O’Leno & River RiseBrochure |
Brochure of O’Leno & River Rise Preserve State Park in Florida. Published by Florida State Parks.
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Florida State Parks
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Division of Recreation and Parks
Nature & History
The Natural Land Bridge that spans the distance
between River Sink and River Rise provided
an easy passage over the Santa Fe River from
as early as 7,000 BC. The old Spanish trail and
the first federally funded road connecting St.
Augustine and Pensacola used this crossing.
In the mid 1800s, the town of Leno was
founded along the banks of the Santa Fe River
just upstream from where the river disappears.
The first telegraph linking Florida to the outside
world passed through Leno. In 1896, the railroad
bypassed the tiny town, causing Leno’s inevitable
decline. By the turn of the century the settlement
was only a memory. The old wire road and mill
dams are all that remain of this early pioneer
town. Acquired in the early 1930s by the Florida
Board of Forestry, the park was developed by the
Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the Works
Progress Authority primarily for use as a summer
forestry camp. Several of the original structures
are still in use today.
O’Leno State Park is located on the banks of
the scenic Santa Fe River, a tributary of the
Suwannee River. The distinctive geological feature
of the park is the River Sink where the Santa Fe
River disappears underground to re-emerge three
miles south at River Rise Preserve State Park.
Numerous sinkhole lakes may be seen from the
trails throughout the park. The Limestone Trail
guides visitors to an abandoned quarry that played
a significant role in providing building materials for
construction during the CCC era.
There are 18 distinct natural communities within
O’Leno and River Rise Preserve. These diverse
habitats host a variety of wildlife including whitetailed deer, turkey, gray fox and gopher tortoise.
O’Leno State Park
410 S.E. O’Leno Park Road
High Springs, FL 32643
(386) 454-1853
FloridaStateParks.org
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Park Guidelines
Hours are 8 a.m. until sunset, 365 days a year.
An entrance fee is required.
All plants, animals and park property
are protected.
Pets are permitted in designated areas only. Pets
must be kept on a leash no longer than 6 feet
and well behaved at all times.
Pets are not allowed in any primative
camping areas.
Fishing, swimming and fires are allowed in
designated areas only. A Florida fishing license
may be required.
Fireworks and hunting are prohibited.
Alcoholic beverage consumption is allowed in
designated areas only.
For camping information, contact Reserve
America at (800) 326-3521 or (866) I CAMP FL
or TDD (888) 433-0287 or visit
ReserveAmerica.com.
Florida’s state parks are committed to providing
equal access to all facilities and programs.
Should you need assistance to enable your
participation, please contact the ranger station.
Northeast
Florida
O’Leno & River Rise
Preserve State Park
One of Florida’s First State Parks
Alternate format
available upon
request at any
Florida state park.
FLORIDA
State Parks
Created on 12/14
National Gold Medal Winner
Florida State Parks - “America’s First Three-Time Winner”
Real Fun in
O’Leno State Park is one of Florida’s first state
parks. Along with River Rise Preserve State
Park, these state parks offer over 6,000 acres of
camping, swimming, canoeing, hiking, cycling and
many miles of equestrian trails. Some of the most
diverse recreation in the area can be found here.
The park accommodates family, youth, primitive
and group camping. The two family camping
areas feature 61 sites, each equipped with electric
and water, a picnic table and fire ring. There are
centralized restrooms with showers for each area.
N
Dogwood
Campground
W
Dogwood Trail
Visitors may explore the Santa Fe River by canoe
to observe the area’s scenic beauty and wildlife.
Canoe rentals are available at the Ranger Station.
River Rise Preserve State Park provides
equestrians with over 20 miles of trails to explore.
At the end of the day, equestrians can camp
overnight with their horses at the horse camp
complete with primitive campsites, restrooms and
a 20-stall horse barn available on a first come, first
serve basis.
S
Ranger
Station
Youth tent camping areas are reserved for
organized non-profit youth groups. Other
primitive camping is available at Sweetwater
Lake, accessible by a 6.5 mile hiking trail.
O’Leno’s Group Camp has 16 cabins, a dining
hall, meeting building and an open-air pavilion.
The dining hall is equipped with cooking utensils
and place settings for 125. The cabins can
accommodate 60. Pillows and linens are not
provided.
Limestone Trail
E
Fe
a
t
n
Sa iver
R
Magnolia
Campground
Camping
Camping (group)
Camping (primitive)
Hiking
Parking
Picnicking
Restrooms
Youth Areas
Directions
The entrance to O’Leno
State Park is 6 miles north of
High Springs on U.S. 41/441.
The entrance to River Rise Preserve
State Park is two miles west of High
Springs on U.S. 27.
Swinging
Bridge