Exploring The Parks And Preserves Around Crystal River

Ivana Dragojevic
10/06/2015

Places of exceptional natural beauty, undisturbed islands, inlets, backwaters and forests cherished by nature lovers and photographers.

Rainbow River, Dunnellon, Florida 

With a name like The Nature Coast, you might expect that there would be quite a few parks and preserves surrounding the area of the Gulf Coast where the Villages of Citrus Hills is located. 

And that is exactly what you will find here. 

Our community is close to a vast selection of local parks, state parks, and national wildlife preserves. If you are a nature lover, you will have access to all of these great parks and preserves located throughout the Nature Coast. 

Here are some of our favorites that are located in the Crystal River area:  

Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge, Crystal River

 This national wildlife refuge contains more than 31,000 acres of salt-water marshes. Its original mission was to protect the area’s birds, reptiles, and amphibians…as well as the popular manatees. 

If you are interested in bird watching from one of the most natural habitats you will find anywhere, this is the perfect place to start. 

Citronelle Park, Dunnellon

 This 15-acre county park is a fantastic option for a spur of the moment picnic. There is also a great playground here if the grandkids happen to be visiting.  

Crystal River Archaeological State Park, Crystal River

 As a national historic landmark, the ancient Native American burial grounds are the main attraction at Crystal River Archaeological State Park. But that isn’t just for show; this is a live and working archaeological site. 

There are also lots of great options here for fishing, picnicking, and bird watching. 

Crystal River Preserve State Park, Crystal River

 If you like to get into the water and explore natural settings by kayak, Crystal River Preserve State Park is a great place to start. You can work your way up and down Crystal River from here seeing everything from bald eagles to manatees.

 There are also professional boat tours for those who want to kick back and relax, and there is also great fishing as well.

Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, Crystal River

 The Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1983 to protect our local manatee population. It includes the waters of Kings Bay and Three Sisters Springs. 

Fishing is not permitted here, but there are lots of great places to view the manatee population either from dry land or right in the water. 

Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, Homosassa

Located just south of Crystal River, this state park is one of the most popular places to learn about manatees. You can see them here just about every day of the year, either from the observation decks or the underwater windows. 

There are educational features available in the visitors center, and the park is also a great place for picnicking, boating, hiking, and bird watching. 

Hunter Springs Park, Crystal River

 The state and national parks and preserves get most of the publicity around Crystal River, but Hunter Springs Park is a wonderful option for a much simpler day. This little park has a pavilion, restrooms, a BBQ grill, a volleyball court, a kayak launch, and a place to swim right in the Crystal River. 

Jim LeGrone Memorial Park, Crystal River

 LeGrone Park is another local option that is perfect for spontaneous afternoon picnics or friendly sports competitions. There are tennis courts, basketball courts, a baseball field, and an open field for your annual Turkey Bowl game.

St. Martins Marsh Aquatic Preserve, Crystal River

This aquatic preserve includes 23,000 acres of land and water that is protected from any type of development. It is accessible by boat, or through some of the many trails located in Crystal River Preserve State Park. Fishing, birding, snorkeling and scuba diving are all popular forms of recreation here.

 Yulee Sugar Mill, Homosassa

This state park is definitely a top option if you are a big history buff. The area was once a busy sugar plantation owned by David Levy Yulee, who was also a U.S. Senator. There are still historic remnants of the sugar mill that operated here back in the 1850s.

https://blog.citrushills.com/blog/a-nature-lovers-dream-relocating-to-floridas-nature-coast 

With all of these parks and preserves within reach, residents of the Villages of Citrus Hills never run out of places to explore and enjoy.

Terms and Conditions:

No purchase necessary to enter or win. One (1) entry per tour will be provided upon completion of an in-person tour of The Villages of Citrus Hills between May 1, 2026 and July 15, 2026, regardless of the number of tours completed.
Prize consists of a trip for two (2) to the 2026 U.S. Open, including event tickets for one day of play, round-trip coach airfare, and standard hotel accommodations. Drawing will be held on or about July 17, 2026.
Winner will be notified via phone and/or email and must accept the prize within 5 days or an alternate winner may be selected. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received.
Travel dates, event tickets, and accommodations are subject to availability and may be determined at Citrus Hills’ sole discretion. Prize is non-transferable, has no cash alternative, and cannot be substituted except at sponsor’s discretion. Taxes, upgrades, and additional expenses not expressly included are the responsibility of the winner.
Employees, affiliates, and immediate family members are not eligible. Offer subject to change or termination at any time without notice. Additional terms may apply.
The US Open is a registered trademark of the United States Tennis Association. This promotion is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by the USTA. 

Terms and conditions:

Offer valid on new construction homes purchased through Citrus Hills Construction with a fully executed purchase agreement between May 1, 2026 and May 31, 2026. Citrus Hills Construction will pay the buyer’s customary lender and title closing costs when the home is closed through Manatee Title, LLC. Closing costs must be verified by an official Closing Disclosure prepared by Manatee Title, LLC. Citrus Hills Construction will provide a credit at closing for eligible closing costs as reflected on the final settlement statement. Offer does not include prepaid items, property taxes, homeowners insurance, optional upgrades, or non-standard lender fees.
Offer is non-transferable and may not be combined with other incentives unless expressly approved in writing. Offer subject to change or termination at any time without notice. Additional terms and conditions may apply. See Sales Executive for details.

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