Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway

The Pioneer Settlement for the Creative Arts, Inc. was established as "an educational institution whose general nature and objective will be to render constructive, educational, and cultural services to the community through collection, preservation, conservation, and exposition of objects which are the community's cultural heritage. Particular emphasis shall be directed to vital programs that enrich the lives of the youth of this community. To achieve this purpose, a settlement has been created for the benefit of the public to house and maintain collections, exhibits, a reference library, and facilities for research and teaching."

No matter your age, there are plenty of rides and attractions at Silver Springs that will make you laugh, fill you with wonder, and provide a glimpse into what life was like here more than 10,000 years ago. Just as they did then, the springs pump out 550 million gallons of sparkling-clear water daily—enough to supply the entire city of New York.

Both beautiful and historic, Juniper Springs features a large campground plus one of the great swimming holes in the state, complete with a historic mill house. The Juniper Creek canoe run also begins here and is ranked as one of the best canoe runs in Central Florida. Two-time winner of America's Top 100 Family Campgrounds Award!

Salt Springs Recreation Area is one of the Ocala National Forest's recreational jewels. It is located in the lush, semi-tropical setting of central Florida. Within the recreation area is a natural spring rising from vertical fissures (cracks) deep within the earth. The presence of potassium, magnesium, and sodium salts gives the spring waters a slight salinity, hence the name Salt Springs.

Alexander Springs is a stop on the Florida National Scenic Trail, with a half-mile blue-blazed trail leading from the camping area to the main Florida Trail. Day hikers can also walk the Timucuan Trail, a .9–mile interpretive loop next to Alexander Springs.

Only 27 first-magnitude springs exist in Florida, and Alexander Springs is one with simple public access. A gently sloped turquoise spring pool is a constant 72°F and very clear, making it a great “swimming hole.”

An on-site outfitter rents canoes on Alexander Run, where birding is great. Scuba diving is permitted in the spring, and you can explore the mouth.

Take a trek back in time to Pat's Island on the Yearling Trail, and walk through walk through the Big Scrub to an island of pine that the Long family once called home. This interpretive trail system leads you past various historic structures, including an old cattle dip vat, a cistern, the remains of several homestead sites, and the Long family cemetery. In the center of it all is a giant sinkhole where the pre-1900 settlers collected drinking water.

Trailhead is directly across from the entrance to AlexanderSprings. A day in the woods fo rmountain bikers, the Paisley Woods Bicycle Trail is a 22-mile loop through the southeastern corner of the Ocala National Forest. With trailheads at Alexander Springs and Clearwater Lake, it's a roller-coaster ride through rolling sandhills topped with stately longleafpines. The bicycle trail is the only major destination for mountain bikers in the Ocala National Forest.

The park has a full-facility campground and 10 luxury cabins. There is also a primitive campground.

The park has more than 10 distinct natural communities, dozens of springs, and miles of trails. Visitors can canoe on the crystal-clear river, hike, or bike along one of the nature trails. The picnic area features three pavilions with grills that may be rented for group outings and a playground for the youngsters.

The park is home to a pioneer cracker village and the Silver River Museum and Environmental Education Center (The Marion County School District operates the center in cooperation with the park and is open to the public on weekends and holidays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00. p.m.) In addition, there is camping, picnicking, canoeing, and a hiking trail. Admission to the Museum is $2.00 per person. Children under 6 are free.

Focused around the vast Rodman Reservoir, the Kirkpatrick Dam, and the Ocklawaha River, this recreation area is a magnet for anglers looking for bank fishing along the dam. An accessible pier and a boat ramp provide a variety of fishing opportunities.

On the opposite shore below the dam, a recreation area maintained by the Office of Greenways & Trails has an additional pier and an easy canoe launch into the meandering original channel of the Ocklawaha River.

In the shade of live oaks overlooking 168-acre Mill Dam Lake, Mill Dam Recreation Area offers two different experiences for the public. Between March 16 and September 30, it's a day-use recreation area with a large swimming area and sandy beach accessible by wheelchairs. For the remainder of the year, October 1 - March 15, it becomes a group campground/recreation area for both day-use and tent camping.

This 258-acre lake is clear and unusually deep, near the intersection of S.R. 19 and S.R. 40. A public boat ramp, park, swimming beach, and picnic area are available on the north shore. Largemouth bass over 14 pounds have been caught, but most bass are 10 to 14 inches long. Speckled perch, bluegill, and shellcracker are good seasonally. This lake is very popular for water skiing and swimming. Fishing trips should be scheduled on weekdays, early and late in the day.

We have an interactive Google Map on our website where you can click to learn or navigate to key byway sites: https://floridablackbearscenicbyway.org/maps-gateways/

Our website provides ideas of the spots one might want to hit with the different goals of the “Adventurer, Naturalist, Historian, or Vacationer” https://floridablackbearscenicbyway.org/touring-by-type/.

Because most of our byway runs through a wild part of Florida, opportunities are available for people seeking challenging experiences, such as advanced paddling trails, rugged segments of the Florida Trail traversing the Big Scrub ecosystem, and world-class diving spots in first-magnitude springs.

We try to provide ideas for families and more relaxed or even geeky travelers! Our byway region has drawn many famous visitors and inhabitants, including Theodore Roosevelt, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, Harriett Beecher Stowe, and William Bartram.

We have links to county, park, and trail organizations in our region for the focused traveler to delve more deeply: https://floridablackbearscenicbyway.org/byway-traveler-resources/