Two years ago, I was supposed to go on this camping trip to check out Ichetucknee Springs, but due to an impending tropical storm, we cancelled the trip. Not long after this cancellation...came a devastating breakup. After all those curve balls and some time, I was so excited to finally have this adventure back on my calendar. But this time I would be checking out not only Ichetucknee Springs, but also Poe Springs, Rum Island Springs, Gilchrist Blue Springs, and Ginnie Springs! All these springs are located along the Santa Fe River, which is not far from Gainesville, Florida. So follow me on my grand spring adventure!
I am first going to start by talking about accommodations. While these springs aren't far from Gainesville, it is still about a 45-minute drive. I found the cutest Airbnb, only 15-20 minutes from all the springs. A quaint loft above a horse barn that was renovated into a true treasure. I couldn't believe there was a chic vintage clawfoot bathtub! My host, Dianne, was so kind, and her dog, Buster, welcomed me as I pulled up. I kid you not, I woke up to the sound of birds chirping in the morning. I enjoyed sitting on the balcony deck, enjoying the peace and tranquility. Here is a link to this Airbnb if you would like to book it for yourself!
For other accommodations, I spent some time in the small town of High Springs, just down the road from where I stayed. I enjoyed some fabulous meals here, but will get to that later. I noticed when driving around, there was a cute motel-style place called BlueGem Motel that looked new and contemporary.
I drove up on a Saturday and planned to get to Poe Springs by 9:00 a.m. since the springs get packed very quickly on the weekends, especially in the summer.
*Fun Fact* my GPS wasn't exactly accurate. I typed in Poe Springs, and when it said it was on my right, all I saw was trees. No worries if your GPS does this to you. Just continue down the road another minute, and you will see a sign for Poe Springs, and the turn will be right after.
There wasn't an attendant when I arrived, but there was an envelope to put your park entry fee of $6.00 into. Make sure to tear off the side with the parking hang tag and drop the envelope into the box. An attendant eventually showed up around 10 a.m. When visiting this park, it is best to bring exact cash.
There are two parking lot options. The one to the right is closest to the building with the restrooms, and the one to the left is closer to the boat/watercraft launch area.
Each one is the same distance from the spring, so for that it doesn't really matter. It is about a half-mile jaunt from the parking lot to the actual spring swim area.
You start on a shaded paved sidewalk, transforming into a boardwalk through a forest of cypress trees. Peering past the trees, you can see paddlers on the Santa Fe River.
There are two lookouts where you can gaze upon Poe Springs.
I took a moment, enjoying how quiet it was at that time in the morning, with hardly anyone there. I walked past the pavilions to look out over the Santa Fe River.
There are two sets of stairs you can use to get into the water. Poe Springs offers a large swimming area, but not necessarily made for tubing. I did see someone there renting tubes to people. The mouth of the spring is toward the side closest to the bridge/lookouts. The water in this spring is clear, but can look more green as in certain areas. This is due to oxygen levels and oils from the plants.
I saw some small fish swimming about and a turtle. I even saw a baby turtle!!
The bottom is sandy near the spring head, then getting rockier as you get closer to the river. What is really cool is you can see the clear, fresh water being pumped out by Poe Springs, pushing against the brackish water of the Santa Fe River.
And just hidden around the corner is a rope swing!
I spoke to a local regular paddler in the morning. He verified I could paddle down to Rum Island Springs and Gilchrist Blue Springs from Poe Springs. He said it could take between 20-45 minutes, depending on how much you paddle. The paddle back up to Poe would be more challenging, as I would be going against the current, but the current didn't seem anymore difficult than Rainbow River.
So I got my board all blown up and carried it to the drop-in spot. There is no parking at the drop-in/dock area. If you need to use your car to get your boat or watercraft close to the water there is a driveway. What I love about my inflatable SUP board is it isn't too heavy to carry, only weighing about 20-25 lbs.
I got all setup, and off I went!
It was so peaceful and serene.
When you see John's Bluff, you are at the halfway point.
