Juniper Springs | Ocala National Forest

Fern Hammock Spring

I am currently working on a series of the Ocala National Forest. We took a day trip to the Juniper Springs Recreation Area with the intent to photograph Fern Hammock Spring.

The little bridges and boardwalks in this park have fallen into disrepair and many of the trails here are closed. The pavilions within the park are fenced off because they are falling down and rotting away. It’s a shame that they haven’t repaired the trails within the park. The entrance fee is $13 per person, which seems a little expensive to me, but this spot is a haven for people who want to swim in the Juniper Spring.

The trail to Fern Hammock Spring was closed due to erosion and the deteriorating bridge that led to it. Fortunately, we walked around and found a trail from the campground. This is a beautiful spring and what made it so great is that we had the whole place to ourselves!

The water is very clear and the color of the springs are a beautiful shade of turquoise. Looking down into the spring you can see turtles and fish swimming throughout the pool.

Fern Hammock Spring seems to be one of the hidden gems in this area of the forest. There wasn’t many people here, especially considering how busy the park was at the main spring.

Juniper Spring and the Juniper Springs Millhouse

The main attraction of this park is Juniper Spring. It’s a big natural spring with an operating grist mill in the back.

This grist mill was built between 1935-1936 by the CCC (Civilian Conversation Corps). This mill was used to produce electricity for the Juniper Springs Recreational Area.