A popular paddling trail within the Ocala National Forest will close for up to two weeks beginning Monday as the boardwalk undergoes renovations.
The Juniper Run Paddling Trail will close for up to two weeks beginning Monday, January 6, to allow for the complete rebuilding of the boardwalk launch.
According to Naventure, a company that manages campgrounds and recreational areas within the forest, the project is part of the group’s efforts to reinvest into the Ocala National Forest recreation sites that it operates.
The organization says that as of the end of 2024, it has reinvested over $2 million from a Granger Thye Agreement with the United States Forest Service.
“These funds are helping to create better facilities, preserve the environment, and improve accessibility for everyone,” reads a statement from the group posted to social media.
Juniper Run is world-renowned for its narrow, winding waterway covered overhead by dense canopy. The seven-mile trek follows the spring run through the heart of the Juniper Prairie Wilderness. It empties into the St. Johns River at Lake George.
The Juniper Run launch was named one of the top 25 canoe runs in America by ReserveAmerica. In 2022, the Great Outdoor Recreation Pages ranked Ocala as the seventh best paddling town in the United States.
Visitors to Juniper Run may canoe and kayak down the run, but no inflatable items, including rafts and johnboats, are allowed on the water.