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Each year, on the Sunday after the main festival day, several organizations offer guided hiking tours. ***************************************************************************************** Guided hiking tours by the Florida Trail Association and Forest Service On Sunday, September 21, several organizations will host guided hiking tours. The tours are still being set up for 2008. Please check back for more information Old Barge Canal Hike On the Cross Florida Greenyway. Time: 8:45 AM Meet at Santos Trailhead, near Restroom parking lot. Trailhead is located on SE 80th Street, 200 yd West of US 441/301/27, about 7 miles south of Ocala. Go in the Campground entrance. The hike will be on the Florida National Scenic Trail, on the Cross Florida Greenway. It will include close up views of the original bridge stanchions that were build to take the highway over the barge canal. The hiking distance total will be approximately 2.5 miles and, with the sightseeing, will take about 2 hours. Bring items for your comfort and convenience such as sun protection (clothing, hat and/or sunscreen) Drinking water, insect repellant. We plan to return to the parking lot at approximately 11 – 11:30 am Hike will be led by Kenneth Smith, Florida Trail Volunteer, and former Section Leader on the Cross Florida Greenway. For information email: ksmith855@cfl.rr.com or phone: 352-307-8645. For more information about the Florida Trail Association, visit their web site at www.floridatrail.org. The Marion County Springs Festival committee encourages you to visit the Marion County Spring or Park of your choice. LOOK FOR VALUABLE COUPONS ON THIS WEB SITE. Here are some great places to visit any time of the year:
Carney Island Park, Ocklawaha
Horseshoe Lake Park, Citra
Juniper Springs Recreation Area, Ocala National Forest
CARNEY ISLAND PARK
Situated on the shores of Lake Weir just west of Ocklawaha, Carney Island Park offers 4 miles of stacked loop trails with cool breezes off the lake. Your hike starts with a walk down an earthen causeway to the Fern Gully Loop,which circles a wetland area dense with ferns. The Quail Loop leads through a pine plantation surrounded by oak hammocks. At the tip of the peninsula, the Fox Trot Loop provides scenic views of the lake.
To find Carney Island Park, start at Silver Springs and drive south on SR 35 (Baseline Rd) for 5.3 miles to CR 464 (Maricamp Rd). Turn left and drive 6.8 miles through Silver Springs Shores. Turn right onto SE 108TH Terrace Rd, and left onto CR 25. Continue less than a mile to SE 115TH Ave and turn right. Follow the signs into the park. The park's address is 13275 SE 115th Ave, Ocklawaha.
HORSESHOE LAKE PARK
It's your chance to savor the beauty of Horseshoe Lake, to stroll along the lakeshore, keeping alert for wading birds, frogs, and delicate wildflowers. The gentle trail follows a shady forest road and then a well-maintained natural footpath which curves down to the sandy shores of the lake.
Horseshoe Lake Park is located along CR 318 west of Fort McCoy. To get there, follow SR 40 east from Ocala to the Ocklawaha Visitor Center just east of Silver Springs. Turn north onto CR 315 to Fort McCoy and drive 20 miles. Turn left onto CR 318 and continue until you see the sign for the park after 1.5 miles. Turn right and follow the signs to the park gate. The park's address is 10780 E Highway 318.
JUNIPER SPRINGS RECREATION AREA
Savor the beauty of one of Florida's finest spring runs along the Juniper Springs Nature Trail. In this subtropical wilderness, you'll see the massive Juniper Springs, and tiny bubbling springs along the run. In the dense forest canopy above, rare albino squirrels frolic. Ferns and wildflowers carpet the forest floor. The real treasure, however, lies at the end of the trail: Fern Hammock Spring, with its picturesque turquoise pools and abundant aquatic life. A new boardwalk replaces the former trail, and provides overlooks along both spring runs as well as benches to rest.
Juniper Springs Recreation Area is along SR 40 in the Ocala National Forest, 15 miles east of Silver Springs and several miles west of SR 19.
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TAKE A HIKE!!!
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