Grassy Hole Spring Spring
(on the Ichetucknee)
Columbia County
Summary of Features
- Scale -2nd magnitude
- Scenery -excellent
- How Pristine? -completely pristine
- Swimming -no
- Protection -excellent
- Crowds -none
- Access -canoe only, run is usually too shallow to navigate
- Facilities -none at spring; excellent in state park nearby
- Safety -good
- Scuba -no
- Cost -varies by use--see Use/Access below
Directions (address: 12087 SW U.S. Highway 27 Fort White, FL 32038 (386) 497-4690)
From Branford, drive SE on U.S. 27 for about 10 miles. Turn north (left) at park sign onto State Road 137. Take first paved road on the right (State Road 238) to the park entrance on the right. The spring is ¼-1/3 mile downstream from Devil's Eye Springs on the same (right or west) side.
Spring Description
The spring creates a small pool in a low area at the base of long, 20-foot-high natural levee to the west. The spring and its run are in a swampy area and create a small, irregularly-shaped pool that is about 12 by 6 feet and 2-3 feet deep. There are other pool/puddle areas nearby. There appeared to be more than one vent on the date of visit, but aquatic vegetation and the overarching canopy made it difficult to see the bottom. Cypress trees and knees grow around the spring, which forms a 200-foot run of 4 inches to 2 feet deep to the river. The shallow run is clear but filled with aquatic vegetation and cypress knees.
Use/Access
- On date of visit (December 2000), the run was very shallow, and the authors could only paddle a short distance up the run. They walked the rest of the way to the spring, learning only later that they were not supposed to make any landfall.
- The run flows parallel to the river across from a wide grassy area of the river just before the river makes an S-turn to the left and then right. Look for several tree trunks that have been sawed just below the mouth of the run.
- There is a nature trail along part of the spring run just below nearby Ichetucknee Spring at the canoe/tube put-in on the west side. A shuttle service ferries tubers from the parking area to the river and back from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Tubes must be obtained outside the park.
- This spring is one of a series of springs that form the Ichetucknee River. Altogether, the springs discharge an average of over 230 million gallons of water per day.
- Park fees are as follows: $6 per vehicle (up to 8 people per vehicle, and no river use/tubing/canoeing); $4 for single car occupant; $4 for 1 – 2 persons on a motorcycle; $2 for pedestrians, bicyclists, and people with annual entrance permits; The cost for tram service is $5.00 plus tax per person. The cost for shuttle service is $7.00 plus tax per person which also includes tram service. Tram and shuttle tickets and wrist bands are purchased at the concession facility adjacent to the parking lot at the South Entrance of the park.
- Tubing at the park can be done from three locations: North end (3 hours). Mid-point ( 1.5 hours), and Dampier's LAnding (1 hour). The peak tubing season is from Memorial Day to Labor Day. A shuttle service ferries tubers from the parking area to the river and back from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Tubes must be obtained outside the park. The tubing is in the river and not in the springs.
- A citizen support organization, the Friends of Ichetucknee Springs, Inc., has been established to support Ichetucnkee Springs and its watershed. For more information,see www.floridastateparks.org/content/friends-ichetucknee-springs-state-park.
- The park includes bathrooms and picnic facilities, and a concession stand at the south entrance.
- There is a nature trail along part of the spring run just below Ichetucknee Spring at the canoe/tube put-in on the west side. A shuttle service ferries tubers from the parking area to the river and back from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Tubes must be obtained outside the park.
- The park includes bathrooms and picnic facilities, and a concession stand at the south entrance.
Springiana
The spring is wild, swampy, and completely pristine.
Personal Impressions
Nearby Springs
- Blue Hole Spring
- Cedar Head Spring
- Mission/Roaring/Fig/Singing Springs
- Devil's Eye Springs
- Ichetucknee Spring
- Mill Pond Spring
- Coffee Spring
Other Nearby Natural Features
- Ichetucknee Springs State Park
- O'Leno State Park
- San Felasco Hammock State Preserve
- Devil's Millhopper State Geologic Site
- River Rise State Preserve