When Silver River State Park opened within the early Nineteen Eighties, the River Trails had been the primary footpaths to be established to the Silver River.
The path system quickly expanded to incorporate the park’s intensive upland habitats, with routes modified and partially renamed by 2026.
The unique archway dates to the park’s openingEach of those unique trails supplied completely different takes on on the Silver River’s movement.
With the Swamp Path absorbed into the longer, newer Silver Path, our focus for the “River Trails” shifts to the unique oldie, the two.3 mile River Path.
It drops into the floodplain, reaching a river touchdown in a mile earlier than looping by means of a bottomland paralleling the river’s movement.
The overlook is on a bend on the Silver RiverAssets
Overview
Location: Silver SpringsLength: 2.3 milesTrailhead: 29.200623, -82.035628Address: 1425 NE 58th Avenue, OcalaFees: $8 per vehicleRestroom: On the trailheadLand Supervisor: Florida State ParksPhone: 352-236-7148
Open 8 AM to sundown. Leashed canine welcome. Cyclists share these trails.
Instructions
Hike
Start your hike on the massive kiosk labeled Trailhead and seize a map. Stroll down the slope to the split-rail fence.
Flip proper, passing an assemblage of classic buildings from across the county whereas strolling alongside the sting of the Pioneer Village.
TrailheadEmerge on the parking space for the Silver River Museum, open to the general public on weekends.
Observe the broad sidewalk to the doorway marked River Path. A well-worn footpath results in a path junction with the newly named Silver Path.
Begin of the footpathBear proper to start the River Path, strolling beneath tall southern magnolias within the hardwood forest.
Move a bench earlier than the path empties out onto a forest highway behind the cabin space. Flip left.
Among the many magnoliasThe graded highway descends into the floodplain forest the place Marshall Swamp flows in the direction of the Silver River.
It’s a colourful stroll in early winter from leaves altering on the purple maples and sweetgums.
Descent to the floodplainAt 0.4 miles, attain a junction with a big kiosk and signage. The newly designated Silver Path continues straight forward into swamp.
Make a left to comply with the path to the river on a graded causeway surrounded by swamp.
Path junction at kioskGaining elevation, emerge onto excessive floor between swamp and river, topped with cabbage palms and floodplain bushes.
The blue posts proceed down a causeway rising at a grassy open space with a big sheltered bench and kiosk at a mile.
Sheltered benchStraight forward is a boardwalk resulting in a touchdown on the Silver River. Kayakers cease right here for a relaxation break when paddling up from Ray Wayside Park.
A paddle from there to the springs and again once more is a seven-mile spherical journey, or as pals joke, six miles upriver, one down.
Paddlers on the touchdownWith its lengthy bench, the statement deck above the touchdown gives an important view of each fowl and human exercise on a curve within the river.
Go away the boardwalk and switch left to comply with the blue posts on a mowed path by means of the riverside forest.
Begin of the bottomland loopWhen the river recedes after a flood, squishy spots and dirt puddles dot the footpath.
Orange-hued chalky bluestem grass waves beneath the cabbage palms. Worn paths afford views of the river and its rafts of lilies up shut.
Bottomland pathTall cypresses rise on the far shoreline. Taking facet paths, be aware that alligators and water mocassins just like the river edge, too.
A bench sits in a clearing at a really showy overlook beneath the bushes.
The perfect overlookPrevious the bench, the trail curves away from the river, coming into a dense palm hammock.
Looping west, it as soon as once more turns into a grassy ribbon between cabbage palms and purple maples.
A bench within the bottomland forestEmerge from the loop at 1.7 miles on the clearing with the sheltered bench. Flip left to exit alongside the causeway by means of the floodplain.
Assembly the Silver Path on the kiosk, flip proper. The route stays shared up the highway, turning into the forest earlier than the park cabins.
Exit to the parking space and to the trail previous the Pioneer Village, ending this 2.3 mile hike on the trailhead.
Returning by means of the forestPath Map
Discover Extra!
Study extra about Silver Springs State Park
Silver Springs State Park One of many world’s largest and deepest springs, Silver Springs pours out greater than 550 million gallons of water every day, forming the Silver River.Slideshow
See our pictures from the River Path
Close by Adventures
Path Map (PDF) Reserve Campsite Official Web site
Articles collectively researched, written, and photographed by Sandra Buddy & John Keatley, Florida authors and publishers of FloridaHikes.com.
