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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

Ruth Spring

Lafayette County

Directions

Map

From Branford, Travel west on US 27, turn right on NE CR 421; travel north 1 mile and the Ruth Springs tract entrance is on the right. From Mayo: Travel east on US 27, turn left on NE CR 421; travel 1 mile and the entrance is on the right.

Spring Description

Ruth Spring forms a tear-drop-shaped pool that is about 50 feet in diameter. Water in the spring is clear and has had a greenish tint on the dates that the authors have visited. The depth of the pool varies with the level of the Suwannee River, but is generally shallow enough for wading. The water is deepest over the small vent, which is 5-10 feet deep depending of the level of the Suwannee. There is a mild boil over the vent, which is near a wooden wall that erected next to the limestone wall around the parking-lot end of the pool to prevent erosion. Small fish congregate in the pool. The spring forms a meandering, shallow run of about ¼ mileto the Suwannee. There is little vegetation in the spring pool or its run. Oak, gum, and cypress trees form a canopy over the pool and its run.

Use/Access

• The spring is managed by the Suwannee River Water Management District. Activities on the tract include hiking, biking, and horseback riding. It is a gathering area for picnics, making out, wading, andsome swimming. It is primarily a hangout for local folks.
• A trail on the spring’s south side parallels the run to the Suwannee River. Boaters tie up at the mouth of the run and walk up the run to the spring.
• There is a rope swing at the spring pool.

Personal Impressions

Ruth is worth a look, perhaps a snorkel, and a walk along its run to the Suwannee, but is not especially appealing as springs go. In times of high water, the trail along the run is muddy or submerged, and the spring is not very clear.

Nearby Springs

• Suwannee Blue
• Royal
• Bathtub
• Convict
• Owens
• Mearson
• Little River
• Sulfur
• Shingle
• Branford
• Cow
• Running

Other Nearby Natural Features

• Suwannee River State Park
• Itchetucknee River State Park
• Troy Springs State Park