Juniper Springs
About Your Moderator
Bruce Day, Juniper Springs
My name is Bruce Day. I’m interested in understanding the world around us, what moves us and what moves us into action. Through my life I have learned to slow down and I am led to move slowly, look closely, to take time and to wait 30 minutes for a hummingbird to come back. I like to get up before the sun to hike and paddle. That being the case I often find myself alone in the woods with time to reflect. Unlike many of my friends I have not traveled much, but I like to tell them I travel deep, not far. Lately I’ve been spending time in the Mormon Branch Botanical Area.
Learn more about Juniper Springs
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![Clear blue spring with kayaker]()
Why We Love This Spring
Juniper Springs is a oasis in the heart of the Ocala National Forest, long cherished by locals and visitors alike. Its clear blue waters and winding creek offer beauty, adventure, and a true sense of wild Florida.
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![Great blue heron perched on fallen palm over water]()
Know Your Springshed
Learn about how a springshed is the land area that feeds groundwater to a spring. Juniper’s protected forest setting helps preserve its water quality and makes it an important scientific baseline.
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![Clear shallow spring with sandy bottom and vegetation]()
Health and Science
Monitoring shows minor nitrate increases at Juniper Springs, mostly from natural atmospheric sources. Ongoing research helps protect its water quality and preserve its natural condition.
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![Misty spring with wooden footbridge and trees]()
Caring for Your Spring
Protecting Juniper Springs means limiting nutrients and respecting its forested springshed. With careful recreation and responsible use we all can help preserve this spring for the future.
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![Historic mill house with water wheel in forest]()
History
Juniper Springs was developed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression. Their handcrafted millhouse and water wheel still stand as lasting symbols of that era.
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![Abstract blue and white painting]()
Art, Literature, Film & Culture
Juniper Springs has inspired writers, filmmakers, and visual artists, including Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings and Margaret Ross Tolbert. Its landscape and sand boils continue to shape cultural imagination.
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![Spring with lily pads and wooden bridge reflection]()
News, Events & Public Policy
Alligator encounters at Juniper Creek are rare but serious, so swimming in the run is not advised. Forest Service planning helps protect the head spring by directing paddling access away from the main pool.
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![People paddling canoe through narrow spring]()
Groups, Organizations & Resources
Find information and stewardship resources through the U.S. Forest Service and regional water agencies. Local paddling and advocacy groups also help care for Juniper Springs.
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![Historic water wheel surrounded by lush vegetation]()
Improvements to the Spring
Juniper Springs still reflects the craftsmanship of the Civilian Conservation Corps, including its historic water wheel and mill house. Canoeing the seven-mile Juniper Creek remains a defining tradition.
