Blue Spring
Gilchrist County
Summary of Features
- Scale - 1st magnitude
- Scenery - fine
- How Pristine? - developed swim/recreation/camp/beach area with platform, walkway, exotics in water, low retaining wall along shore
- Swimming - fine to excellent
- Protection - very good/private
- Crowds - very heavy on warm weekends
- Access - excellent
- Facilities - excellent
- Safety - very good
- Scuba - no
- Cost - $10 per person
Directions
Address: 7450 NE 60th St, High Springs, FL 32643, 386-454-1369, website: www.bluespringspark.com/index.htm From High Springs, drive south on U.S. 27/41 about 1 mile. Turn west (right) onto State Road 340 (Poe Springs Road) and drive about five miles to entrance to Blue Springs Campground turnoff (look for sign). Follow another two miles to Blue Springs.
Spring Description
The spring forms a circular pool that is about 125 feet in diameter. Water issues from limestone boulders at a depth of about 23 feet in the western end of the pool. Water is very clear and blue, and fish congregate under the dive town in the deeper water. A diving platform on the westside juts out over the springhead. The cave entrance is visible from the platform. Another smaller cave is just to the left as one stands on the platform looking out over the water. Elodea or hydrilla are present in the basin, but appeared to be clear out periodically. Exotic vegetation also clogs the quarter-mile spring run to the river. The middle of the run is clear, revealing a sandy bottom at a depth of about 5 feet. A wooden walkway/boardwalk parallels the run on the east side all the way to the mouth of the run at the Santa Fe River. From the end of the boardwalk, Rum Island may be seen a short distance upriver on the opposite bank. There is also a low retaining wall along most of the shore line, which appears to have been placed to prevent erosion and sand running into the spring basin and run.
Use/Access
- The spring is located in the Blue Springs Campground, which has a campground, picnic areas, restrooms, swimming, a camp store, and related facilities
- The spring is very popular with swimmers on warm weekends. Jumping off the platform (which is about 10 feet over the water, swimmers stirs upthe water, create erosion, and scare away the fish over the vent.
Personal Impressions
Blue Springs is a lovely site and full-service campground with swimming both at Blue Spring and at nearby Naked Spring. However, it can be overrun on warm weekends, and visiting at other times is recommended.
Nearby Springs
- Poe Springs, Darby Spring, Hornsby Spring, Santa Fe Spring, ALA930971, Lily Springs, Pickard Springs, COL101971, Rum Island Springs, Little Blue Springs, 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