Recreation Resource Management » Swimming

Double Lake Beach and Day Use Area

admin — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 19:53:53 +0000

Double Lake is stocked with bass, bream and catfish. Boaters and fishermen can fish from one of three piers or can take advantage of a limited access boat ramp with parking nearby for trailers. Swimmers can relax on a sandy beach after taking a cool plunge. Only boats with small electric motors are allowed on the 23-acre lake.

Visitors can savor the outdoor flavor by hiking the marked 5-mile trail leading to the Big Creek Scenic Area, an eyeful of nature at its finest. For a longer trek, there’s access nearby to the Lone Star Hiking Trail which offers an opportunity to see the “back country” of east Texas.

In an effort to preserve Double Lake Recreation Area for others in the future, no off-road vehicles are permitted to roam the area. An 8-mile-long mountain bike trail meanders around the lake.

Juniper Springs

admin — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 17:32:38 +0000

Both beautiful and historic, and totally remodeled in 2009, 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.

The Juniper Springs Campground was recently featured in in USAToday “10 great places to pitch a pup tent”

Sweetwater Cabin

admin — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 18:06:24 +0000

This cabin is so popular we have to hold a lottery each year for reservation dates. It is a great way to get away from it all, and has its own spring, swimming area, and canoes.

The Sweetwater Spring Rental Cabin is located in the Juniper Prairie Wilderness Area of the Ocala Naional Forest in the Silver Springs area. Gated access to the cabin is via approximately 1/2 mile of maintained sandy lane. The cabin, built in 1935, is a rustic 2 bedroom cabin that sleeps 12, and has a full bath, equipped kitchen including microwave, coffee pot, toaster, dishes and silverware. The living room has a rustic fireplace for those cozy nights. All you need to bring is your linens, pillows and food. The cabin is sited on the incredible Juniper Creek inland waterway that flows through the Juniper Prairie Wilderness area. Additionally, the cabin site overlooks scenic Sweetwater Spring and includes an observation deck sited directly over the spring. Unfortunately, due to the ecologically sensitive nature of the site, no pets are allowed inside or outside the cabin area.

For active leisure fun, 2 canoes with paddles and life vests are furnished for guests. Canoeists can negotiate the famous Juniper Canoe Run and egress at Juniper Wayside on SR 19. Or, if you are looking for a more passive activity, you can enjoy nature at it’s finest by sitting on the screened porch, the observation deck, or by taking a leisure walk in the surrounding woods.

If you are looking to get away from the hustle and bustle, Sweetwater Cabin is the place to disconnect. Don’t even bother to bring a cell phone or beeper.

Sweetwater Cabin rental reservations are awarded through an annual computerized lottery selection process. The lottery is open from January 1st through May 31st each year. To enter you must send in a letter with a self addressed stamped envelope and list the three choice weeks you desire to rent the cabin. Weeks run from Friday to Friday and Sweetwater is closed the 1st week of April and 1st week of October for Maintenance. Only one entry per household.

For reservations or more information regarding Sweetwater Cabin call (352) 625-0546. Or, contact:

Recreation Resource Management, Inc.

26701 E. Hwy. 40

Silver Springs, FL 34488

Slide Rock State Park

admin — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 16:38:49 +0000

The park is named after the famous Slide Rock, a stretch of slippery creek bottom adjacent to the homestead. Visitors may slide down a slick natural water chute or wade and sun along the creek. The swim area is located on National Forest land which is jointly managed by Arizona State Parks and the U.S. Forest Service. Together these areas have seen the making of many Hollywood movies such as “Broken Arrow” (1950) with James Stewart, “Drum Beat” (1954) with Alan Ladd and Charles Bronson, “Gun Fury” (1953) with Rock Hudson and Donna Reed, and a scene from “Angel and the Badman” (1946) with John Wayne.

On July 10, 1985, Arizona State Parks purchased the park property from the Arizona Parklands Foundation. The park was dedicated in October 1987, and accepted onto the National Register of Historic Places on December 23, 1991.

If you visit Slide Rock Park in the canyon, don’t forget to stop at our Slide Rock Market! The market has snacks, prepared foods, ice cream, and gift items.

You can find the state park’s web site, with park hours and fees, as well as more pictures and videos, here.