Ray Wayside Park

Ray Wayside Park is located just off East Highway 40 in Marion County just outside Silver Springs. It’s easy to miss the turn-off so keep an eye out for the small sign along the highway. The $5.00 entrance fee is well worth it. Ray Wayside is well maintained with a large boat ramp for motor boats, a smaller launching area for canoe/kayak access and long seawall where anglers gather. Parking is ample and loading/unloading areas are provided. Picnic areas with grills abound with large historic oaks under which to relax with a great playground and bathrooms available close-by. The launch area leads to a narrow canal that takes you right out to the Silver River, a spectacular natural wonder. If you head left you’ll go downstream toward the Ocklawha River, if you turn right you’ll head upstream against a near 3 mph current toward the Silver River State Park and springhead. There are often downed trees so shallow-draft boats are a must. Call [--] for more information.

Ray Wayside Park, a county facility, offers picnic areas, restroom facilities, several ramps for power boats and an excellent ramp for launching paddle craft. Ample parking is provided. Access is from FL40 south of Silver Springs. Launch fee is $5, payable at the entry gate. Boaters launch into a tributary leading to the Silver River, where a 5.5-mile paddle takes you to the springs. Or turn left (downstream), and paddle into the Ocklawaha River, and your return trip will be upstream. Both rivers are beautiful, with many water plants, birds, turtles, and occasional gators. The Silver River paddle adds an extra attraction on both sides of the stream -- rhesus monkeys, descendants of a failed tourist attraction from an earlier day.

This is the most picturesque river I have ever kayaked in. You will need to pay $5 to use the park. The restrooms are rundown but usable. They have two boat ramps and one kayak ramp. You will need to haul your kayak about 50 ft. over grass. Once you're out of the canal paddle up river to the Silver Springs attraction. If your kayaking on the weekend watch out for the power boats. Most of them are considerate towards kayakers but not all. If you make it to the top the spring is stunning. You will see gators, turtles, birds and even snakes along the way! Of course don't forget to look for the monkeys. This is a great river to see wildlife.

We used the Ray Wayside Park to launch from. It was only a $5 parking fee. We paddled up the river to the Silver Springs @ 4.7 miles up river. The water is so clear and cool. There is a mild current to the water which made the grasses below the water dance beneath us. It was beautiful. Peaceful. There were so many fish, birds, some alligators, and we got lucky enough to see the wild monkeys. The monkeys were small and not afraid as they played along the river edge. So worth the paddle even if we had not seen the monkeys. Motor boats are allowed on the river but was not crowded on a weekday. Be sure to paddle the Fort King paddling trail near the spring. For those not interested in such a long paddle there is a drop in about 2 miles from the spring.

We recently used the boat ramp at Ray wayside park to explore silver river and silver springs state park. Ray wayside has a nice boat ramp and a canoe launch as well" there are bathroom facilities and picnic pavilions available. Silver river was awesome. We had quite the wildlife experience. Seeing: alligators up close, ospreys, a bald eagle, and even two troupes of wild monkeys. Great day on the river!

Great kayak launch site. Kayak drop in right at parking lot. Bathrooms available. A 5 mile upstream paddle to silver springs. Fair amount of current. Beautiful along river. No houses. Saw monkeys at about half way to springs. Honor system to pay to launch.

This is a little out of the way park that is used to access the Silver River. A lot of kayaks use it and some boaters. There was no one manning the pay station, so you had to use the honor system. Get a numbered envelope, tear off the top half, put it on your dash board. There is a lists of the costs on the shack. The water is very shallow, not good for swimming and the boat ramp is so slippery and you have to slide down to release your boat. The docks are good though.

Very nice park for launching paddle craft with a dedicated ramp that was easy to get in and out of our kayaks. Tables and benches to lay items while we fussed with boats.

Theories itself is well maintained and safe, but nothing special. However, it offers quick and easy access to the Silver and Ocklawaha rivers. There are two ramps for boats on trailers and a separate kayak launch area.

I sometimes fish there and watch the kayaks launch, it's a very nice, well kept small park with plenty of parking.