If you are looking to explore Flordia’s natural springs, snorkel, kayak, and mountain bike High Springs is the perfect getaway!
By Bekah Whitney
Visited in December 2021 & January 2022
We were lucky enough to find two separate Boondockers Welcome spots near High Springs Florida for a total of 8 days in the area. We visited multiple natural springs, paddled on the Santa Fe River, and went mountain biking. This remote area was absolutely amazing.
I did a lot of research before deciding to purchase a State Park Pass. The main reason I wasn’t sure I wanted to purchase a pass was because we were planning on only being in Florida for about one month and I wasn’t sure if we would visit enough parks to make it worth it. Here are some considerations that made me swing towards purchasing a pass.
An individual pass is $60. If all the parks I visit are $6, I will have to visit 10 parks to make it worth it. If all the parks I go to are $4, I will have to visit 15 parks. After looking at how many springs there are in Florida I decided I wanted to purchase a pass so that paying to visit was never something holding me back, plus it is good for a full year in case we ended up in Florida longer than we expected. Another important note is that a person accompanying a pass holder only has to pay two dollars, so the non-passholder gets in cheaper as well.
If you would like more information about purchasing a Florida State Park Pass click HERE!
Call Ahead: One thing to note is that you may not purchase a Pass at every state park. If you are planning to visit a park and hoping to purchase a pass, call ahead and make sure they can do it at that park.
Choose your Purchase Date: Like the National Parks Pass they go off the month.
Ichetucknee is one of my favorite state parks in this area because you can see so far down into Blue Hole Springs. You may bring your dog into the park, but you cannot bring them to either of the springs because of alligators. There are also two entrances to the park, the North and the South. If you would like to hit the Springs, you should use the North Entrance. Blue Hole is well worth the short hike. The sign says it should take you 15 minutes, but I would give it more like 7 or 8.
Although we choose not to kayak down the Ichetucknee River there is an option to. The river flows slowly enough that you can easily paddle up stream and put in as well as take out at the 3 boat launches throughout the park. For more information you can visit their official website.
Fees: $6 per vehicle or free entry with Florida’s State Park Pass
Address: 12087 S.W. U.S. Highway 27, Fort White FL 32038
Length of Hike: The hike to Blue Hole is an easy 15-minute walk.
Getting there: Ichetucknee State Park has a north entrance and south entrance. To access Blue Hole you will want to use the north entrance (8294 SW Elm Church Rd, Fort White, FL 32038). Once in the parking lot you will head towards the bathrooms and see the trailhead to Blue Hole on your left.
The spring: Blue Spring is a beautiful hole of water with a big cave in the center of the earth. There is a dock with stairs so that you can easily get into the water. We recommend bringing a mask and snorkel or at the very least goggles so that you can look down into the cave.
Length of Hike: NA, just a quick stroll from the parking lot
Getting there: Ichetucknee State Park has a north entrance and south entrance. To access Ichetucknee Springs you will want to use the north entrance (8294 SW Elm Church Rd, Fort White, FL 32038). Once in the parking lot you will head towards the bathrooms, walk past the trailhead to Blue Hole and the picnic area and see the spring on your left.
The spring: Ichetucknee Springs is a gorgeous clear blue spring with a lovely swimming area. The 72 degree water is perfect for a hot day and not too cold on a chillier day. Some people bring wetsuits, but being from colder temperatures, we found it to be perfect once we were fully submerged.
Of all the wonderful state parks in Florida, I would call this one a bust. My hopes of watching the river rush underwater were swiftly crushed when we got to the end of the trail and found what I would describe as a bog in which was the Santa Fe river going underground. One of the other “highlights” of the park is the suspension bridge that crosses the river. Unless you’ve hit all the other state parks or really want to see the River Sink or suspension bridge, I would skip O’Leno. For more information, you can visit their official website.
Fees: $5 per vehicle or free with a Florida State Parks Pass
Address: 410 S.E. O’Leno Park Road High Springs FL 32643
We went to Rum Island in hopes of paddling up the river and then floating back down. The Santa Fe River ended up being a little too strong to paddle more than a mile upstream. Instead we paddled up to Danielle’s Little Spring, down river to Blue Springs, and around Rum Island. We saw many turtles on logs and some birds while paddling on the river. If we were to do it again we would’ve launched from Ruth B. Kirby Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park because we have a state park pass, but otherwise it was a wonderful spot to launch from.
