O’Leno State Park is located in High Springs, a city in north Florida located just about 33 minutes north of Gainesville, and about 2 hours from Orlando. Many say that O’Leno State Park is the place to be for outdoor and nature lovers.
Many people think that Florida is just plain, flat land. I think this is only slightly true. When you visit the highest points in Florida you realize that there’s much more than meets the eye.
And just like a weekend trip to Tallahassee opened up my mind in many ways, you too can change your mind about what you think Florida has to offer.
As for me, I like to think of the Sunshine State as a place with plenty of Florida hidden gems meant to be explored. And this is particularly true with O’Leno State Park–an incredible outdoorsy experience!
O’Leno State Park: a Historic Site in High Springs
O’Leno was developed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. It happens to be one of the first state parks in Florida and it’s located along the unique Santa Fe River.
The dark tea-colored water from the river, combined with the clear water from the springs that blend with it, makes for one magical and scenic view.
In this park, you’ll find a suspension bridge, over 20 miles of hiking trails, a museum, campgrounds, campfire circles, and much more.
Every state park is different, but this one just has a certain spark to it. I really love the great outdoorsy vibe I get to experience while I’m here.
Once I arrived at the parking lot, we walked around the picnic pavillions, down to the riverside, and looked around.
There’s a swimming area at a portion of the river that’s perfect for a refreshing dip. Then, I crossed the bridge.
The suspension bridge at O’Leno is very pretty! It reminded me of the suspension bridge at Hillsborough River State Park–also beautiful and great for pictures.
Things to do in O’Leno State Park
- Hiking
- Geo-seeking
- Camping
- Swimming
- Picnicking
- Tours
- Photography
- Paddling
- Wildlife viewing
Plan your visit
Tours: There’s a self-guided tour of the park which you can access through your phone. Look out for the signs located around the park!
Nature Center: opens Friday – Sunday 10 am to 2 pm.
Museum: opens daily from 9 am to 3 pm
Fees: $5 per vehicle
Park hours: 8 am until sundown, 365 days a year
Location: 410 SE O’Leno Park Rd, High Springs FL 32643
Yanitza Ninett
Yanitza is one 1/2 of the Next Stop Adventures dynamic duo with 15+ years of hiking experience and adventure travel. As a PADI-certified Scuba diver, she's also passionate about ocean conservation. When she's not exploring the great outdoors, Yanitza obsesses over The Vampire Diaries and dreams of traveling to Spain.
Love a mix of woodland and waterside walks… a tranquil way to get away from it all!
Oh, yes! Absolutely! Thanks for reading.
This looks gorgeous!
It really is! Thank you!