I made my fist plan to visit this spring three years ago in March. Unfortunately, an unexpected cold front came through. We don't get many of those here in Florida. Let alone in March! Still, we made the most of it and kayaked the river and walked some of the trails. But I was excited to recently return to this beautiful spring with summer weather and summer vibes!
The drive from the road entrance to the parking lot is incredibly scenic. A tunnel of tropical foliage and Spanish moss that will transport you!
You park in the parking lot and then walk up to the actual park entrance. This is where you will pay to enter. Make sure if you leave to grab something from your car that you have the receipt with you to enter back in. That receipt is your ticket in and out of the park.
You will have a great opportunity to take in the views and take a picture when you enter the park. There is a little walkway with a lookout that will give you a chance to survey the spring in all its glory.
Both times I went, I started with kayaking! Following the path to the right, you will make your way toward the spring. Keep walking and follow signs for the kayak rentals. You will fill out some paperwork before renting, but they don't charge till after so keep an eye on the time while you are out there. I am usually out there for about 2 hours total. That gave me plenty of time to kayak the river, pass through "Florida caves," and take a journey off the beaten path.
The "Florida caves" I reference are a cave-like formation created by tree branches and moss. They are incredibly fun to kayak through!
There are turtles everywhere! So keep your eyes peeled while kayaking for turtles all rowed up on logs sunbathing. One turtle snagged his own island with a it's own tree. I have even had some swim right under my kayak!
This river is a very sociable place! You will see other kayakers, paddleboarders, and boaters all offering a friendly wave.
Though kayaking Rainbow River is fun, there are a few run-off tributaries that take you through some Florida jungle. Now, these rivers are narrower and the depth fluctuates. Sometimes you will have to get out of the kayak to help it over fallen trees, but it such a cool experience! Most of the time the water is shallow enough to stand in.
It gives you a chance to enjoy Florida's true natural beauty, undisturbed by the modernization of man.
One of the other cool sights to see is the man-made waterfalls created in the 1930s. There is a little paved path you can follow to all three waterfalls. There are more hiking trails on that side of the park as well.
I can't go to a spring and not go swimming! The great thing about springs is that they are freshwater and incredibly clear. The springs also keep a constant temperature of about 70 degrees no matter what season. This is because the water comes up from aquifers underneath Florida. This spring has a wooden walkway and deck near the water. It has a pretty consistent depth of about 7ft or more, I would say. Pool noodles are allowed. I also suggest bringing goggles or a mask to check out the sights beneath the surface.
This spring and park has so much to do that you can easily spend the entire day here!
Check the springs off your adventure bucket list using the Florida Springs Passport!
Your fun interactive booklet, where you can see what spring adventures you've completed and which ones to look forward to!
Visit floridaspringspassport.com to get yours!
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