Gopher Tortoise – Wandering Dawgs

After our four hectic days in Daytona we enjoyed a relaxing week at Silver Springs State Park. Up until the last day the weather was perfect for getting out and exploring the park.

There are two entrances to the state park. The main entrance (also called the historic entrance), on highway 40, is the location of the world famous glass bottom boat tours, a boardwalk trail, kayak and canoe launch and rental, a restaurant, meeting rooms, and paved trails on the beautifully landscaped grounds. The other entrance, on highway 35, leads to the campground, several hiking and biking trails, a day use area, The Silver River Museum, and a cracker village.

A trailhead next to the Silver River Museum is the starting place for the swamp trail and the river trail. We chose to explore the swamp trail first. This two mile loop trail took us through a lush tropical forest before crossing a boardwalk over the swamp. At the end of the trail is an overlook on the Silver River.

Swamp Trail, Silver Springs State Park

Silver River from the Swamp Trail Overlook, Silver Springs State Park

Another day we walked on the river trail to a different overlook on the Silver River. We returned by way of the river field loop which meanders along the Silver River before meeting back up with the main trail.

River Trail, Silver Springs State Park

The Silver river at the end of the river trail

A group of paddlers took a break at the river trail overlook

Pickerel Weed in the Silver River

Osprey beside the Silver River

We chose to drive to the main entrance instead of taking the 2 1/2 mile walking and biking trail. From the Ross Allen Boardwalk Trail we could watch the kayakers paddling out to Silver River. From the paved paths beside the springs we were able to look down into the crystal clear water. We continued along the path next to the river and stopped at another overlook before following the path beside gardens blooming with azaleas.

Ross Allen Boardwalk Trail, Silver Springs State Park

Silver Springs State Park

Glass Bottom Boat at Silver Springs State Park

Stepping Stones at Silver Springs State Park

Corkscrew tree at Silver Springs State Park

Sea Hunt overlook at Silver Springs State Park

Silver Springs State Park

One day we drove about 30 minutes to Juniper Springs Recreation Area for a swim and a picnic. Swimming in the 72 degree water was a great way to cool off on a warm day.

Juniper Springs

Relaxing at the campsite one day, we spied this gopher tortoise munching on the grass.

20190221-Site-58-Silver-Springs-Gopher-Tortoise-(2) — Gopher Tortoise, Silver Springs State Park

On Saturday morning, the Friends of Silver River State Park had a pancake breakfast to raise funds for their organization. After breakfast we took a tour of the cracker village, a replica of a 19th century settlement, and the Silver River Museum. The term “cracker” refers to the people who settled in Florida.

Church and Schoolhouse, Cracker Village, Silver Springs State Park

Cracker Village, Silver Springs State Park

Kiln, Cracker Village, Silver Springs State Park

The Silver River Museum and Environmental Education Center is a program of Marion County Public Schools. During the week, the museum is closed to the public while school children are attending classes. On some weekends, the museum is open to the public. The well done exhibits cover the history of the area from prehistoric days to the present.

We had planned to rent a canoe and paddle on the Silver River on our last day but we changed our plans when cold weather moved in. On our visit last year we took a glass bottom boat tour so we decided to skip it this year.

20190221-Silver-Springs-Boardwalk-Trail-(18) — Glass Bottom Boats, Silver Springs State Park

Tourists have been traveling to Silver Springs to see the crystal clear water since the early 1800’s. One of Florida’s first tourist attractions, the first glass bottom boat tours began in the late 1870’s. During the 1900’s the attraction grew to include a jungle cruise and animal exhibits.

Silver Springs was a popular filming location for Hollywood during the 1900’s. Some of the films shot there include several Tarzan movies with Johnny Weissmuller, the 1954 version of Creature from the Black Lagoon, and Moonraker (a James Bond movie). It was also a location for the TV series Sea Hunt. Some of the sets still exist around the property.

In 1971, Silver Springs was named a National Natural Landmark. Today, Silver Springs State Park is owned and operated by the state of Florida. The state operates the famous glass bottom boats now but there are no more jungle cruises. Visitors can walk beside the springs or sit in one of the rocking chairs to enjoy the view. There are boardwalks and trails as well as a boat launch area with canoe and kayak rentals.

This is one of our favorite Florida state parks and we wanted to spend a few days there to unwind after the excitement of the Daytona 500. We were able to reserve our favorite campsite and I was glad to see it hadn’t change much. There was gopher tortoise hole right next to the campsite just like I remembered and the resident tortoise paid us a visit our first night.

20180220Gopher-Tortoise-Silver-Springs-(16) — Gopher Tortoise by our campsite at Silver Springs State Park

One day we drove over to the main entrance of the park for a ride on one of the famous glass bottom boats. Captain Oscar has been working at Silver Springs since the early 1960’s and had lots of interesting stories about the park.

20180221Silver-Springs-Glass-Bottom-Boat-(9) — Entering Florida’s Silver Springs park

20180221Silver-Springs-Glass-Bottom-Boat-(11) — Glass bottom boat at Silver Springs

20180221Silver-Springs-Glass-Bottom-Boat-(28) — Captain Oscar has been working at Silver Springs since the early 1960’s

A look through the glass bottom boat

These statues were featured in a tv show and a movie

After the boat tour we wandered around the path next to the springs before taking a walk on the boardwalk trail.

Boardwalk trail at Silver Spriings

The trunk of this palm tree looks like a corkscrew

An unusual looking palm tree in the Silver River

Another day we rented a kayak for a beautiful paddle on the Silver River.

20180222Kayaking-(17) — Kayaking the Silver River at Silver Springs

20180222Kayaking-(9) — Although there are no more jungle cruises, this fort built for the attraction is still standing

20180222Kayaking-(23) — Quiet and peaceful along the Silver River

I felt like I was in one of the old Tarzan movies as I walked along the river trail near the campground.

Back in the 1930s during the day of the Jungle Cruise boat ride, the operator of the ride brought in a group of wild rhesus monkeys to use as part of the attraction. Not knowing they could swim, he left them on one of the islands beside the Silver River. When he later returned to the island he was surprised to see they were gone. The monkeys are still living in the area and are often seen by visitors.

Although we didn’t see any of the monkeys on this visit, we saw many of them when we kayaked down the Silver River in 2009.

20090226Canoeing-with-Adam-and-Hannah-(9) — Wild Rhesus Monkey along the Silver River in 2009

20090226Canoeing-with-Adam-and-Hannah-(11) — We spotted this baby Rhesus Monkey beside the river in 2009. He must be all grown up now.

The monkeys can be very aggressive at times. All around the park are signs warning about the danger of feeding the monkeys. Now where else in the United States would you see a sign like this?