Silver Glen Springs features crystal clear water and an approachable, sandbar vibe suitable for all ages.

While busy with people, this park is often packed with aquatic life, my favorite being the huge schools of striped bass that hang out right next to the spring head. Snorkeling here is awesome, and hiking is available from the same parking lot.

Silver Glen Springs at a glance: Day use is $14.50 per person plus tax (kids 5 and under free), and on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day you also need a $20 vehicle reservation from ReserveOcala.com (as of October 2026). The gate opens at 8 a.m. daily and closes based on daylight. It’s 1 hour 17 minutes from downtown Orlando, and the 95-space lot fills fast, so arrive at 8 a.m.

Quick Facts

Silver Glen Springs	Details
Location	5271 FL-19, Salt Springs, FL 32134, on the west side of Lake George in the Ocala National Forest
Entrance Fee	$14.50 per person plus tax; kids 5 and under free; $80 + tax annual day-use pass (October 2026)
Vehicle Reservation	$20 per vehicle on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, Memorial Day weekend–Labor Day (ReserveOcala.com)
Hours	Opens 8 a.m. daily; closes based on daylight
Drive from Orlando	1 hour 17 minutes from downtown (Google Maps)
Water Temp	72°F year-round
Depth	About 18 feet at the swimming spring head; the roped-off Natural Well is 40 feet deep
Activities	Swimming, snorkeling, hiking, picnicking, paddling, boating
Wildlife	Striped bass, turtles, mullet, bream, alligators, and manatees seasonally
Not Allowed	Pets, alcohol, glass, personal grills, scuba diving, and freediving
Best For	Swimming, kids, and boat access from Lake George

Know Before You Go

• Summer weekends need two payments. Buy the $20 vehicle reservation online at ReserveOcala.com (it opens 14 days ahead at 10 a.m.), then pay $14.50 per person plus tax at the gate. The reservation is refundable up to 48 hours ahead, minus a $2 fee.
• Every other day is first-come, first-served until the 95-space lot hits capacity.
• There’s no cell service, so save or print your reservation before you leave home.
• No pets anywhere in the recreation area, and no alcohol, glass, or personal grills. Bags and coolers can be inspected. Use the pedestal grills instead.
• Snorkeling is welcome; diving isn’t. Scuba and freediving are prohibited, and the Natural Well and the secondary spring are roped off.
• Bears and raccoons are active. Don’t leave food on picnic tables.
• Fuel up first. There are few stores or gas stations nearby; set your GPS to paved roads to avoid sand roads.

Who Should Visit Silver Glen Springs?

Families, first-time spring visitors, and snorkelers will love Silver Glen. You can start by wading, the swimming area is huge, and the striped bass put on a show right at the spring head. Boaters on Lake George get the most social version: it’s a sandbar party on summer weekends.

Who Should Skip It?

Skip Silver Glen on a summer weekend afternoon if you want quiet water or a natural feel, or if you can’t book ahead. Skip it if you want to scuba dive, bring a dog, or have a long, peaceful paddle; for that, go to Juniper Springs, 11 minutes away.

Things to Do at Silver Glen Springs

This spring is great for swimming, snorkeling, boating, and hiking. There are 58 picnic tables and 30 pedestal grills, but show up early as this spring fills up.

Swimming and Snorkeling at Silver Glen Springs

Swimming here is approachable as you can start by wading. I enjoyed swimming laps around the spring head on a less crowded day.

The water is refreshing, but cold. We find that the best way to approach the 72-degree water is to hike first to get hot, then just jump in. It is comfortable once you fully dunk your head and body.

Snorkeling is welcome and is a memorable way to see the wildlife present here. There are signs posted prohibiting free diving and scuba diving at these springs, and you need to stay inside the marked swimming area to protect the sensitive underwater habitat.

Kayaking, Paddling, and Boat Access

Kayaking and paddleboarding are possible here outside the swimming area. Silver Glen Run flows 3,300 feet (about 0.6 mile) from the swimming area to Lake George.

Honestly, there is extreme boat traffic, especially on weekends and holidays, and I would skip this kayaking trip in favor of other nearby paddle trips like Emerald Cut to Wekiva Island, Ichetucknee, or Silver Springs.

