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

GIL101971 Spring

Gilchrist County

Summary of Features

  • Scale - 3rd or 4th magnitude
  • Scenery - excellent
  • How Pristine? - completely pristine
  • Swimming - no
  • Protection - unknown
  • Crowds - none
  • Access - arduous
  • Facilities - none
  • Safety - fair to good
  • Scuba - no
  • Cost - free
  • Directions

Directions

Located at the head of a run of unknown distance that empties into the Santa Fe River across from Rum Island. From High Springs, drive NW on US 27/SR20 about four miles. Turn left (west) onto State Road 138 anddrive about two miles to turnoff to the left (south) at sign for Rum Island (address: 1447 SW Rum Island Terrace, Fort White, FL 32038). Follow dirt road about 1.5 miles to river. Put boat into the river and circle around Rum Island and look for two inlets at the eastern (upriver) end of the island.

Spring Description

The authors paddled part of the way into the run for this spring, but after going approximately 100 yards were forced to turn back because of gathering darkness and obstructions in the run. The run continued back SE out of sight. Exiting the run, the authors saw another run entering the river and speculated that both runs emanated from the same spring. The run was clear, about 25 feet wide, and a few feet deep.

Use/Access

Access only by small boat. Although the Rum Island area a few yards away was very crowded and congested, these two runs had no traffic on date of visit (Summer, 2000). Hornsby & Ceryak identify the spring and measure its flow and parameters (1998, p. 51) but neither describe the vent nor have a photograph of the spring itself, suggesting they did not reach the spring either.

Nearby Springs

Other Nearby Natural Features