Springs Fever: A Field & Recreation Guide to 500 Florida Springs.
3rd Edition by Joe Follman and Richard Buchanan
Springs Fever: A Field & Recreation Guide to 500 Florida Springs. 3rd Edition by Joe Follman and Richard Buchanan
In the west end of the Peacock Springs State Recreation Area about 1,000 feet from Luraville Road. Address and web liink for Peacock Springs State Park: 18081 185th Road, Live Oak, FL 32060, 386-776-2194, www.stateparks.com/peacock_springs_state_park_in_florida.html
From Mayo, drive north on State Road 51. After about 4 miles, 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. Drive about 1.8 miles and look for State Recreation Area Boundary marker and gate on the right. Park, climb gate, and walk about 0.2 miles south to the spring.
The land drops abruptly away from the path and down about 15 feet to the spring and its pool. The spring is in an area of deep hardwood forest and cypress trees. The pool is about 75 feet wide and 150 long before tapering into its run and slough. There is exposed limestone in the spring pool. The spring forms the headwaters of Peacock Slough, which runs about 0.2 miles before joining with the flow from Peacock, and then flows through swamp to the Suwannee River about 1.5 miles to the south. On the dates of visit, the water in the spring was very brown. According to Rosenau et al (1977, p. 357-8), the pool is up to 30 feet deep at the vent and about 4 feet deep otherwise. Several alligators were in the pool on the dates RB and JF visited, and herons were observed.
Peacock Springs SRA c/o Ichetucknee Springs State Park 904-776-2194