Visitor Centers

For  visitors to the Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway, interpretive information is available at several Ocala National Forest visitor centers and at some of the other public lands along the byway. Make a visitor center your first stop to get the full picture of all to see and do along the corridor.

The Ocklawaha Visitor’s Center and Trailhead was built and donated by Silver Run Properties, Inc. in 1999. The center is maintained and operated by the Florida DEP Office of Greenways and Trails and the USDA Forest Service, and offers maps, books and brochures of the area’s recreational and natural resources. Staff on site can assist you with travel planning, and there are many free resources available as well as an extensive bookstore. Restrooms are also available. The center is open 8 AM to 5 PM daily, and is located near the western terminus of the byway at the intersection of CR 315 and the Scenic Byway.  At the center, look for a trailhead for the Silver River Trail within the Cross Florida Greenway, a linear interpretive nature trail leading through pine flatwoods and a cabbage palm bottomland and ending at the Ray Wayside Park along the Silver River, a 3.5-mile round trip.

Operated by the USDA Forest Service, the Pittman Visitor Center is located on the south SR 19 Spur north of the rural community of Pittman. This visitor center provides maps, brochures and permits.

The Salt Springs Visitor Center is operated by the USDA Forest Service and provides maps, brochures, and permits. They also have guidebooks for sale, and public restrooms during operating hours. The visitor center is in a small shopping center in front of the Encore RV Resort in the community of Salt Springs along the North SR 19 Spur.

The Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway Visitor Center East is located near the northern terminus of the North SR 19 Spur on Buckman Lock Road south of Palatka. The Visitor Center includes historical displays explaining the history of the Cross Florida Barge Canal and its evolution into the Greenway The center serves as the primary trailhead for equestrian and hiking trails on Cross Florida Greenway’s east end.  ** NOTE: This visitor center is presently closed (07/2009) due to budget cuts **

For more information visit the links below.

Ocklawaha Visitors Center, Pittman Visitor Center , Salt Springs Visitor Center,

Photos courtsey of Diana Rose.