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
Hey, adventurer! 👋 I’m Yanitza, a hidden-gem hunter and adventure seeker who’s been helping travelers discover authentic experiences off the beaten path for over 8 years. When I’m not crafting detailed travel guides or exploring historic towns, you’ll find me underwater – I’m a PADI-certified scuba diver with a passion for ocean conservation and marine life. A firm believer that the best stories happen when you venture beyond tourist hotspots, I balance my wanderlust with guilty-pleasure binges of The Vampire Diaries and dreaming up future adventures in Mallorca, Spain. Through my guides and travel tips, I hope to inspire others to explore deeper, travel slower, and discover the magic of unexpected places.
This looks like an amazing place to visit and to spend time walking around taking everything in. I hope to visit one day.
Oh, yes! I hope you visit!
O’Leno looks like such a gorgeous place to visit! Love the suspension bridge!
The suspension bridge is amazing!
This looks like such an amazing place to visit! I can’t wait for summer…
It’s very nice in the summer!
That sounds like a great place to visit with the family when things are slowly going back to normal. Very beautiful with plenty of picture perfect areas.
Yes! It’s perfect for a family trip.
This looks like a beautiful place to visit! I was in Florida last week, but to go to Disney! I was playing the typical tourist! I will need to look into this for next time though!
Oh, no! There’s so much more than just Disney. You must come to explore someday!