Springs Fever: A Field & Recreation Guide to 500 Florida Springs.
3rd Edition by Joe Follman and Richard Buchanan

COL1012971 Spring

Columbia County

Summary of Features

  • Scale - 2nd magnitude
  • Scenery - excellent
  • How Pristine? - completely pristine
  • Swimming - unknown
  • Protection - unknown/private
  • Crowds - none
  • Access - good/canoe only
  • Facilities - none
  • Safety - unknown
  • Scuba - unknown
  • Cost - free

Directions

From Ft. White, drive south on State Road 47 about five miles to the bridge over the Santa Fe River. The spring is approximately 2/3 mile upriver from the boat ramp, on the northeast side. The spring is about 0.3 miles upstream of Myrtle's Fissure. Look for a small opening in the bank on the right, and a larger opening about 60 feet further downstream. Both entrances lead to the spring.

Spring Description

The spring is oval and flows from a limestone opening--probably a fissure--at the bottom of a limestone bank that is perpendicular to the river. The area over the fissure is about 20 feet long and 6 feet wide. The spring forms a pool that, on dates of visit in 2000, had exposed limestone a tthe surface on the downstream side and narrow (4-5 feet) channel/run of about 45 feet. This channel/run emptied into a circular pool about 40 feet in diameter on the bank of the Santa Fe River. The spring and pool forma small peninsula.

Cypress and other trees surround the spring, which is only a few feet from the river on the other side of the bank. Limestone banks rise inland from the spring, and there is a boat ramp leading into the large circular pool just downriver of the spring and connected to the spring run. In times of normal or high water, there appears to be a small channel running northor inland from the spring; this channel dries up in times of drought and low water.

Use/Access

Nearby Springs

Other Nearby Natural Features