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

Darby Spring

Alachua

Summary of Features

  • Scale - 2nd magnitude
  • Scenery - fair
  • How Pristine? - exotics in water, dock adjacent to spring, cleared land and highway nearby
  • Swimming - no
  • Protection - unknown
  • Crowds - adjacent to private land
  • Access - very good
  • Facilities - none
  • Safety - unknown
  • Scuba - no
  • Cost - free

Directions

From downtown High Springs drive about two miles north on U.S. 41/441 to bridge over the Santa Fe River. The boat ramp to the river is on the NW side of the bridge. Put in and go upriver about 100 yards to spring run on the right. Look for small dock.

Spring Description

The spring lies in a pool that is just above where the 0.8 mile run from Hornsby Spring joins the Santa Fe River. On date of visit (April 2000), the water was completely covered in exotic aquatic vegetation and clogged to the point that it could not be canoed. The vent from the spring, measured by Hornsby & Ceryak at 9.6 MGD from a vent ten feet deep (1998, p.21), was not visible. Land rose up above the spring and was cleared and grassy.

Use/Access

The land around the pool is private and posted. A swinging bench is built into a small platform above the small dock near the spring.

Personal Impressions

The clogged spring was unappealing and a disappointment--the legacy of invasive exotics.

Nearby Springs

Other Nearby Natural Features