Exploring Juniper Springs

[@jimmyratliff8750]

I remember camping there in the 70's and early 80's. Loved that place. The squirrels would come and eat out of your hand. The cool water would wake you up quickly. At night you could shine a light in the swimming area and see eels swimming along the stone wall.

[@chrismeyers603]

Thanks for posting this Chris. It's nice to see videos that respect the area. Juniper is my favorite kayak run in the state, been there more times than I can remember. To answer some of your questions... Juniper and many of the springs in that area are federally controlled by the USDA. Fortunately that provides more stringent environmental protections. The elevated trail you walked is fairly new (less than 10 years) and is there to protect the local environment. It used to be a beat-down footpath but that caused erosion problems (erosion is a big issue in spring country). While there are alligators in the head spring area... they are rare. If you paddle down the spring run you will definitely come across them in the more open areas. The WARNING signs on the walking trail are primarily there to keep idiots, um, I mean people, from crawling down the bank and into the spring run (ie. more erosion problems). WARNING - I'm not saying there are no alligators in the head spring area... and I have seen them in Fern Hammock spring but it was 1 time in a hundred. The stone bridge & paddle wheel house were built in the 1930's by the WPA (Work Projects of America). The paddle wheel was once hooked to a generator and provided power to the park. The Forest Service pulled the generator out of the paddle house 20-30 years ago now (maybe longer... my mind isn't what it once was). The turquoise water color is due to the depth of the spring (the deeper the water the bluer it seems). It's just very noticeable against the white sand of the boils. If you filled a jug with spring water, you wouldn't notice any color to it. Speaking of... the spring water is drinkable directly from the spring. I loved that you mentioned how "clean" the spring smells. Just being there lifts the spirits & clears the mind. Juniper is a wondrous place indeed. (For those visiting... please stay on the trails and cleanup after yourself. This is a place you want your kids & grandkids to visit!)

[@gregoryforster6780]

The Florida forests sure are like jungles. Florida is awesome that way.

[@JChrisTurner1234]

I am addicted to you and your videos. I'm watching you on my big screen t.v. and laptop simultaneously. You were SO adorable sitting in that old bath tub out in the woods and then scaring yourself when that stick popped up and hit your bare leg...then the spiders in the doorway of the old bus. Your expressions and delivery are adorable.

[@MrMadhomer]

What a wonderful place unbelievable .great video..

[@tmntforever2684]

The water looks right out of the Mediterranean but I guess not as warm certainly a beautiful place to spend the day Chris I hope you had time for a swim

[@MobileInstinct2]

I didn't end up going in but I ll be back for sure!

[@chrismeyers603]

The spring water is a constant 72 degrees F year round. It's very enjoyable in the winter when the air temp drops into the 30's & 40's. Feels like a warm bath. Well.. until you get out ;-)

[@tracyd4774]

You find such wonderful treasures. So glad you share all these with us. thank you

[@melissabeeson7271]

Thank you again for showing us all the beauty we may not get the opportunity to experience ourselves!

[@JGM1721]

Very cool place! That aqua/blue was breathtaking. Thanks for the tour.

[@RaulMeatFactory1975]

Beautiful spot ..... cheers for the video buddy!

[@patwarson217]

That's a mile from my house,as a kid back in 1979 we use to swim there before all the snowbird's turned it into a Park and it's been around longer than 60 years the Spaniard called it the fountain of youth,

[@myaleah80able]

This is a very special place. We used to go every year, sometimes twice a year my whole life growing up. Many family memories

[@sandyca1106]

That was amazing! The wild of the plants, the history of the construction of the area and of course the purity of the teal water. Great video, thank you for taking us along!

[@angiewanders7272]

You find the coolest places!! It's gorgeous!!

[@gsdfan8455]

Old stone arch bridges are always cool to see.

[@MobileInstinct2]

Definitely

[@cindysplace]

Oh, my, that's beautiful! This entire video is one scene of beauty after after. Thank you so much. I really enjoyed this.

[@drunkenmoosecorp8878]

Another amazing place, this is definitely a good place to go for a bucket list.

[@kathycagg6531]

So beautiful! Thanks, Chris!

[@MidnightAutoPainter]

My seven year old daugher is going to freak you were so close to us. She and I are such a big fan of your channel. If you head back though Gainesville give us a shout and we will show you Devils Millhopper sink hole. Happy travels!!

[@orsonboggs7753]

i like the raised boardwalk..keeps you up above the rattlesnakes and gators : )

[@KitschyTravels]

Very beautiful and majestic!

[@PhotoAdvanced]

Beautiful place

[@ericlozen9631]

The old bridge reminded me of the famous French painter Claude Monet. There are similar looking bridges in some of his works. The girl that screamed at 8:02 must have seen an alligator. Lol

[@paulstan9828]

Always so cool. Thanks again!

[@lindamesa4941]

Thank You Chris really beautiful! From cold and windy NY to Florida humidity! Go ahead take a swim you deserve it!

