Explore, relax and recharge at Silver Springs State Park.
People have been coming to Silver Springs for many thousands of years for a variety of reasons. Some relied on the clear waters and abundant wildlife for survival, while others sought adventure or relaxation.

The earliest evidence of people is at least 12,000 years old and includes distinctive Ice Age “Clovis” style stone spear points and implements carved from the ivory of extinct mammoths. Back then, the Silver River did not exist as we know it today due to much lower sea levels. It was likely a series of spring-fed watering holes that would attract people and the game animals they pursued.
Centuries later, when water levels rose, the river took its present form and was used as a travel route in the days before modern roads. Native Americans in dugout canoes, Spanish explorers and pioneers in rowboats, and riverboat captains piloting their paddle-wheeler vessels, would have been common between Palatka and Silver Springs.
In recent decades, Silver Springs became a destination for promoters, tourists, film crews, scouting groups and scientists. In the last 11 or 12 years, the park has become a mecca for those wanting to experience the tranquility of natural Florida, or to recharge themselves through outdoor activities such as kayaking and camping.
In 2013, the Florida Park Service assumed management of Silver Springs itself and merged it with the existing Silver River State Park. At that time, the combined land was renamed Silver Springs State Park and it is truly one of the jewels of our state park system. The current parcel includes close to 5,000 acres of diverse habitat. The area is even connected to the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway, which is an impressive 110-mile linear park that extends from the Gulf of Mexico across the peninsula to the St. Johns River.
Today we are fortunate to have such a wonderful resource right in our own backyard. A quick view of the webpage for the Silver Springs State Park provides an overview of the opportunities to see the “Real Florida” as they say in the park service. These are organized into “experiences,” which includes things to do, and “amenities” such as campgrounds, gardens and playgrounds. Icons found on the website provide details and useful information for visitors. Collectively, they represent a wide variety of ways to play, exercise, relax, view nature or gather with friends and family.
Not surprisingly, most experiences are found outdoors and involve nature-based recreation. One can ride a glass-bottom boat or kayak (bring your own or rent one), explore hiking trails, search for geocaches, mountain bike, camp, observe wildlife, go horseback riding and more. While the equestrian trails within the park are designed for riders who can bring their own horses, Cactus Jack’s Trail Rides does offer guided trail rides on the nearby Cross Florida Greenway.



These vintage posters are from the 1950s and ‘60s and are in the Silver River Museum collections. Photos courtesy Scott Mitchell
During the cooler months, kayaking is a major draw and it is not unusual for paddlers to share the river with manatees. Public tours of the Pioneer Village at the Silver River Museum are also offered in Fall and Winter. Tours are free and are scheduled for every second and fourth Saturday at 10am (park admission fees do apply). In the summer, the museum offers a speaker series on that same schedule. Topics include birding, ecology, fossils, local history and Native Americans, to name a few.
The amenities found in the park make for a safe and enjoyable visitor experience. Camping sites include tent and RV spots with full hookups, comfortable cabins with all the amenities and a primitive group camping area. The park also boasts several picnic pavilions large enough for groups, an amphitheater, several boardwalks extending out over beautiful stands of cypress, garden paths, a playground, a kayak launch, interpretive exhibits, a visitor’s center, an education room, a banquet hall with a view of the main spring and the Silver River Museum.
As we enter the new year and begin planning our family outings or vacations, let us not forget all the great resources in our own backyard. Silver Springs State Park is truly a place that makes it easy to get outdoors, relax and recharge.
Learn more at floridastateparks.org/silversprings for park info and to book camp sites or cabins, and at silversprings.com for information about boat tours and kayak and facilities rentals.

Scott Mitchell is a field archaeologist, scientific illustrator and director of the Silver River Museum & Environmental Education Center at 1445 NE 58th Avenue, inside the Silver River State Park. Museum hours are 10am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday. To learn more, go to silverrivermuseum.com