Spring Time
Springtime means it’s spring time! Check out this overview of Florida spring state parks with great opportunities for swimming, snorkeling and relaxing.
Madison Blue Spring State Park
This crystal-clear, first-magnitude spring is a popular spot for swimming and cave diving. Voted the No. 1 swimming hole in the country by USA Today in 2015, Madison Blue Spring is a family-favorite destination and a fantastic place to spend the day. Swimmers may see a variety of fish, turtles and other small aquatic creatures.
Rainbow Springs State Park
The cool, clear waters of the headsprings are refreshing for swimming. The average depth in this natural swimming area runs from five to 18 feet, and the water temperature averages 72 degrees year-round. Snorkeling the headsprings of the Rainbow River is a favorite activity with chances to see a crystal-clear underwater landscape populated with fish and turtles.
Ruth B. Kirby Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park
Gilchrist Blue Springs is the newest addition to Florida State Parks! Paddling, snorkeling and swimming are all popular at the main springhead and spring run. The headspring, known as Gilchrist Blue, has outstanding water clarity and discharges water through a shallow spring run about one-quarter mile to the Santa Fe River.
De Leon Springs State Park
De Leon Springs offer a uniquely Florida experience that blends a large recreational swimming area with fascinating history. Once called Acuera, or “Healing Waters,” by Timucuan Indians who inhabited the area, De Leon Springs is great place to cool off in clear waters and roam trails through a lush subtropical forest.
Ichetucknee Springs State Park
The spring that feeds the Ichetucknee River, a renowned tubing destination, is an equally great place for swimming and snorkeling. Visitors can swim at the headspring or at the more secluded Blue Hole Spring
There are many more springs in Florida State Parks and they offer unique experiences beyond swimming, like wildlife-viewing and glass-bottom boat tours.
Experience Florida’s Springs
This article was published in the Real Florida ℠ Connection, the Florida State Parks e-newsletter. Sign-up to get updates and stories from your state parks the first week of every month.