You will see Rum Island Springs on your right first. Technically, Rum Island is the island of trees you can paddle around just to the right of Rum Island Springs. Of all the springs I have visited, Rum Island has the smallest swimming area. It is smaller than some backyard pools. At this time of year, August, the water in the swim area was the same color as the Santa Fe River. I decided to bypass this spring, but technically, I still visited, so I checked it off on my Florida Spring Passport.
About five minutes down the river, I saw a sign on my left for Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park. And here, just like Poe Springs, you could see the clear spring waters pushing against the darker water of the river.
Crossing from the Santa Fe River to Gilchrist Blue Springs Run was like being transported through a portal. This is one of the clearest spring waters I have ever seen, and the vegetation was absolutely gorgeous.
There are some smaller springs you will see on your paddle toward the spring head and swim area.
Though the water is shallow on this tributary, it is advised to avoid getting out and swimming around.
There were several of us paddlers parked at the ropes of the Gilchrist Blue Springs swimming area. On one side, you could pull your kayak or paddleboard up onto the bank, but it was quite muddy. I opted for the other side and used my life vest to tie up my board.
It is very common for people to paddle the Santa Fe River and visit all the different springs. Just try to stay in and on the water.
I grabbed my mask and GoPro to better see how blue Gilchrist Blue was. Now, Gilchrist is a very popular spring to visit in the area, and it was a Saturday afternoon, so it was crazy busy. Because there were lots of people kicking and swimming around, the clarity of the spring wasn't at its finest. But it was, as to its name, quite blue.
After enjoying some swimming, I headed back to my board and began heading back. I ran into another regular paddler who let me know about one of the smaller secret springs. While on Google Maps, it is named Jonathon Spring, it is known by many locals as Mermaid Spring. This was the nickname of the lady who used to own the property.
Heading back upstream, only a few minutes from Rum Island on your left, you will see a small alcove. You won't see much at first, but as you get closer, you will see the defining beautiful cerulean waters. This spring is much less chaotic than the others and feels like a true gem that only certain people will discover. You can also walk a dirt trail from Rum Island Springs to get here.
Now it was time to paddle back....the first half wasn't bad. But as I got closer to Poe Springs, I was really fighting the current. Another thing I noticed was as the river weaves and bends, when you came around a corner, the current was very strong. It wasn't impossible, but I definitely got a workout in.
After a full day of paddling and swimming fun, I needed to refuel. I asked Diane, my Airbnb host, for some food recommendations. One that she suggested was the Great Outdoors Restaurant. This restaurant is located in downtown High Springs. They have indoor and outdoor seating. On Saturday nights, they have live music playing on the patio stage. The band that night was fantastic!
Bartender, Gina, who was awesome, hooked me up with a refreshing cocktail and supported my choice of ordering the fried green tomatoes. I also took her recommendation to add the bacon jam on the side. If you are coming to this restaurant, the fried green tomatoes are a must.
The atmosphere was fun, the food was full of Southern delight, and the crowd was friendly.
The next day was my long-awaited adventure to Ichetuckenee Springs! I had planned to do the Paddle Ichetucknee tour, booking my time and purchasing my wristband for the shuttle ride the night before. You will receive a link to a waiver to be signed prior to your arrival. For any paddling or tubing activities, you will enter the state park at the South Entrance.
My time was for 9:30 a.m., and I got to the entrance a little bit before 9:00. This gave me time to pay for my park entrance fee, which was only $3.00 for me (one person in a single vehicle), get parked, and blow up my board. I checked in at Ichetucknee General Store at the middle window to get my wristband.
Then I followed the brown signs to the shuttle loading area.
I was warned at the check-in window that they were running behind due to a lack of shuttle vans. I made use of my time by snacking and chatting with other paddlers.
Now, it is stated in the rules that you aren't supposed to bring snacks or any plastic on the river to help keep it pristine. I abided by this rule, but on a busy Sunday, no one checked my bags... so make of that what you will. I also have known people doing the extended 9-mile paddle tour and people dropping in at Dampier's Landing to bring coolers. Just make responsible choices.
