Silver River State Park

The Silver River as seen from the River Trail

Back in the 1980s, when I first heard that land had been acquired near Silver Springs for a state park, I was thrilled. Having grown up nearby, it bothered me that the Silver Springs attraction no longer let you roam the gardens for free, and I knew there would now be a way to walk along the river on foot. It took many years of volunteer effort to open the trails and the museum, and each time I came back, I noticed more and more visitors at the park. It’s one of the few state parks where you’ll run into hikers on every trail at any time of day. They now have a campground and beautiful cabins, a 5-mile mountain-bike trail and the opportunity for you to lug your kayak down to the river, and even a pioneer Cracker village to explore, but hiking remains the primary focus of activities at this popular park.