| Northeast Florida Springs |
|
Counties: Nassau, Duval, Clay,
Bradford,
Alachua,
Levy,
Dixie,
Taylor,
Madison,
Hamilton,
Columbia,
Baker, Union,
Gilchrist,
Lafayette,
Suwannee
Suwannee County Springs
Suwannee
Springs
From Live Oak, drive about 7 miles north on U.S. 129,
crossing under Interstate 10. Turn right on old highway
129, just before the agriculture station and solid
waste collection site, and before crossing the Suwannee
River. Turn right on dirt road sign-posted for the
spring.
Little
Gem (Or Lime) Spring
From boat ramp at Suwannee River State Park, walk
upriver about ¼ mile to the spring on the left
(or boat upriver that distance and spring will be
on the right).
Lime
Spring
From Interstate 10 exit #38 travel north four miles
to town of Lee and turn right (east) on U.S. 90. Drive
about 12 miles to Suwannee River State Park shortly
after crossing the Suwannee River and proceed to the
parking area just above the boat ramp at the end of
the paved road. Lime Spring Run trail heads back from
this parking area. The spring pool is just beyond
where the trail crosses the run in Suwannee River
State Park. The spring appears to lie within the State
Park boundaries, but one must leave the path to reach
it. From I-10 exit #39, travel west on U.S. 90 about
8-9 miles to the state park. (You will pass the entrance
to Falmouth Spring on the way from exit #39.)
Mattair
Spring
From Live Oak, drive north on U.S. 129 for 6-7 miles.
Turn right onto County Road 136A. Turn on 85th Road,
then right onto 75th Road to the entrance. Drive until
the road ends and then follow the path upriver along
the river about a mile to the spring.
Ellaville
Spring
Just past and behind the agriculture weigh station
where U.S. 90 crosses the Suwannee River, about 50
feet from the railroad trestle on the east bank.
Falmouth
Spring
From Interstate 10 exit #38, travel north four miles
to town of Lee and turn right (east) on U.S. 90. Drive
about 14 miles to and turn right into spring entrance
2.2 miles east of the entrance to Suwannee River State
Park. From I-10 exit #39, travel west on U.S. 90 about
5 miles to the spring entrance on the left.
Anderson
Spring
Anderson Spring is about 3.5 mi W. of Falmouth on
the east bank of the Suwannee River. Divers identify
the exact location as being in the bed of the Suwannee
River, adjacent to this land site.
An
Essay on the Luraville Area
Charles
Spring
Charles Spring is about 2.3 mi N. of Dell on the east
bank of the Suwannee River. The pool is divided by
a small limestone bridge and each section has a boil.
Thomas
Spring
About 1 mile upriver from the boat landing at Lafayette
Blue Spring or 1.5 miles downriver from the Allen
Mill Pond or Charles Spring boat ramps on the east
side of the Suwannee River. Look for a small break
in the river berm just upriver from a brown house
on stilts. In time of normal or high river levels,
water would be flowing from the spring through the
outlet. In times of drought, the spring and run do
not flow.
Telford
Spring
Coming from Mayo to Luraville, turn right at caution
light. Take first right on dirt road about 1 mile
to the spring on the right.
Luraville
Springs
In the woods almost directly behind the dive shop
in Luraville.
Bonnet
Spring
In the west end of the Peacock Springs State Recreation
Area about 1,000 feet from Luraville Road.
Cow
Spring
From Mayo, drive north on State Road 51. After about
4 miles, you will cross the Suwannee River. The flashing
light at Luraville is another 1-1.5 miles north, just
past the agriculture weigh station. There is a country
store on the left at the flashing light. Turn right
at the light onto Luraville Road and drive about 3.5
miles. At intersection with church on the left, turn
right (south) and go about 1.2 miles. There will be
a sand road on the left that leads 200 yards to the
spring.
Running
Springs #1 and #2
From Mayo, drive north on State Road 51. After about
4 miles, you will cross the Suwannee River. The flashing
light at Luraville is another 1-1.5 miles north, just
past the agriculture weigh station. There is a country
store on the left at the flashing light. Turn right
at the light onto Luraville Road and drive about 3.5
miles. At intersection with church on the left, turn
right (south) and go to the end of the road near the
river about 1.3 miles. Instead of turning left or
right, look for sand drive straight ahead and proceed
150 feet to bluff over springs.
Bathtub
Spring
Put in at Convict Springs and head upriver about ¼
mile. Spring is on the opposite (NE) side.
