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

• Home
• Table of Contents
• Central Florida Panhandle
• Springs Near Tallahassee
• Taylor County
• Withlacoochee River
• Suwannee River
• SantaFe River
• Ichetucknee River
• Ocala National Forest
• Central Gulf Coast
• Other Central Florida
• Northeast FL
• Other Natural Features
• Email us
• Native American

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

Ponce de Leon Springs

Holmes County

Directions

The spring is in a state park of the same name located onthe edge of the town of Ponce de Leon. Exit Interstate 10 at Highway 81 and head north a minute or two until you reach U.S. 90. (Signs lead from I-10 to the spring.) Turn right, go over the bridge and then right again on to 181A, just before the small store/gas station. Go south,cross the railroad tracks, and you will soon see the entrance.

Spring Description

The springs pool is enclosed by a rock and cement retaining wall, has a small weir at the downstream end, and creates a kidney-shaped swimming area of about 100 by 75 feet (Rosenau et al., 1977, p. 169).  A short foot bridge arches over the weir, which forms a small waterfall at the head of the run.  The spring run flows for about 100 yards before joining Sandy Creek.  A concrete slab jutting out over the water serves as a jumping platform.  Water flows from two boils in the lower part of the pool, each about 12 feet deep and consisting of small vents. The spring has been observed to siphon--to flow backward into the aquifer--under flood conditions.

Use/Access

• Ponce de Leon Springs State Park has full picnic and bathroom facilities.
• Nature trails follow beside the run and through the woods.

Local Springiana

• White sand dunes line the banks of the spring run and the river, evidence of an earlier era when the Florida coast was much further inland.
• Noise from nearby Interstate 10 is very evident at the spring.

Personal Impressions

The spring and its recreation area are a fine spot to spend an afternoon, bring children, and have a picnic.  Note that crowds can be heavy on summer weekends.

Nearby Springs

• Becton Spring
• Cypress Spring
• Other Holmes Creek Springs
• Jackson Spring
• Vortex Spring
• Cypress Spring
• Morrison Spring

Other Nearby Natural Features

• St. Andrews State Recreation Area
• Falling Waters State Recreation Area

Contact Information

Ponce de Leon Springs State Park
1130 State Park Road
Chipley, FL 32428
850-836-4281, www.floridastateparks.org/park/ponce-de-leon-springs