A Day at Silver Springs State Park - River Side

Park Overview

Silver Springs State Park, located in Ocala, Florida, is one of Florida’s first tourist attractions and now one of the most popular state parks. This park comprises 5,000 acres with a variety of activities for the whole family and is home to one of the largest artesian springs in the world.

Silver River Museum archeological exhibit - Silver Springs' first inhabitants

River Side

At the River side of the park, explore over 18 miles of hiking trails or take a journey through Florida history at the Silver River Museum & Environmental Education Center. This museum features a gift shop and three large galleries of historical and archeological exhibits, including Timucuan and Seminole tribal history, along with insights to the early days of Ocala and the formation of Silver Springs State Park.

Click here to learn more about the Spring side of the park:

Silver Springs - Spring side

Pioneer Village Silver Springs — Pioneer Village and 1930 Silver Spring School

After a hike in the woods or an educational tour, transport back in time to the Pioneer Village, where replicas of 19th century cabins, blacksmith shop, a cow camp, barn, and old schoolhouse are scattered across an open field among other settlement structures. There are also campgrounds and cabin rentals at the River side of the park.

Our Adventure - The River Trail

The 1.3-mile River Trail traverses dense forests of saw palmetto, red maple, and live oak, leading to a kayak launch at Silver River. We hike along a damp path covered in pine needles toward the river, where we pause for a magnificent view of bald cypress and Spanish moss. Silver River stretches over five miles, traversing the park amongst ancient cypress trees toward the spring head in the west and the Ocklawaha River in the east. The river trickles around cypress knees and winds out of sight blanketed in expansive swamps. There have been over 30 springs recorded in the upper part of the river, formed from ancient limestone.

Explore this jungle-like trail loop where wild monkeys are a rare sight and alligators lurk in the depths of Florida wilderness. Monkeys include the rhesus macaques, vervet, and squirrel species. Other animal sightings at the park include white-tailed deer, wild turkey, American alligator, gopher tortoise, river otter, river cooter, and a variety of birds and fish. Learn more at the Silver River Museum & Environmental Education Center.