Juniper Springs has one of the best kayaking and canoe runs in Florida. On our recent car camping trip, we were looking forward to kayaking in Juniper Springs more than anything! It’s about as old-Florida as you can get paddling through untouched Ocala National Forest with old-growth trees, vibrant wildlife, and peaceful serenity.

We even floated near a couple alligators! ??

Juniper Springs in Ocala is famous for its seven mile canoe and kayak run and when you’re done kayaking, you can enjoy the crystal-clear swimming hole that stays a constant 72 degrees year round.

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Juniper Springs Kayaking & Canoe Run

It’s one of our favorite parks for kayaking in Florida, especially near Daytona Beach. We’ve paddled down that canoe and kayak run more times than we can count and it’s a different adventure every time.

How long does it take to canoe Juniper run?

Depending on your skill level and general fitness, it can take anywhere from three to five hours to canoe or kayak Juniper run. It’s worth noting that this is not a beginner’s course and we consider it at least an intermediate level course. Once you start, there’s no turning back or turning off. At some point on your trip, you might even need to get out of your boat to pull or push it over downed logs, or maybe a bathroom break.

We’ve had to for both on a few trips!

If you’ve never been canoeing or kayaking with a partner, this run can be a serious relationship tester for less-skilled paddlers. Some have even called them “divorce boats.” ? Not even kidding.

Steering is critical, especially for the person in the back of the boat since there are endless hairpin turns in the forest section that require sharp maneuvering. Be prepared to end up in the bushes at some no matter how hard you try!

Also one thing to note is you have to bring your canoe or kayak on a cart quite a walk down to the launch and then walk your cart back so you can pick up your life vests and whistle. After hours of paddling, at the end of your journey you also have to hoist your boat out of the water onto the dock to be put onto the shuttle bus.

How much does it cost to get into Juniper Springs?

At Juniper Springs, a kayak rental cost us $47 for a tandem kayak. A canoe rental was $42 and both also required a $20 deposit plus taxes. One big plus for people like us that don’t have a truck or trailer to bring our own kayaks is that they pick you up at the end and shuttle you back to the park which is included in the fee. If you bring your own kayak or canoe, there’s a $6 launch fee and a $12 pick-up fee to have them bring you back. For day use, it costs $5.50 per person to get into the park.

What kind of containers are you allowed to bring on Juniper run?

Short answer: Nothing disposable.

Before dropping into the water and starting the run, there are cooler checks to make sure no one brings anything that could end up polluting the waterways. Anything not specifically made to be a reusable container won’t be allowed and also no glass. So that means, no wrappers of any kind, cans, glass bottles, or disposable plastic bottles.

That starts to get a bit confusing, but as long as you bring plastic “reusable” containers you should be good to go. Also no alcohol. You might be able to get some things past if you don’t get checked, but it’s not worth the annoyance.

Can you swim at Juniper Springs?

Yes! At the main recreational area, there’s a large natural swimming pool where you can swim and snorkel. On the Juniper canoe and kayak run, we’ve seen people swimming, but only in the clear areas. We don’t like to swim because of the next item on the list, alligators.

Are there alligators in Juniper Springs?

Yes! If you go on the canoe & kayak run you will most likely see an alligator or two resting on a bank in the sun. Most of the time we saw alligators at about the halfway point around a bend and didn’t see any more on the last quarter of the adventure. But just because you don’t see them, doesn’t mean they aren’t there which is why we don’t like to swim on the run.

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Have you tried kayaking or canoeing at Juniper Springs?