The Glass-Bottom Perspective

Florida's Silver Springs State Park: 
The iconic entrance arch welcoming visitors to one of Florida's most historic natural wonders.

After a refreshing morning at Juniper, we decided to make it a "springs double-header" and headed over to Silver Springs State Park. Despite having lived in Florida for years, I’m fairly certain I had never actually visited this particular landmark before—a realization that made the afternoon feel like a true discovery. The timing wasn't quite perfect for manatees; the mid-February air was a bit too warm for them to be huddling in the relatively temperate waters of the spring creek, but the lack of sea cows was more than made up for by the sheer abundance of other locals.

Silver Springs, Florida.jpg:
A classic glass-bottom boat navigates the crystal-clear run, a tradition at Silver Springs for over a century.

We started with a hike through the towering cypress stands, where the Spanish moss hung in thick curtains against the blue sky. Then, we took to the water on the legendary glass-bottom boats. It’s one thing to see the river from the bank, but peering through the glass offers a window into an underwater world of limestone boils and swaying vegetation. On the banks, the resident Rhesus Macaques—descendants of a colony released here back in the 1930s—provided plenty of entertainment as they patrolled the trees. Between the macaques, the alligators, and a stunning male Wood Duck paddling through the shadows, it was a classic Florida afternoon that was well worth the detour.
 

Bald Cypress draped in Spanish Moss:
Towering Bald Cypress trees reaching toward the sky, heavily draped in curtains of Spanish Moss.

Spanish Moss and Bald Cypress:
Looking directly up into the canopy of a moss-laden cypress, a perspective unique to the Florida swamp.

Silver Creek:
The clear, tranquil waters of Silver Creek winding through the dense hardwood hammock.

Kayaking on Silver Creek:
Kayaks offer a modern way for visitors to peer into the limestone depths of the spring run.

Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor):
A nimble Tufted Titmouse scouting for a meal among the mossy cypress branches.

Leap of Faith:
A Rhesus Macaque captured mid-air as it navigates the canopy along the riverbank.

White Ibis and a Little Blue Heron:
A White Ibis and a Little Blue Heron foraging together along the muddy banks.

White Ibises (Eudocimus albus):
A pair of White Ibises probing the shallows with their iconic curved bills.

White Ibis (Eudocimus albus):
A close-up of an Ibis navigating the duckweed-covered shallows of Silver Creek.

Florida Cooter (Pseudemys floridana):
A Florida Cooter gliding effortlessly through the clear, sunlit water.

Rhesus Macaque (Juvenile):
A young macaque observing the human visitors from a safe perch in the trees.

Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus):
A Red-shouldered Hawk keeping a sharp eye on the river from the treetops.

Wood Duck (Aix sponsa):
A strikingly colorful male Wood Duck paddling through the shadowed reflections of the cypress.

Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus):
A Tilapia hovering over the sandy riverbed, seen clearly through the boat's glass floor.

Rhesus Macaque (Macaca mulatta):
An adult macaque peering cautiously from behind a cypress trunk.

North American Alligator:
A large alligator basking among the aquatic vegetation—a necessary Florida sighting.

White Ibises (Eudocimus albus):
A trio of Ibises perched high in the bare upper branches of a cypress.

Juvenile Macaque:

A curious juvenile member of the resident monkey colony exploring the branches.

Rhesus Macaques:
An adult and juvenile macaque foraging on the forest floor along the river's edge.

Rhesus Macaque:
A close-up of a macaque searching through the leaf litter for a mid-afternoon snack.

Wild Turkey:
A wild turkey showcasing its iridescent feathers as it roams the park's hammocks.

Great Blue Heron:
A Great Blue Heron standing as a silent sentinel among the cypress knees.

Anhinga and Little Blue Heron:An Anhinga drying its wings on a log while a Little Blue Heron hunts in the foreground.

Florida Cooters:
A pair of Florida Cooters stacked on a log, competing for the best sunning spot.

Wherever your travels may lead, I hope you find a clear view of what lies beneath the surface.

Don Bergquist - Feb 19, 2026 - Silver Springs State Park