Sawdust Spring
Columbia County
Summary of Features
- Scale - 3rd magnitude
- Scenery - fine
- How Pristine? - very pristine
- Swimming - poor to fair
- Protection - unknown/private
- Crowds - very small
- Access - private land/boat access only
- Facilities - none; excellent across river at Ginnie Springs
- Safety - good
- Scuba - no
- Cost - free from public ramp; $14 for adults and $4 for children age 6-12 at Ginnie Springs
Directions
At the downstream end and across the river from the Ginnie Springs complex at 5000 NE 60th Avenue, High Springs, FL 32643
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. The spring is across the river from and between Twin Spring and Deer Spring.
Spring Description
The spring is in a low area about 100 feet from the Santa Fe River. The spring and its run are 40-50 feet wide, a few feet deep, and the run is partially blocked by logs and aquatic vegetation. The spring pool is circular, and a strong boil is present above an opening in the limestone. Water in the spring is clear and blue. Water in the spring is clear and can be blue or green depending on lighting and other conditions. The inteconnected cavern systems associated with other springs at Ginnie Springs have been mapped for 33,000 feet. Over 30,000 divers visitthe Ginnie Springs complex each year. Water in the spring is around 72 degrees. Studies show that the springs are fed by two watersheds that encompass 300 square miles (Rauch, 2003).
Use/Access
- Land around the spring is private property and is posted. There is no apparent use except for the occasional canoeist.
- One might swim in the spring over the vent, but the rest of the area is covered with vegetation and not appealing to the swimmer.
- Nearby 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.
Personal Impressions
The authors have always visited Sawdust after having their fill ofthe more accessible spring at Ginnie and further upriver, and so were never particularly interested in snorkeling or swimming in Sawdust. Under other conditions, however, it would be a very appealing little spring to explore. Although a 3rd-magnitude spring, Sawdust has a strong flow and is nearly a second-magnitude site.
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
- 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