We packed our things for a beautiful day with lots of sun in a natural pool, with turquoise blue water, full of springs. Today we are going to share with you how our day was at Silver Glen Springs – Ocala, Florida.
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Where is Silver Glen Springs
Silver Glen Springs is an arm of the lake george, belongs to Ocala National Forest, in the state of Florida. It lies between Jacksonville to the north, Daytona Beach to the east and Orlando to the south.
Ocala has several lakes or “Springs” as they are called, with springs and forming natural pools.
buy your snorkel to take to Ocala
Snorkels are commonly used in water activities such as snorkeling, scuba diving and open water swimming. It allows the practitioner to breathe while observing the underwater environment, keeping the face submerged and avoiding the need for sudden movements to breathe. This makes for a smoother, more enjoyable experience when exploring coral reefs, marine life and other underwater landscapes.
Distances to Silver Glen Springs
- Orlando to Silver Glen Springs: 120km
- Miami to Silver Glen Springs: 470km
- Tampa to Silver Glen Springs: 200km
- Ocala to Silver Glen Springs: 62km
- Jacksonville to Silver Glen Springs: 150km
How to get to Silver Glen Springs?
Here is the address on the map, click on it and it will guide you through your current address.
How much does the ticket cost to go to Silver Glen Springs?
Entry fee is USD $12 per person.
What are the hours of operation for Lake Silver Glen Springs?
Open daily from 8am to 8pm. But check before you go if the park is open, in addition the hours can change according to the time of year.
What's inside Silver Glen Springs park?
The park has public restrooms (no shower), picnic tables, barbecue grills, a small shop with basic items, a sand volleyball court, trails inside the park and a camping area.
Is it safe to swim in Silver Glen Springs?
Yes, it is safe to swim in the lake and enjoy a cold shower.
It has a demarcated area for bathers which separates the deeper area and also the yachts and boats. However, if you don't know how to swim, it's ideal to go in with a buoy, as there are deeper areas that cover the whole body.
Are there alligators in Silver Glen Springs?
Yes, but they are unlikely to be in the bathing area, they are usually far away, the animal that appears most frequently is the manatee.
Are there bears in Silver Springs, Florida?
They can appear, but it is in a low possibility, if they appear they are: coyotes, lynx and the Florida black bear.
What is the depth of water in Silver Glen Springs?
The deepest area of the bathing area can reach 3 meters. The area that is isolated is more than 5 meters.
Can you drink alcohol in Silver Glen Springs?
It's not forbidden. If you have a cooler, those responsible for the park will check to see if it has alcohol.
What to Pack for a Day in Silver Glen Springs
A super important item is the snorkel. As the water is very transparent, it is possible to see the fish at the bottom of the lake, a snorkeling trip is fascinating. An animal that you can find there is the manatee, don't be scared, because it is not a danger to humans, take the opportunity to register 📸.
Don't forget your bathing suit, flip flops and something to eat and drink.
Can I bring food into Silver Glen Springs?
Yes. It is allowed to bring a cooler and power supply. The only thing that is prohibited: alcoholic beverage.
Inside the park there are picnic tables and barbecue grills, you can take everything you need to spend a whole day like: coal, meat to roast, water, soft drinks, etc.
Enjoy and take one network, it is possible to place it between the trees, or an air mattress to sleep a nice afternoon sleep 🙂
The park provides drinking water.
What is prohibited inside Silver Glen Springs?
Below is the list of prohibited items:
- alcoholic beverage;
- Pet;
- access the area of middens (they are demarcated by wooden fences around the lake), these areas mark an important archaeological site and sacred space for Native Americans;
How to Enjoy a Day at Silver Glen Springs Lake
Get ready to enjoy the day in a natural pool with transparent water and a turquoise blue color. Swim among the fish and enjoy a sunny day.
Tip: go early. When we went, we waited 4 hours to enter the park, because the parking lot is very small, so you have to wait for someone to leave for you to enter. Our wait was well worth it. And lucky we had food in the car, we had a picnic outside the park.
Other tip is go in hot days and with a lot Sun, the water temperature is around 22ºC, and believe me, it is very cold. So if it's sunny, you don't feel it so much, but if it's cloudy, you won't be able to stay in the water for long.
Inside the lake there delimited areas for the safety of bathers, so respect! Another important point is that it has an area for bathers, an area for stand up, and another for boats such as speedboats and jet skis. Respect each space to avoid accidents.
Tip: if you want to ride a stand up, take your board, it will be fun!
In the park it is also possible to hire kayak and canoe.
How to access Lake Silver Glen Springs?
Upon entering the park, leave your car in the parking lot, after paying your entrance fee, you will follow a trail and reach the lake. following by left side it has an access ramp, super easy to enter.
Animals You Can Meet at Silver Glen Springs Park
A fauna full of birds, bears, raccoons and crows, salt and fresh water fish, manatees and squirrels.
important tip: take care of your food, because animals can steal it from you.
You will find bear-proof bins, to prevent them from eating leftover food or carrying garbage into the middle of the forest. The ideal is Never leave your items alone.
A day at Silver Glen Springs – Ocala
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