Conversely, this would be a great place to bring your boat to drive up to the springs. It’s a sandbar party. On major holidays you will see police boats present. Boats must stay out of the roped swimming area, which is the spring pool itself.

Boating rules as of October 2026: boating and anchoring in the run are still allowed. FWC proposed a Springs Protection Zone in 2024 that would have banned anchoring, mooring, and beaching in the spring, but pulled it in May 2025 after the Legislature raised the bar for creating one (the 2025 Boater Freedom Act). Check FWC’s boating page before you go, since this could come back. 

How Deep Is Silver Glen Springs?

The spring head that is open for swimming is about 18 feet deep. The Natural Well, a vertical cave opening in the southwest corner of the pool, is about 40 feet deep and 12–15 feet across, and it’s roped off. The rest of the pool is a shallow, sandy wading area, about 200 feet across.

Part of the spring	Depth	Can you swim there?
Main spring head (east vent)	About 18 feet	Yes, snorkeling only (no scuba or freediving)
Natural Well (southwest corner)	About 40 feet	No, roped off
Wading area around the pool	Shallow, sandy	Yes
Jody’s Spring boils (Spring Boils Trail)	Small sand boils	No, view from the boardwalk

Best Time to Visit

Summer is super busy, as are afternoons. If you are here for the party vibes and are willing to wait in line, come in the afternoon. If you want a more natural, less crowded feel, visit in the mornings.

Season	What to expect
Late March–April	Our pick: the weather starts to warm up, but summer has not quite hit yet
Memorial Day–Labor Day	The busiest stretch; vehicle reservations on weekends and holidays, and the most boats in the run
September–mid-October	Our second pick: summer is over, but the heat remains
Winter	Quiet, 72°F water that feels warm on a cold day, and a chance at manatees

Silver Glen Springs Entrance Fee and Reservations

The Silver Glen Springs entrance fee is $14.50 per person, plus tax, and kids 5 and under get in free (as of October 2026). Day use fees here are steep, so I would show up early and make a day of it. If you visit the Ocala National Forest springs often, the $80 + tax annual day-use pass covers all four.

Reservations are required on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. In 2026 that ran from May 23 through September 7. The $20 vehicle reservation is on top of the per-person fee, opens 14 days ahead at 10 a.m., and guarantees entry for the whole day, with in-and-out privileges. Every other day, entry is first-come, first-served until the lot fills.

Ocala National Forest Springs: What Each One Costs

All four Naventure-run springs in the Ocala National Forest charge the same per-person fee, but only two need a summer vehicle reservation. Prices as of October 2026:

Spring	Day-use fee	Summer vehicle reservation	Gate hours	Drive from Orlando
Silver Glen Springs	$14.50 per person + tax; 5 and under free	$20, Sat/Sun/holidays, Memorial Day–Labor Day	Opens 8 a.m.; closes based on daylight	1 hr 17 min
Alexander Springs	$14.50 per person + tax; 5 and under free	$20, Sat/Sun/holidays, Memorial Day–Labor Day	Gate closes 8 p.m. March–October, 6 p.m. November–March	1 hr 7 min
Juniper Springs	$14.50 per person + tax; 5 and under free	None; first-come	Gate closes 8 p.m. March–October, 6 p.m. November–February	1 hr 16 min
Salt Springs	$14.50 per person + tax; 5 and under free	None; first-come	Gate closes 8 p.m. March–October, 6 p.m. November–February	1 hr 30 min

The $80 + tax annual day-use pass is sold at the gate and covers all four.

Silver Glen Springs Hours

Silver Glen Springs opens at 8 a.m. every day and closes based on the length of the day, so expect an earlier close in winter. The park staff will inform you when it is going to close. Parking is limited and quickly fills up, so on summer weekends without a reservation, you may not get in at all.

Silver Glen Springs Directions: How to Get There

Silver Glen Springs is located at 5271 FL-19, Salt Springs, FL 32134 on the west side of Lake George in the Ocala National Forest. From downtown Orlando, it’s 1 hour 17 minutes by car (Google Maps, October 2026).

While I enjoy the drive through Ocala National Forest, there are not many stores or gas stations around Silver Glen Springs, so make sure you get groceries and fuel ahead of time. Ensure that your GPS is set to paved roads only if you do not want to take dirt roads here.

