Juniper Springs Recreation Area
Astor
Camp, Canoe, Hike, Kayak, and Swim
Juniper Springs sits in the middle of the Ocala National Forest on State Road 40, about 12 road miles west of Astor, and it is one of the oldest developed recreation sites in the eastern national forests. The Civilian Conservation Corps built it in the mid-1930s: a stone-rimmed swimming pool set directly over the spring vents, a bathhouse, picnic grounds, and a millhouse whose waterwheel once generated electricity for the campground from the spring's own flow. The millhouse still stands and serves as an interpretive exhibit.
The pool is oval, roughly 135 feet long by 80 feet wide, and drops to about 16 feet at the deepest point. The bottom is sand and exposed limestone, pocked with small caves and vents where water pushes up in visible boils. Juniper Spring discharges around 7 million gallons a day on its own. Add neighboring Fern Hammock Springs, a short walk away, and the combined flow into Juniper Creek runs about 13 million gallons daily. The water holds 72 degrees year round, which reads as cold in July and mild in January. Clarity is good enough that a mask and snorkel earn their space in the bag.
Fern Hammock is arguably the prettier of the two, a shallow blue basin with dozens of sand boils visible through the surface, but swimming there is not allowed. Only the main Juniper pool is open for swimming.
This is a Forest Service fee area run by a concessionaire. Day use is $14.50 per person plus tax, free for children five and under, with an $80 annual pass sold on site. The gate closes at 8 p.m. March through October and 6 p.m. November through February. The spring pool is open year round. The boardwalk along the spring run has been closed for repairs, so do not count on walking that loop until the Forest Service says otherwise.
Past the pool there are 79 tent and RV campsites under live oak and cabbage palm, flush toilets, hot showers, picnic tables, a nature trail, and a segment of the Florida National Scenic Trail running north into the Juniper Prairie Wilderness. The seven mile Juniper Run canoe trail launches here and takes out at the State Road 19 landing, three to five hours of paddling down a narrow, twisting, overhung channel. The Forest Service is blunt about it: Juniper Run is not a beginner route. Exit points are nearly nonexistent once you commit, deadfall blocks the channel regularly, and you will be climbing out to drag the boat over logs. Rentals and a shuttle are available at the concession.
Alligators live in Juniper Creek and along the run, which is a large part of why swimming is confined to the spring pool. Black bears are common throughout this forest, so food goes in the bear-proof storage. Pets and alcohol are prohibited in the day use area. Summer weekends fill the lot early, and when it fills the gate closes.
More Information
Juniper Springs
The Southern Region includes 13.5 million acres of public lands across 13 Southeastern states, from Texas to Virginia to Puerto Rico. Wildflower Viewing Areas in the Southern Region feature glimpses of this region where you may see and enjoy wildflowers.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/regions/southern/JuniperRun/index.shtmlJuniper Springs Campground + Recreation Area — Naventure
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https://www.naventure.com/juniper-springs-campground-recreation-areaJuniper Springs Rec Area, National Forests in Florida - Recreation.gov
Explore Juniper Springs Rec Area in National Forests in Florida, Florida with Recreation.gov. Juniper Springs Campground is one of the most popular campgrounds in the Ocala National Forest. The location offers deeply shaded sites within walking distance
https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/234031National Forests in Florida | Juniper Springs Recreation Area | Forest Service
Juniper Springs is one of the oldest and best-known recreation areas on the East Coast. Located between Ocala and Ormond Beach along SR 40, this complex of swimming and picnic area, campground and trails was constructed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. This setting houses hundreds of tiny bubbling springs and massive springs gushing out of crevices in the earth beneath a dense canopy of palms and oaks, an oasis within the heart of the desert-like scrub ecosystem.BoatingJuniper Run is a narrow, winding waterway set under a dense canopy of old-growth forest and few places solid enough to get out of your canoe. Just before the take out point near SR 19, the waterway broadens to encompass wetlands teeming with wading birds and wildlife.CampingWho doesn't love camping under a dense canopy of live oaks? Juniper Springs is one of the nation's top destinations for camping, not just because of the many activities available on site but also for its well-shaded setting.Interpretive AreaAs a Civilian Conservation Corps-era recreation area and campground, Juniper Springs is a historic site with an interesting story to tell. Stop in the