Experiences & Amenities

Excellent birding opportunities can be found within the park, so bring your binoculars, camera and field guide. Commonly seen birds include Mississippi kite, red-shouldered hawk, great horned owl, Eastern whip-poor-will, red-bellied and pileated woodpeckers, yellow-throated warblers and Northern cardinals.

Fishing is allowed anywhere in the river along the river bank starting 400 feet past the spring. Commonly seen fish include white and brown catfish, yellow bullhead, warmouth, bluegill, spotted sunfish, Suwannee bass, striped mullet, golden and coastal shiner, and gulf sturgeon.

Visitors need to bring all equipment needed to fish; no equipment or supplies are available at the park.

• Fishing in the swimming areas is prohibited. 
• All fishing within the park must conform to regulations concerning size, number, method of capture and season. A fishing license may be required.
• A fishing license may be required. More information is available at the Florida Wildlife Commission’s Fishing in Florida.

Enjoy the beautiful Withlacoochee River by canoe or kayak. Vessels (including canoes, kayaks, paddleboards and boats) are not allowed in the spring or spring run. 

• There is no vehicle access or launch point to the river within the park.
• The park does not offer canoe or kayak rentals.

Picnic tables and grills are scattered throughout the park under the majestic oaks and towering pines near the spring. All the picnic tables and grills are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

• Consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited in the park.

The park contains one of the largest cave systems in the area, making it a favorite destination for divers from all around the globe. It is open to certified cave and cavern diving only; no open water diving or free diving allowed.

For everyone’s safety, the following rules must be observed:

• Divers must sign in using the diver sign-in form located at the front edge of the main boardwalk heading to the spring.
• All dives must be conducted with at least two divers; solo diving is not permitted.
• Dive only within the limits of your certification.
• Use of DPVs/scooters is prohibited.
• Artifacts, plants and animals are not to be disturbed or moved.
• All dives must be completed one hour before sunset.
• All persons diving do so at their own risk.

Enjoy swimming, floating and snorkeling in the crystal-clear waters of this first-magnitude spring all year long.

• Swimming hours are from 8 a.m. to sunset.
• The water temperature averages a consistent 72 degrees.

Swimming areas include sections that can reach 25 feet in depth for the more advanced swimmers and less than 5 feet deep areas for less experienced swimmers to wade in. You may see a variety of fish, turtle and other small aquatic creatures as you swim.

• Please be prepared to carefully monitor your inexperienced swimmers and non-swimmers as there is no lifeguard on duty.
• The limestone walls and rock formations surrounding the spring are protected; therefore, climbing onto, walking on, placing items onto, and diving or jumping from the rocks into the spring is strictly prohibited.
• Help us protect the spring by remembering that pets, fishing, and tobacco in any form are not allowed in or around the spring area or adjacent river.
• Consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited in all areas of the park.

Service animals are not allowed in any of the swimming areas. These areas are considered public bathing areas and the Department of Health Regulations state that animals are not allowed in public bathing places. 

As a natural environment, the swim areas are sometimes visited by alligators that are naturally drawn to certain animals, such as dogs. Therefore, service animals are prohibited from entering any of the waters.

Inflatable floats and tubes are allowed in the spring and adjacent river. Visitors may bring their own float.

• To help protect the spring and river, no food, drink, pets, tobacco, alcohol or disposable items are allowed.
• Tubes may not exceed 60 inches in more than one direction.
• No motorized equipment can be used in the spring.