Juniper Springs Run (aka Juniper Creek)

Juniper Run Gator

Today paid a visit to a place I once said was never going to visit again. Never say never. Had a pleasant paddle, in terms of nature and relaxation, at the waters of the Juniper Springs Run, or Juniper Creek. Wildlife was absent, humans were by the dozen, but this place has some magic and it is beautiful so did not come out disappointed.

Juniper Springs Run

Put In / Take Out: This was one of the rare times when the Put In is different from the Take Out. The Juniper Springs Run is 7 miles and change, pretty fast too, so paddling against the current and coming back with it on the return is a bit of a stretch. I tried it once and did not make it. Wifey demanded for us to turn around. This time put in at the Juniper Springs Recreation area and made the arrangements for them to bring me back from the Juniper Wayside, an area just past SR 19 bridge over the creek. For fees and other information please contact them. It was just me and my kayak and  paid around 20 dollars for them to shuttle me and the Perception Sport Conduit (that is my kayak) back, and a deposit of 20 more that they did refund to me at the end of the trip.

Juniper Springs Millhouse

Saw no more than 6 different forms of wildlife in the 3 plus hours I was in the run. At any other place I would have been disappointed. Not here. It was a lot of fun. This paddling location is not the easiest one you will find in Florida. Is fast, narrow for most of the way, twisty, and with hundreds of submerged and overhead obstacles. I cannot remember hitting so many stumps at any other place. Also came with a few scratches from low vegetation I was not able to dodge due to the speed. Regardless, heck of a time!!!!! Did even paddle some RAPIDS!!!!! Here are the pics of what I saw at the Juniper Springs Run...

Juniper Springs Run

Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron

Gator

Muddy gator

Paradise like view

Obstacles over and under the run

Red Shouldered Hawk

Red Shouldered Hawk

Red Shouldered Hawk

Red Shouldered Hawk

Beauty all over the place

Turtle

Turtle

SR 19 bridge over the creek. Juniper Wayside, the take out point, is just across the bridge.

Let me make a parenthesis. After the first time I did paddle here was determined not to come back again. A concessionary employee told me I was going to be arrested if went paddling upstream. Then, when we visited the recreation area after the paddle it was not the best experience neither. This time I gave an A plus to everybody. From the lady at the gate, to the folks at the store, to the guys picking us up at the take out, and the various employees doing rounds around, everybody was great. If any of you read this...THANKS for a great job!!!!!!! Since the family was waiting for me at the recreation area took some of them to see Fern Hammock Springs. It was sad to see how one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen has deteriorated since our most recent visit. The algae has overtaken the springs and green, instead of white sand and blue, dominates the scene. It is still beautiful but not as it used to be.

Green Anole...my niece saw this one.

Boils at Fern Hammock Springs

Alligator Snapping Turtle swims between the green sludge created by the algae at Fern Hammock Springs

Nature Trail

And this is it for this one. Hope you like the few pics we were able to post. Check the Facebook page as already posted a video featuring Fern Hammock Springs and will post another of the trip, with views of the run, later. Thanks for coming and hope to see you soon to share more Views From Our Kayak.

Fern Hammock Springs