By boat, the spring is at the end of the run off the west shore of Lake George. I recommend launching from the Astor ramp.

What to Bring

Silver Glen Springs is very beginner friendly, and you do not need to bring much. For the best experience, pack the following:

• Cash or credit card
• Swimsuit
• Towels
• Mask and Snorkel
• Food and Drinks
• Crocs or sandals
• Hiking shoes
• Your phone
• Sunscreen
• Fins if you want a boost swimming down to see the striped bass
• Wetsuit if you are sensitive to the cold
• Floaties for the kids

Tips to Avoid Crowds

To avoid crowds, visit Silver Glen Springs during the shoulder season from mid-March through April and from mid-September through October. Arrive at 8 a.m. and preferably on weekdays, but for the best experience avoid holidays. When we arrived around 8:30 on a March morning, the lot was only half full; by noon it was really crowded.

Where to Stay Nearby

There’s no camping at Silver Glen Springs itself; it’s day use only. Camping is available elsewhere in the Ocala National Forest, including Salt Springs, 13 minutes north, but keep an eye out for ticks. There are cabins and rentals available near Salt Springs too.

Silver Glen Springs makes for a great day trip from Orlando. DeLand is a great place to stay too, and you can visit De Leon Springs while you are in the area.

Nearby Things to Do

There is plenty of recreation available in the Ocala National Forest. The best ways to experience this huge National Forest are swimming in springs, hiking trails, camping, kayaking, offroading, mountain biking, and scenic drives.

Other Springs Near Silver Glen Springs

If you are into Springsmaxxing, three other major springs in the Ocala National Forest are less than 20 minutes away. Drive times are from Silver Glen (Google Maps, October 2026):

Spring	Drive	Why go
Juniper Springs	11 min	In the heart of the forest, with eels and an iconic kayak run
Salt Springs	13 min	Mediterranean feel with blue crabs and slightly salty water
Alexander Springs	19 min	Beginner friendly, great for the whole family
De Leon Springs State Park	29 min	Known for the Old Sugar Mill Pancake House
Silver Springs State Park	38 min	Known for its glass-bottom boats and monkeys
Blue Spring State Park	57 min	One of the biggest winter homes of manatees

Hiking Trails Near Silver Glen Springs

Parking at Silver Glen Springs, there are two trails that you can easily access: the Silver Glen Springs to Lake George Trail and the Spring Boils Trail. The Yearling Trail is right across the street.

Silver Glen Springs to Lake George Trail

This trail takes you from the parking lot to Lake George. There is one major turn-off, which takes you to a beach area at Lake George. The main trail arrives at Lake George, then continues north along the water.

The trail was nice but not well maintained as of writing this in April 2026. In fact, until they clean up the trail, I would just hike to Lake George and back and totally skip the stretch that continues north along the lakeshore. That stretch is severely overgrown, on sketchy, eroded tree roots, and very thick with ticks and spiders.

I would plan for one hour to go roughly 2.7 miles, including time you spend taking pictures. Make sure to check yourself well for ticks, we averaged one per person per half mile of trail. Most of them arrived at the overgrown stretch running parallel to Lake George.

This trail is good for viewing Lake George, the second largest lake in Florida, and is especially useful for working up a sweat prior to jumping in the springs.

Spring Boils Trail

The Spring Boils Trail starts right at the swimming area and takes you through the woods to an area of spring boils, known as Jody’s spring.  A spring boil is a small, bubbling spring coming up through the sand.

The trail ends on a boardwalk that takes you to the Spring Boils, and signs tell us this is what Silver Glen Springs might have started as thousands of years ago. The signs also tell us that swimming is not allowed in the spring boils.

This trail is very short, less than a half mile each way. Expect to complete this approachable hike in a half hour.

The Yearling Trail

The Yearling Trail is right across the street from Silver Glen Springs and runs through the Juniper Prairie Wilderness, with a 3.5-mile short loop or a 5.5-mile full loop. While not shaded, this trail takes you through scrub jay habitat, and you are likely to see Florida’s only endemic bird. We have not hiked this trail yet, but plan to on our next trip to Silver Glen Springs.

Restaurants Near Silver Glen Springs

There are not a lot of restaurants near Silver Glen Springs. I would recommend eating an early breakfast at home and packing a lunch if you plan to stay through the afternoon.

