Step back in time and explore this protected piece of original Florida
HABITAT RESTORATION IN PROGRESS
Effective Summer 2022: Crystal River Preserve State Park is conducting a pine flatwoods restoration project. Heavy equipment may be seen along State Park Street and 7 Mile Loop Trail. Please use caution and be alert in this area. Portions of 7 Mile Loop trail may be closed during this project. For information or trail status, call the park at 352-228-6028.
Discover one of Florida's most productive and biologically diverse estuaries, where freshwater from stunning spring-fed rivers mixes with the saltwater of the Gulf of Mexico.
Crystal River Preserve is a true mosaic. Within its borders are more than 27,500 acres of scrub, pinewoods, hardwood forests, salt marshes and mangrove islands. Much of the property is still untouched, allowing visitors a glimpse of what this area of Florida looked like centuries ago.
The park is a year-round destination for hiking, kayaking, paddle boarding and bird-watching. The preserve’s wetlands play an important role in refreshing Florida’s aquifer, making the area essential for Florida's wildlife and human communities.