Due to the delay, we ended up getting on the shuttle an hour later than our scheduled time. This didn't bother me too much, as I planned to spend the whole day at Ichetucknee anyway. The shuttle drops you off at the north end of the park and river. This is where the swimming is, which I will visit later.
The shuttle drops you off just a few feet from the ramp that will take you down to the river. You are moving downstream, so mainly you are just guiding your board and enjoying the ride.
I couldn't get over how clear the water was! I saw tons of turtles sunbathing on logs, hearing the calls of wetland birds, and schools of mullet and Florida gar below.
It was so quiet on the north end of the river with just us paddlers. Some found stopping points along the way to get out and take a dip. A lot of the north part is open to the sunshine (so I suggest wearing a hat) and the river is quite wide. As you move down the river towards where tubers join, the river will begin to narrow, but just a bit, and it gets a little shadier.
Once you hit Midpoint, the first place tubers can hop on, the river can get a little crowded. But everyone starts to space out once you get past the drop-in sight. The same thing goes for when you hit Dampier's Landing, which is behind the General Store.
On my right, a little way down from Dampier's Landing, I found a small cave. It reminded me of the cenotes I saw back in Mexico. One of the holes provided some natural air conditioning.
A hint that you are near the last takeout is you will begin to see civilization again and the tram passing by on your left. I gently guided myself into the roped-off area since people were swimming around (not the wisest choice), got off my board, and followed the stairs out of the water. My ride was over (insert sad face).
There are restrooms to use before hopping on the tram which will return you to the south parking lot.
*Note* If you purchase the wristband for the shuttle it also works for the tram ride back. The requirement is you have to deflate your SUP/kayak before getting on. They had a caged trailer for the tubes. It is just a quick ride back to the lot, much better than having to hoof it back.
It's a little chaotic when getting off the tram, but if you brought your watercraft or gear, veer to the right when leaving the tram to find the parking lot.
There are picnic tables scattered throughout the parking area, shaded by trees. I enjoyed some lunch here before heading to the north part of the park for swimming. There is a concession stand at the General Store if you didn't bring snacks. The ticket that got you into the park this morning (which they have you attach to your front windshield) will get you into the north part of the park as well.
I made it up to the north end of the park around 2 p.m. I saw orange cones blocking the entrance, so I U-turned back around and spoke to one of the park rangers, Jason. I asked if they were closed for the day or if they were going to open back up (this process varies from spring to spring). He said, right now, they are at capacity but will open back up in about 30 minutes. I let him know I was here exploring the spring so I could write articles about it for Florida Spring Passport (I'm their blogger). He was so friendly and shared with me a wealth of information.
There is so much history here at Ichetucknee, which means "Pond of the Beaver" in the language of the Timucuan tribe. On-site is an old Spanish settlement, grist mill, chapel, a saber tooth skull, and Native American burial ground. He mentioned in the fall, they have a Time Machine Tour where they really dive into these subjects. I told him I would be back and to sign me up! Jason also introduced me to his colleague Sam, who is an environmental specialist. Ichetucknee has manatee visitors, and there is a pod that hangs around all year. They use their special manatee senses to know when the water is high enough for them to swim about. By the time I got done talking to both of them, the gates had opened.
This parking lot is much smaller than the one at the south end, hence why they keep an eye on capacity.
I decided to first explore the Blue Trail to view the Blue Hole swim area.
The Blue Trail is a little less than half a mile. No dogs are allowed to accompany you on this trail. It is a dirt trail that is heavily shaded. I really enjoyed the stroll, letting the louder commotion from the Head Spring area slowly dissipate.
There is a small wooden lookout area with stairs down to the Blue Hole swim area. Only bring exactly what you need, nothing more. Blue Hole, as I learned from Jason, is a first-magnitude spring that pumps out about 65 million gallons of water a day into the Ichetucknee River. Blue Hole is also part of a cave system you can scuba dive, but you must be Cavern Diver Certified.
The moment you get in the water, you can feel the power of the water coming from the depths of the Blue Hole.
Checking this off the list, I decided to head back and check out Head Spring. This one is much busier and has a larger swimming area. Head Spring is a second-magnitude spring pumping out 62 million gallons of water a day. This spring head swim area is similar to others I have seen. You can either follow down the ramp down or the stone stairway.
