Poe Springs Park in Alachua County, FL—Recently Upgraded and More Fun Than Ever!

Poe Springs, one of the largest of the springs alongside the Santa Fe River, is located in a county park, just a short drive from Gainesville.  And it’s Alachua County’s only park with an open, public spring suitable for swimming. Located on CR340 (Poe Springs Road), just a few miles from the town of High …

Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park–Florida’s Newest State Park Now Open!

  Gilcchrist blue Springs State Park is the latest addition to Florida’s state park system.  The 400-plus acre park was previously privately owned, and in 2018 it was sold to the state of Florida.  Located just a short “run” from the Santa Fe River in Gilchrist County, the main spring is a second-magnitude vent pushing …

Natural North Florida’s Gilchrist Blue Springs is Now Florida’s Newest State Park, 11/1/17

Florida now has 175 State Parks, and everyone’s excited that the transition from private to public for Gilchrist Blue Springs is now  a “done deal”.  The property, which contains six natural springs and includes approximately one mile of frontage along the Santa Fe River, has been providing recreational opportunities as a private park since 1958. …

Big Parks, Big Springs–Small Parks, Small Springs–A Few Suwannee River Favorites!

The Swanee River (Old Folks at Home) words and music by Stephen C. Foster (1826-1864) FIRST VERSE Way down upon de Swanee Ribber, Far, far away, Dere’s wha my heart is turning ebber, Dere’s wha de old folks stay. All up and down de whole creation Sadly I roam, Still longing for de old plantation, …

Three Natural North Florida Springs–Free For All!

Some of the best things in our Natural North Florida region are free, and that’s especially true when it comes to three of our smaller springs.  While we have the largest concentration of first and second magnitude freshwater springs in the world, these county-maintained “swimming holes” in Jefferson, Columbia and Alachua counties are fun–and FREE! …

Visit Springs Along The Santa Fe River in Columbia, Gilchrist and Alachua County

The Santa Fe River traverses several counties in the Natural North Florida region.  It begins upstream of the town of  Worthington Springs in southern Union County, and eventually flows into the mighty Suwannee River at Three Rivers Estates.  The river flows downstream to O’Leno State Park in Columbia County  where it drops into the Karst …

Don’t Miss These Two Levy County State Parks and Their First Magnitude Springs

Our Natural North Florida region has one of the largest concentration of freshwater springs on Earth, and two are located in Florida State Parks alongside the mighty Suwannee River in Levy County.  Famous for their flow of clean fresh water that’s a temperate 72-degrees Fahrenheit all year long, Manatee and Fanning springs are the centerpieces …

Natural North Florida Ultimate Springs Guide Now ONLINE

Our Natural North Florida region has a greater concentration of freshwater springs than almost any area its size in the world.  Ranging from smaller springs along the Suwannee, Withlacoochee and Santa Fe Rivers to major springs bubbling up in what looks like dry land, our springs provide incredible opportunities to snorkelers, swimmers and paddlers.  And …

Visit Fanning Springs, A Natural North Florida Paradise!

Fanning Springs State Park, located on the Suwannee River, this inviting source of cool, clear water has attracted people for thousands of years. Fanning Springs now produces less than 65 million gallons of water daily, making it a second magnitude spring. Historically, Fanning Spring was a first-magnitude springs as recently as the 1990s. Swimming or …