Little Devil Spring
Gilchrist County
Summary of Features
- Scale-3rd magnitude
- Scenery -fine
- How Pristine? -steps to water, land cleared around spring, developed camp/swim/dive/recreation area, some exotics, otherwise fairly pristine
- Swimming-excellent, outstanding snorkeling
- Protection-fine
- Crowds-heavy on warm weekends
- Access-excellent
- Facilities-excellent
- Safety-very good
- Scuba-yes
- Cost-free from river; $14 for adults, and $4 for children age 6-12 to swim
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Directions
Part of the Ginnie Springs complex at 5000 NE 60th Avenue, High Springs, FL 32643. Web link and map at http://ginniespringsoutdoors.com/park-info/. From High Springs, drive south on U.S. 27/41 about 1 mile. Turn west (right) onto State Road 340 (Poe Springs Road), drive about 6.5 miles, and then turn right onto graded road at sign for Ginnie Springs. Follow another mile to the entrance.
Spring Description
Devil's Eye Spring is a dramatic cylindrical limestone shaft that lies in a large clear pool in the lower end of the Little Devil Spring run about 50 feet from the Santa Fe River. The shaft is about 18 feet across and about 20 feet deep. At the bottom of the shaft on the west side is a cavern entrance that, according to DeLoach (1997, p. 86) leads to a depth of 65 feet and exits out of nearby Devil's Ear Spring. About 10 feet down on the east side is a natural limestone seat. Water in the spring is very clear and can be a deep, even glowing, blue. Under other conditions, the water can be greenish, and the spring is subject to inundation by the Santa Fe River when the river is high.
Use/Access
- Ginnie Springs is a full-facility recreation/dive site, with camping areas, a store, compressors for air tanks, scuba lessons, tubing, picnic areas, bathrooms, and other concessions. The complex is the most popular freshwater diving location in the world.
- It is best to visit anytime but on a warm summer weekend, when the spring will be very crowded and have reduced visibility due to too many swimmers and divers in the water.
- Devil's Eye is the second of four major and attractive springs that lie in almost a straight line going from the south to the north side of the river. The other springs are Little Devil (at the southern end), Devil's Ear (in the river on the south side), and July spring (in a large alcove on the north side of the river). This happy alignment reminds JF of the constellations in Orion's belt.
Personal Impressions
One of the authors' all-time favorite springs. Devil's Eye is the most dramatic of several cylindrical springs along the Santa Fe River. Most of the other springs in this area fissures, and none of the cylindrical vents compares to Devil's Eye. On clear and quiet days, the clarity of the water in this spring can be absolute.
Nearby Springs
- Poe Springs
- Darby Spring
- Hornsby Spring
- ALA112791
- ALA930971
- Lily Springs
- Pickard Springs
- COL101971
- Rum Island Springs
- Blue Spring
- Naked Spring
- Johnson Spring
- Ginnie Springs group
- Sawdust Spring
- COL1012972
- COL1012971
- GIL1012973
- Myrtle's Fissure
- GIL1012971
- GIL1012972
- 47 Boatramp Spring(or GIL1012974)
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
- Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park