Message From The Manager

If you're looking to step back in time, get away from the hustle and bustle, view wildlife in their natural habitat and immerse yourself in untouched Florida beauty, you've come to the right place. Oklawaha River Aquatic Preserve encompasses the crystal clear, spring-fed Silver River and a 20-mile stretch of the dark-water Oklawaha River. The aquatic preserve provides a window into the rich cultural history of Florida. With all boundaries of the aquatic preserve protected by conservation lands, you can experience what it would have been like to paddle the rivers like the region’s first inhabitants did thousands of years ago. Along the way, you're sure to see alligators and turtles basking on logs, wading birds and ducks sneaking around the cypress knees, birds of prey soaring above the tree line, manatees munching on the submerged aquatic vegetation and the sun reflecting off scales of fish swimming below. Make sure to visit the confluence of the Silver River and the Oklawaha River; it's quite the sight to see. Recreate responsibly by packing out what you packed in, not standing on or tying up to vegetation, raising your engine in shallow areas to avoid damaging the submerged aquatic vegetation and being aware of your surroundings at all times so everyone can enjoy the serenity Oklawaha River Aquatic Preserve has to offer.

Sincerely,

Trisha Green