Royal
Spring
From the U.S. 27 bridge over the Suwannee River at
Branford, head north on U.S. 129 for about 5½
miles, past the sign pointing to Little River Spring,
until you reach the small community of O'Brien. A
sign says "Royal Spring." (This is the last
sign you will see with the word "Royal"
on it.) Turn left on County Road 345 and go about
9 miles. If you see a Suwannee Farms sign on the right,
you have gone too far. On your left you will see a
graded road, 198 Trail (or Terrace), with a small
yellow sign bearing a symbol that indicates a boat
ramp. Go about 0.6 mile and turn left on 157th Lane.
Go about 1/5th mile and you will dead-end into the
park and boat ramp at the spring.
Suwannee
Blue Spring
From the U.S. 27 bridge over the Suwannee River at
Branford, head north on U.S. 129 for about 5½
miles, past the sign pointing to Little River Spring,
until you reach the small community of O'Brien. A
sign says "Royal Spring." That is the last
sign you will see with the word "Royal"
on it. Turn left on County Road 345 and go about 9
miles. If you see a Suwannee Farms sign on the right,
you have gone too far. On your left you will see a
graded road, 198 Trail (or Terrace), with a small
yellow sign bearing a symbol that indicates a boat
ramp. Go about 0.6 mile and turn left on 157th Lane.
Go about 1/5th mile and you will dead-end into the
park and boat ramp at the spring. Put in boat at Royal
Spring, go downriver, and look for mouth of Suwannee
Blue Springs run by a boulder on the left near the
shore after about ¼ mile.
Little
River Spring on the Suwannee River
From Branford, drive three miles north on U.S. 129
and turn left onto County Road 248. A green "Little
River Spring" marks the turn. Go about a mile
toward the river (west) and follow signs to the spring.
Branford
Springs
Branford Spring is located on the east side of the
Suwannee River, just south of the U.S. 27 bridge that
crosses the river. Turn south into Ivey Memorial Park;
the spring is on the right about 150 feet from the
bridge.
SUW917971
On the north side of the Santa Fe River 150 feet below
where it is joined by the Ichetucknee River.
SUW107971
From Branford, drive east/south on U.S. 27 about 4
miles to junction with U.S. 129. Drive south on U.S.
129 for about 5 miles, and turn right (west), immediately
after passing the turn for State Road 138 (which is
on the left/east). Drive on graded dirt road and then
turn right/west on NW 39 Avenue to the Wanamake boat
ramp on the Santa Fe River. (Note: the Santa Fe River
is only about ¼ mile from the Suwannee River
at this boat ramp.) Put in and go upriver about 2/3
to ¾ mile and look for spring on the left/west
side. The spring is a short distance upriver from
a swampy area on the north side characterized by very
large cypress trees with wide trunks that taper dramatically
and are reminiscent of Indian teepees.
Devil's
Eye (or Boiling) Springs (on the Ichetucknee)
From Branford, drive SE on U.S. 27 for about 10 miles.
Turn north (left) at park sign onto State Road 137.
Take first paved road on the right (State Road 238)
to the park entrance on the right. Put canoe in at
launch. The springs are about 850 feet downstream
(about three minutes' paddle) from Mission Springs,
on the opposite bank.
Coffee
Spring Spring (on the Ichetucknee)
From Branford, drive SE on U.S. 27 for about 10 miles.
Turn left at sign into south entrance of Ichetucknee
Springs State Park shortly after crossing the river.
Spring is a short distance below Dampiers Landing
behind the main park building. Alternatively, the
spring is about one mile downriver of Mill Pond Spring
if you put in at the north entrance, or 0.8 mile below
the midpoint tube launch.
Big
Shoals on the Suwannee
On the other side of the river is a park, popular
with mountain bikers. From this park one can see both
Little Shoals and Big Shoals. To reach it, start at
the intersection of Highways 136 and 41. Go through
town about ½ mile, passing the high school,
then turn left on 3rd Street at the next flashing
light (by the S & S foodstore/gas station). Go
around a bend and over the railroad tracks–you
are now on 135 heading northeast. Go about 1.2 miles
and look for the sifan on the right that says, "Big
Shoals Conservation Area." If you pass the huge
plantation-looking house on your left and a white
wooden fence, you have gone too far. From here, dirt
roads wind all around and I never made it all the
way to the river and Little Shoals. Big Shoals to
the northeast can also be reached by these same dirt
roads.
|