There are signs guiding you to the store if you need to purchase snorkel gear or sunscreen. Near the plethora of picnic tables, between the parking lot and Head Spring, is the Riverside Grill if you need nourishment after all the spring fun.
Tired from a long day of paddling and swimming, I decided to hold off checking out on Trestle Point and Pine Ridge Trail for when I come back in the fall for the Time Machine Tour.
I ended up eating at Great Outdoors again because there aren't many restaurants open on a Sunday evening in this small town. I was fine with that. The vibe on a Sunday night was much different, much calmer, and quieter. I got plenty of writing done and had another delicious meal.
Ginnie Springs is one of the most popular springs in the area, especially for the college kids in Gainesville. This is because it isn't a state park and alcoholic beverages are allowed. I saved visiting this spring until Monday, which was a smart choice. I went online to fill out their general waiver ahead of time. Everyone visiting Ginnie Springs must sign this waiver, no matter what activity you are partaking in. There was hardly anyone when I arrived at 9 a.m.
When first pulling up to the kiosk you will veer to the right. An attendant will take down some information and instruct you toward the building called Ginnie Springs Outdoors. No matter what activity you are doing, you will check-in inside and pay the $20.00 basic entrance fee. Again, if you fill out the general waiver on their website prior, it will make the check-in process so much faster. They give you a hang tag to put on your rearview mirror. There are restrooms to the left of the building if you need to use them.
*Note* The next part can be a little confusing, but read this and you will be grand. Once back in your car, follow the arrows guiding you out of the parking lot. It will seem confusing because you will ask, "Why am I circling back the way I came in?" But now you will veer to the left side of the kiosk, where they look for the hangtag on your mirror and let you on through.
Follow the signs for Ginnie Springs!
I have been to Ginnie before on a weekend afternoon, and it was crazy. But this time, on a Monday morning, it was so peaceful. I parked near the pavilion and entrance to the swim area.
For the paddling drop-in, follow along the right side of the swim area. You will see stairs and the rentable SUPs and kayaks.
I paddle upstream for about 20 minutes, with a quick stop at the Devil's Eye, before reaching the tube drop in sight. Then I enjoyed the float down the Santa Fe River toward Ginnie Spring's last takeout.
As you float on your tube, SUP, or kayak, you will pass the collection of Devils (Ear, Eye, and Little), Ginnie Springs, Dogwood Springs, Twin Spring, and Deer Spring.
The last two, Twin and Deer Springs, when I visited (in August), were the same color as the river.
*Note* There are big signs for tubers of when and where the river exit is, which is Twin Spring.
This took me about 40 minutes on my paddle board, with a quick stop at each spring. But on my paddle back, I spent a little more time swimming around Dogwood Spring. Keep in mind, that you are paddling against the current on the way back up to Ginnie Springs.
Passing through the doorway of low-hanging tree branches, is the quaint and bashful Dogwood Spring.
Once I reached Ginnie Springs, I packed up my board so I could do some more swimming. Because it was the morning of a weekday, the water was incredibly clear. There weren't a multitude of feet kicking up sand.
To check out and swim the Devils, I crossed the volleyball court and followed the shaded dirt path. Once the path opens up, head left toward the campsites and water. Three large sets of stairs descend into this area. The three Devils are part of a cave system you can dive, but you must be Cavern Diver Certified. The largest one is called the Devil's Eye. Glancing toward the Santa Fe River, you will see a medium-sized orange buoy, which marks the Devil's Ear. Then, if you move away from the river and follow the small run, at the end, you will find the Little Devil.
This is a fun area to swim, but make sure you are conscious of the divers.
Before hopping on the road to head home, I freshened up in the bathhouse, which has toilets and a changing area with showers.
Thanks for joining me on my grand spring adventure, and I hope this helps with planning your trip visit the many springs of the the Santa Fe River. And let this remind you that if a trip gets cancelled or delayed, it doesn't mean it can't be rebooked and become even better than you imaged it the first time.
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!