| Northwest Florida Springs |
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Counties: Jefferson,
Wakulla,
Franklin, Gulf, Bay,
Walton,
Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Escambia, Holmes,
Washington,
Jackson,
Calhoun, Liberty,
Gadsden, Leon
Washington County Springs
Econfina
Creek Springs
Econfina Creek is one of the more attractive and pristine
rivers in Florida. One can canoe for several miles
in the upper stretches and see no signs of civilization.
Dramatic bluffs line sections of the river, reaching
over 40 feet high. There are sections with exposed
limestone reminiscent of the upper Suwannee River.
Most of the river is canopied and flows through a
thickly forested corridor that has been preserved
amid all the logging and farming around it.
Walsingham
Spring
From the intersection of State Road 20 and U.S. 231
north of Panama City, drive west on SR20 about 7 miles
to bridge over Econfina Creek. Continue another 1/3
mile, then turn right onto Strickland Road. Drive
2.6 miles to stop sign at T-junction. Turn left at
stop sign onto what becomes Porter Park Road. Continue
2.3 miles, then turn right onto Hampshire Road. Continue
1.2 miles, then turn right at sign for Walsingham
bridge. Continue another 1.55 miles to one-lane plank
Walsingham Bridge over Econfina Creek. There is a
primitive launch at the SE edge of the bridge, or
carry on another ¼ mile to Walsingham Park,
which has a better boat launch. The probable spring
site is in the river toward the right (west) side,
about ¼ mile below the bridge (about 100 yards
below the park), on a sharp right turn, just after
a creek enters Econfina Creek from the east side.
Unnamed
Econfina Creek-bed Spring
About 1/3 mile downstream of Walsingham Park in Washington
County in the bed of Econfina Creek.
Blue
Springs Group
From intersection of U.S. 231 and State Road 20, drive
5.8 miles west on SR 20 and turn right on Blue Springs
Road north and continue about 1.3 miles to the spring.
Unnamed
Spring below Blue
As land access from Blue Springs is limited, one must
canoe from Walsingham Bridge or Walsingham Park. From
the intersection of State Road 20 and U.S. 231 north
of Panama City, drive west on SR20 about 7 miles to
bridge over Econfina Creek. Continue another 1/3 mile,
then turn right onto Strickland Road. Drive 2.6 miles
to stop sign at T-junction. Turn left at stop sign
onto what becomes Porter Park Road. Continue 2.3 miles,
then turn right onto Hampshire Road. Continue 1.2
miles, then turn right at sign for Walsingham bridge.
Continue another 1.55 miles to one-lane plank Walsingham
Bridge over Econfina Creek. There is a primitive launch
at the SE edge of the bridge, or carry on another
¼ mile to Walsingham Park, which has a better
boat launch. The mouth of the run of this spring run
is just below the mouth of the Blue Springs Group
run on the Econfina River, a little over 3 miles from
the put-in.
Glowing
Spring
About 1/3 mile upstream of Blue Springs on the left/west
bank of Econfina Creek.
Williford
Run Spring
Off State Road 20 about seven miles west of where
it intersects with U.S. 231 north of Panama City.
Put canoe in where SR20 crosses Econfina Creek and
paddle about ¾ mile upstream past Pitt Spring
and Sylvian (or Sullivan) Spring run on the left.
The spring is near the mouth of the more southerly
Williford Spring run on the south/left side.
Williford
Springs
Off State Road 20 about seven miles west of where
it intersects with U.S. 231 north of Panama City.
Put canoe in on right where SR20 crosses Econfina
Creek and paddle about ¾ mile upstream past
Pitt Spring and Sylvian (or Sullivan) Spring run on
the left.
Sylvian
(or Sullivan) Springs Group
Off State Road 20 about seven miles west of where
it intersects with U.S. 231 north of Panama City.
Put canoe in on right just before SR20 crosses Econfina
Creek and paddle 1/10 upstream past Pitt Spring to
Sylvian Spring run on the left. The spring may also
be reached on foot from the parking lot at the Pitt
Spring Recreation Area. The spring is approximately
two minutes by foot. From Panama City, drive north
on U.S. 231, then turn left onto County Road 2301
which goes through Bayou George, becomes Blue Spring
Road, and intersects State Road 20 ¼ mile east
of the bridge over Econfina Creek. Follow above directions
from there.
Unnamed
Spring near Sylvian
Just off State Road 20 about seven miles west of where
20 intersects with U.S. 231 north of Panama City.
Turn into Pitt Spring Recreation Area immediately
past the bridge and park in lot 75 feet from Pitt
Spring. The spring may be reached on foot a short
distance north of the parking lot between Pitt and
Sylvian Springs.
Piney
Woods Spring
Near Holmes Creek north of Vernon. From the main intersection
in Vernon, drive north on State Road 79 for about
three miles. At old entrance to Cypress Springs, turn
right onto dirt road. Spring is on private property
to the left of the road.
Cypress
Spring
From Vernon, drive NE on Highway 277 2-3 miles to
the public park at Big Pine Landing on Holmes Creek.
Paddle upriver (perhaps a mile) to mouth of Cypress
Springs run on the left and up run 1/4 mile to the
spring.
Shellcracker
Springs
On Holmes Creek north of Vernon. From center of Vernon,
go 2-3 miles NE on State Road 277 to public boat ramp
at Big Pine Landing. Put in boat and go about 1/4
mile upriver toward Cypress Springs. Look for two
mouths of the short spring run on the right (east)
where the river makes a big turn to the left.
Beckton
Spring
On Holmes Creek north of Vernon. The spring may be
reached by boat upriver on Holmes Creek from Vernon,
1/4 mile
downriver from the public boat ramp at Big Pine Landing,
2-3 miles northeast of Vernon off SR 277.
Clemmons
Spring
On Holmes Creek north of Vernon. From center of Vernon,
go 2-3 miles NE on State Road 277 to public boat ramp
at Big Pine Landing. Put in boat and go perhaps 1
mile downriver. Look for mouth of Clemmons Run on
left (east) side of the river.
Hightower
Spring
On Holmes Creek south of Vernon. From the main intersection
in Vernon, drive south on State Road 79 for about
2 miles. Turn right (west) onto Hightower Road and
drive short distance to Hightower Springs Landing
and the spring.
Brunson
Landing Spring
Holmes Creek north of Vernon. From the main intersection
in Vernon, drive north on State Road 79, after crossing
the bridge over Holmes Creek, continue 1/10 mile and
then turn left (east) onto County road 278. Go about
three miles, then turn left onto Dorch Circle. Go
about one block then bear left onto Brunson Landing
Springs Road and continue 3/4 mile to the landing.
Facing the river, walk to the right (upriver) on a
trail along the river. Bear right at an island and
continue to follow the path (perhaps 900 feet total)
to the three springs.
Jack
Paul Spring
On Holmes Creek north of Vernon. From center of Vernon,
go south on State Road 79 about 2 miles and then turn
right (west) onto Two Creek Boulevard. Continue 1/2
mile, then turn right onto Keen Kutter Road and proceed
to boat ramp on Holmes. Go upriver about 1.5 miles
and look for mouth of Jack Paul Spring run on the
right.
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