Silver Glen Run — a 0.75-mile paddle east through a cypress canopy to Lake George (FL's second-largest lake). Canoe, kayak, and SUP rentals available on-site from Naventure.
• Boating from Lake George — shallow-draft boats can navigate the run upstream to the spring. Motorized boats must stay out of the swim zone.
• Hiking — Spring Boils Trail (0.75-mile round-trip to Jody's Spring, where you watch water erupt through white sand); the Silver Glen to Lake George Trail (3-mile round-trip); the Yearling Trail across SR-19 (4 miles through scrub-jay habitat).
• Archaeological viewing — fenced Timucuan shell middens east of the springhead, with interpretive signage. Do not enter or climb the middens.
• Picnicking — 58 tables and 30 pedestal grills under live oaks.

• General store (snacks, beverages, souvenirs, volleyball equipment rentals)
• Changing facilities near the parking area
• Portable toilets (no permanent restrooms due to underlying cave geology and cultural heritage sensitivity)
• Canoe/kayak/SUP rentals (Naventure)
• Bear-proof food storage lockers
• Volleyball net
• 95-vehicle parking lot

No overnight camping at Silver Glen. Nearest campgrounds: Salt Springs (~6 miles north, full hookups) and Juniper Springs (~20 miles south).

• Salt Springs village (~6 miles north on SR-19) — Salt Springs Pizza, grocery, gas, bait
• Salt Springs Recreation Area campground (6 miles north) — 160 sites including full-hookup RV
• Juniper Springs campground (~20 miles south) — 79 sites under deep shade
• Astor (~15 miles south) — riverfront cabin rentals on the St. Johns
• Ocala (~45 miles west) — full hotel and restaurant range
• Odd Todd's (SR-19 near Salt Springs) — casual dining
• Lena's Seafood (~19 miles west on SR-40) — beloved seafood institution since 1986
• Greg's Haystax (Altoona) — generous diner portions; good stop returning toward Orlando

• Reserve your vehicle entry for summer weekends. $20/vehicle, advance only, at ReserveOcala.com. Without a reservation, you may be turned away.
• The middens are sacred and protected. Do not enter fenced areas; do not climb or disturb the shell mounds.
• No pets allowed in the day-use area (Forest Order).
• No glass, no alcohol, no personal grills. Bags and coolers subject to inspection.
• Ticks are endemic. The Lake George Trail has been reported heavily tick-infested in recent seasons. Long socks, repellent, full-body tick check after hiking.
• Bears, wild hogs, and venomous snakes are present. Use bear-proof lockers; don't leave food unattended.
• Boat traffic on Silver Glen Run can be heavy on weekends. Paddlers and swimmers stay aware.
• Manatees visit in winter — cold-weather paddles from November through March may yield sightings near the Natural Well vent.
• No cell service. Download everything before leaving town.
• This is day-use only. All visitors must leave by closing time.

• Salt Springs (~6 miles north) — Mineral-rich 74°F spring; only full-hookup campground in Ocala NF.
• Juniper Springs (~20 miles south on SR-40) — CCC pool and the legendary 7-mile canoe run.
• Fern Hammock Springs (within Juniper Springs area) — Viewing-only spring with spectacular sand boils.
• Alexander Springs (~20 miles south on CR-445) — Only first-magnitude spring in any US National Forest.

Last verified: May 28, 2026. Summer vehicle reservations required weekends and holidays (Memorial Day–Labor Day). Verify fees, reservation availability, and current conditions at recreation.gov and reserveocala.com before visiting. Wikimedia Commons photos available in the Silver Glen Springs category.