old Mill House to learn why and how the swimming area and campground were built, and how the mill used to provide electricity for the campground.Nature WatchingThe dense, jungle-like forests surrounding Juniper Springs and Juniper Run - as well as the waterway itself - are home to wildlife that you might not commonly see elsewhere. Among the more interesting residents of our natural communities are the albino gray squirrels seen near the Mill House, the otters that play along the edges of the spring run and the American eels that migrate out to the Sargasso Sea to spawn, returning to Juniper Springs to live. SwimmingJuniper Springs is notable as a crystalline pool of spring outflow, shallow at one end and deep enough to jump into at the other. Natural tapegrass grows along the bottom of the spring. Don't be surprised to see an American eel amid the greenery.Day Hiking / Walking / BackpackingBackpackers often use Juniper Springs as a stopping-off point while working their way along a 72-mile unbroken segment of the Florida Trail.Current Boardwalk area is closed to the Public for necessary renovations. Please stay tuned for project updates and related detours in the area.This site is operated by Naventure.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/r08/florida/recreation/juniper-springs-recreation-areaUnforgettable Experiences: Juniper Springs Recreation Area — National Forest Foundation
While wandering through the desert-like Big Scrub throughout the Ocala National Forest, you may be dreaming of crystal clear waters and cool shade. If you make your way to the Juniper Springs Recreation Area, you’ll find it’s not a mirage. This palm- and oak-covered oasis offers pristine swimming areas that are refreshing to both the body and the eyes.
https://www.nationalforests.org/article/unforgettable-experiences-juniper-springs-recreation-area/Be courteous, informed, and prepared. Read trailhead guidelines, stay on the trail, and don't feed the wildlife.
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- Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Travel & camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimize campfire impacts
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of other visitors
Directions
- Get directions on Google Maps
The spring pool at Juniper Springs, held at 72 degrees year round by about 7 million gallons a day o
Swimmers in the stone-rimmed pool the Civilian Conservation Corps built over the spring vents in the courtesy of US Forest Service - Southern Region↗ (Public domain↗)
Sand boils and exposed limestone on the floor of the spring, visible through the clear water. courtesy of Ianaré Sévi↗ (CC BY-SA 3.0↗)
The millhouse waterwheel, which once generated electricity for the campground from the spring run. courtesy of Berwin↗ (CC BY-SA 4.0↗)
The millhouse and waterwheel photographed by the Forest Service in 1937, looking toward the bathhous
The spring run below the day use area, winding through cabbage palm toward Juniper Creek. courtesy of Miosotis Jade↗ (CC BY-SA 4.0↗)
Other Swimming Holes, Hiking Trails, Canoeing Areas, and Kayaking Areas Nearby
Ocala National Park
Chiefland, Florida
10.8 miles SEClear springs in the Ocala National Forest maintain a constant 72°F year-round — a brisk and refreshing swim in any season, with fees at all locations.
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Salt Springs Recreation Area
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Ponce De Leon Springs State Park
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21.3 miles EA splendidly clear spring pool, aquarium-bright with guppies, with changing rooms and a famous on-site pancake house — a Florida gem with a $3.25 entry fee.
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Blue Spring State Park
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27.9 miles SEA spring-fed run with a gentle current carrying swimmers under overhanging trees and Spanish moss to the St. Johns River — with possible winter manatee sightings and a raised boardwalk for non-swimmers.
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Rock Spring
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32.1 miles SEA spring-fed Florida tubing run past a barred cave and through clear cold water — sometimes closed due to bacterial counts from animals, so check ahead before visiting.
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Wekiwa Springs
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34.0 miles SESwim near Apopka, Florida
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Apopka Area
Apopka, Florida
36.0 miles SESeveral springs in the area north of Apopka — a fee-based cluster of natural swimming spots in central Florida.
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Rainbow Springs State Park
Dunnellon, Florida
43.9 miles WA large first-magnitude spring feeding the crystal-clear Rainbow River — swim, snorkel, or rent a canoe to paddle downstream past the headspring through gorgeous water the entire length.
Swim