If you are an early springs-goer like me, and you are passing through Altoona on your way to Orlando, I would very strongly recommend a local diner known as Greg’s Haystax, 26 minutes from Silver Glen. The food was very reasonably priced, tasty, and hit the spot after swimming in circles for an hour at Silver Glen. I plan to return when we are in the area again.

Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Clear water and great snorkeling with lots of fish	Crowds, especially summer weekend afternoons
Huge, wadeable swimming area that works for kids	Limited parking (95 spaces)
A social atmosphere with boating and a sandbar party feel	Expensive entry: $14.50 per person, plus $20 per vehicle on summer weekends
Two trails from the parking lot	Ticks on the Lake George Trail

Sample Itinerary

I would recommend a half day at this spring, as follows:

8 AM: Arrive and park

8:15-9:45 AM: Hike the Silver Glen Springs to Lake George, then the Spring Boils Trail

9:45-11:00 AM: Swim, Snorkel, and have a blast in the water

11:15AM: Drive home and stop for brunch

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Silver Glen Springs worth visiting?

Absolutely, especially if you want a relaxed, party atmosphere in your springs day.

How much does Silver Glen Springs cost?

$14.50 per person plus tax, with kids 5 and under free, plus a $20 vehicle reservation on summer weekends and holidays (as of October 2026).

Can you swim year-round?

Yes, and the water is a constant temperature year-round.

Are there alligators?

Possibly, they are rare in the main swimming area. They are 1000% present and large in Lake George, I would avoid swimming there.

Do you need reservations?

Yes, but only on weekends and holidays between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Plan to show up early on other visits due to limited parking opportunities.

Can you bring a dog?

No. Pets aren’t allowed anywhere in the recreation area.

Are there manatees at Silver Glen Springs?

Sometimes, in the cooler months. The spring is designated critical habitat for manatees.

Are there bathrooms available?

Yes, there is a bathroom and a whole line of porta-potties.

Our Experience at Silver Glen Springs

While I have visited a few times via boat access on runs up the St. John’s River, my wife and I came to Silver Glen Springs for the first time together in March of 2026. The weather was just beginning to be consistently warm, which is the perfect time to visit this springs.

Hiking

We arrived around 8:30 and the parking lot luckily only half full. We started by hiking the trail to Lake George. Around the start of this trail was a creepy tree blocking the trail with moss, but we were able to duck under it.

We reached Lake George after not too long, but as mentioned we found the stretch north along the lake to be severely neglected and hard to travel through.

Headed back, we saw some cool wildflowers blooming. There were a lot of ticks around and we picked many off on this shoer hike.

We took the turn and walked maybe 100 yards to the beach area. I would avoid swimming in Lake George, but it was still nice to see.

When we arrived back at the car, we grabbed our springs bag and headed off to the Spring Boils Trail. The Spring Boils Trail is not super long, but in the future I would drop off the bag or leave it in the car rather than carrying it on the hike.

The Spring Boils Trail was short and sweet, and the worst part was not being allowed to swim in the Spring Boils.

Swimming

We set down our bag and walked into the water. Luckily, the sun was shining and we were sweating, which made it easier to adjust to the cool spring water. We jumped in and snorkeled around to get the lay of the land.

There was a school of hundreds of large striped bass at the bottom of the spring head, and these were fun to swim with.

At Silver Glen Springs, the swimming area is large, but it only encompasses the primary spring head. The secondary spring head was calling my name, but unfortunately swimming was not allowed there.

When you swim down towards the spring, the water is really flowing out of it strong. The current pushed me downstream when I swam back up.

I swam several laps to get a workout in, then we left as it started to get really crowded around noon.

We ate a great big lunch on the way home. When we returned, we had to remove a few remaining ticks from the hike, they were seriously no joke.

What We Would Do Differently

• Turn around at Lake George. The overgrown lakeshore stretch is where most of our ticks came from.
• Do a tick check before the drive home. We were still finding them after we got back.

Final Thoughts

Silver Glen Springs has some of the clearest water close to Orlando but make sure you visit early in the morning to dodge the crowds. Work up a sweat on a hike first for the easiest experience acclimating to the cool water.

If you plan it right, this can be one of the best springs for swimming and snorkeling.