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

Waldo Spring

Taylor County

Summary of Features

  • Scale - 3rd magnitude
  • Scenery - very good
  • How Pristine? - land cleared around spring
  • Swimming - fair-good
  • Protection - good
  • Wildlife - good
  • Crowds - can be crowded on warm weekends
  • Access - good
  • Facilities - none
  • Safety - good to fair
  • Scuba - no
  • Cost - free


Quick Directions

Waldo Spring is five miles SW of Perry, 1¼ miles down a dirt that turns west off County Road 359, 4.5 miles south of the intersection of 359 and U.S. 98.

Full Directions

WAt the intersection of U.S. 27 and U.S. 98 in Perry, drive west onto U.S. 98 toward Newport. Pass the Waco Country Kitchen at 0.7 miles, and at 1.3 miles you come to Golf Course Road, also known as County Road 359. Turn south (left), passing a golf course (3.6 miles). After another 0.2 miles you cross a bridge, and at 4.5 miles you see a dirt road on your right. (Another 20 seconds of driving and you will have overshot, ending up at Puckett Road.)

Turn right on the one-lane dirt road and go through the gate and across the grate in the road. The first few hundred yards are rough going but after that the road is well graded, with holes here and there. You pass planted pines and small oaks. Go 1¼ mile and you will pass across another grate, arriving at the dirt parking area.

For maps, latitude/longitude data, driving directions,satellite imagery, and topographic representations as well as weather conditions at this spring, go to Greg Johnson's informative "Florida Springs Database" web site at the following address:  http://www.ThisWaytothe.Net/springs/floridasprings.htm#Florida

Spring Description

The main boil is near the rocks blocking the parking area, which consists of two sandy loops around some oak trees. Clear water flows upward from a small hole in the limestone, a few steps from the parking area. The circular spring pool is 10 feet in diameter, and the vent is approximately 8 feet deep. Various small boils or seeps dot the basin. Away from the boil itself, the water is a murky greenish-gray. The run disappears into thick vegetation but the loud sound of rushing water is audible in the distance. The spring run forms a small, shallow pool before flowing into the Fenholloway River about 120 feet to the north.

Use/Access

Personal Impressions

When RB visited Waldo Spring, the only other person there was a young woman in the company of her Chihuahua, sunning herself as loud country music blared from her truck. She had lived in the area for 11 years, and told RB about the spring. She said that she, her husband, and their friends took pains to haul trash away and clear sand from the boils from time to time. RB visited on a weekday after school had started, but could imagine that the place could be quite a party spot on weekends. When the authors returned to the spring in the winter of 2000, dry conditions had completely stopped the spring flow.

Nearby Springs

Other Nearby Natural Features