[@dr.zacharysmith1207]

Yea go ahead Chris 🐊😵

[@harrisd1978]

Awesome video of a truly stunning place. Great job man!

[@Whocares.........]

Aahhh, the treasures down below!

[@dezertraider]

Thank you Very Cool! I would never think there could be 1 water wheel in all of FL Due to the lack of elevation change..Stay well,Rock on Bro.TY 73s

[@edtrenn557]

Wow. What a great video. What makes the alligators not go where people swim. Is there a net or something??

[@chrismeyers603]

@Ed - the head spring is surrounded by a retaining wall. The spring run coming out of it flows thru a paddle wheel. Gators aren't able to get up into the head spring via the spring run.

[@nathanjw940]

@@chrismeyers603 crowds there are springs without that simply put noise and crowds scare them off. When you jump in anywhere else it's just you then yeah

[@pattieprophet7987]

LOVED IT

[@windypooh373]

Beautiful

[@Bentcypress]

If you haven't been there already you should go to Wakulla Springs. It's fantastic.

[@doreen3737]

Beautiful yes frightening absolutely!! alligators come out of the water and rest on land I would never walk that path holy mackerel LOL

[@josephlewis5614]

Unlikely.... spring water is to cold for gators. It's not impossible they do get lost but I've never seen a gator in a spring and I see them almost everytime i go to a river or a lake.

[@ChangedThingsUp..]

Alexander, salt, orange, Rainbow, silver and the oklawaha are just a few of the Springs to visit there in the Ocala National Forest

[@351wmustanggt]

As a person who was born and raised in Florida alligators, snakes etc..... and natural springs are common place to us. Where there is water there will most likely be alligators, just how it is in Florida. There are many beautiful areas like this all over the State.

[@meljohnson5926]

Great job

[@marioncoleman7617]

I have been there. It is a beautiful place.

[@05eddy-arco]

In winter it's still Same temperature...it never changes...so it will feel warm in a cold day.

[@starkconplays]

Nice video! But I don’t get it, why make the boardwalk so low can’t gators and snakes climb up on it?

[@Bentcypress]

Gators and snakes can climb trees too so being higher won't make you any safer.

[@MobileInstinct2]

I think it's more to protect the forest around the area. From what I've read, the boardwalk is pretty new. I think it was just a trail before.

[@803trends]

Chris be mindful that water moccasins hang out in the trees. I'm native to FL. If you get challenged by a gator ....run zig zag. Another awesome place to see is Wekiwa Springs State Park.

[@selenaroman4187]

Tawny Lovell that is a myth

[@stephber1854]

😍

[@bigrudd9346]

I wonder if there's a Bunyip under those bridges?

[@SueGirling68]

Such a stunning area and the colour of the water is the same colour that we have in North Cornwall. One question, if they have alligators there why is the boardwalk so low to the ground ?? do they come up that far or is there a fence to protect the people on the boardwalk ??. Thanks for sharing. x

[@MobileInstinct2]

They can easily get up there. The board walk is more for protecting the forest I think. That's just the way it is in Florida, always being mindful of your surroundings when near the water.

[@Bentcypress]

No there is no fence and yes gators can come up there. But they really won't hurt you. There are much worse and more dangerous things to worry about in Florida. I've lived in south Florida most of my life and never had a problem. Just be cautious.

[@SueGirling68]

@@MobileInstinct2 Oh wow that's scary, also very good advice. I don't think I would have been brave enough to go on that boardwalk though. Thank you.

[@SueGirling68]

@@Bentcypress Thank you for your reply, in a way it kind of makes me grateful that I live in the UK.

[@Bentcypress]

@@SueGirling68 There is good and bad everywhere, we just get used to it. I think we should all be grateful for where we live, no place is perfect but everyplace is unique in its own way.

[@thescrambler6684]

They have those signs at mud puddles. There probably isn’t a gator in that spring

[@tereasacarty8000]

Live 20 min away !yes gators 🐊

[@LarryNathanielPhoto]

Spring water is usually to cold for Gators.

[@j-deezy321]

Beautiful place. Hidden oasis? Lol it’s a national park brother not to hidden

[@lindafarmer3940]

That was beautiful!! How can people swim there when alligator signs are posted? Looks very refreshing! Thank you.

[@MobileInstinct2]

The big area towards the end of the video is a "safe" place to swim. Of course in Florida, one should always be cautious of possibly unwanted guests in the water haha

[@cassie6583]

Why anyone would even think about going swimming anywhere in Florida is beyond me.

[@j-deezy321]

Water 60 to 80 years old lol do people actually think there’s something here that has not always been here? Wow lol

[@rickyalvarado5064]

Omg. I. Need . To. Swim. In. That. Nowww

[@rusyaidirahman119]

This island is creepy

[@gregoryforster6780]

Can you own land in parts of Ocala National Forest ? I'd like to. I just like to live where I would be surrounded by jungles and Wildlife. So can you?

[@crissdrums3975]

Picture quality is grainey