Fees: $5 per vehicle
Address: 1447 S W Rum Island Terrace, Fort White, FL 32038
Danielle’s Little Spring is a small spring on the side of the Santa Fe River. If you bring goggles or a mask, you can look into the small crack where the water comes out and see the fish swimming around. Otherwise, you can relax on the rock shelf in the wonderful 72-degree water.
Getting there: It is a short paddle upstream from the Rum Island boat launch. You will see it on your left (if facing upriver) shortly after passing the island. You will be able to tell it is the spring from the clear water.
Paddling into Ruth B. Kirby Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park is a really amazing experience because you can see the water change from a murky brown to crystal clear blue water. The springs were just as amazing as paddling in and looking at all the aquatic plants and fish that live in the springs. From the Santa Fe River you can access Naked Spring & Blue Springs. Naked Spring was closed to entry when we visited. Once at Blue Springs, you can pull your boat up on shore or hook it to a cypress knee and then swim around in the beautiful clear spring.
Getting there: From Rum Island you will paddle downstream into Ruth B. Kirby Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park to visit the springs.
Ruth B. Kirby Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park is home to Blue Springs and Naked Springs (Sadly Naked Springs was closed during our visit). You may launch your boat (no motors) from shore or rent one from the park on-site. For more information, you can visit their official website.
Fees: $6 per vehicle or free entry with Florida State Parks Pass
Address: 7450 N.E. 60th St. High Springs FL 32643
Blue Springs is a beautiful clear spring with a sandy bottom. There is a large swimming area that anyone would enjoy. The spring opening is a large pit that has a beautiful shelf that you can swim along. As with any of the springs, we suggest having a snorkel and mask to get the most out of your time.
Unlike the other state parks around this area, the main attraction is mountain biking! The best and main trail in this Tung Nut. For more information, you can visit their official website.
Fees: $4 per vehicle
Address: 13201 San Felasco Parkway, Alachua FL 32615
Length: 6.8 miles
Full Length to and from the parking lot: 8.9 miles
Elevation Gain: 737′ Up, 703′ Down
The ride: Although I didn’t end this ride as a raving fan, I did love the chance to be on a trail with some elevation change as most of Florida is flat. It definitely was enough to get my mountain biking fix that I so badly crave from time to time.
We actually did not get a chance to do a one-way float trip down the Santa Fe River because my car was in the shop, but I thought I should share my extensive research with all of you, so you can tell me how fun it is.
We parked at Rum Island and paddled up and downstream. Although the current isn’t overly strong on the Santa Fe, it is definitely the type of river you want to have two cars for, if you plan on floating a long way. We got a tip from a local to bring a rope and carabiner to tie up our kayak to cypress knees so that we didn’t need to carry our boat on land while enjoying all the springs had to offer. We used this trick at Danielle’s Little Spring and it worked beautifully.
If you have the ability to do a one-way float down the Sante Fe, this extensive paddling guide can help you plan which boat ramps to use and where to park. Our plan, before my car acted up, was to put in at Access Point 3: Rum Island Park (which has a $5 parking fee) and take out at Access Point 4: CR 47 Bridge. If we were to try this again, we would take off from Ruth B. Kirby Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park because we have a Florida State Parks pass, making it free to park!
Please leave a comment below if you are lucky enough to float as we are dying to know if it is as wonderful as we imagined.
I was very fearful of the alligators during our first paddle in gator country. I was able to get over my fears after talking to a ranger and learning gators are scared of boats and want nothing to do with people. Some of the tips we got included:
(1) Don’t bring the dog on the boat in gator waters (it is also prohibited in most areas)
(2) Make noise by chatting, bringing a speaker, or slapping the water with a paddle periodically.
Another fear we had was having an inflatable kayak and the chance of an alligator popping it. The ranger said that even though inflatable crafts are not recommended, there had never been an incident in her particular park. We even met some people at Blue Springs State Park that said they wakeboard in the river where gators are and feel comfortable.
Most of the Florida State Parks allow dogs in certain areas and trails. They are not allowed on or near the rivers or into the springs. Leave your dog at home if your plan is to do anything other than hiking on the trails as your access to the park will be very limited.
The first spring we visited, Blue Hole, we didn’t have any goggles or masks. Luckily some divers let us borrow theirs and we went out and bought some that evening. The springs are worth visiting without, but actually being able to see the hole where the water is coming out of is totally worth it.
There are a few dive shops around High Springs that sell masks and snorkels. If you are in Florida during summer you may be able to find swimming goggles or a cheap pair at some of the other shops around town as well.
Note: Make sure to purchase some anti-fog. You will be glad you did, and upset that you didn’t!
We were pleasantly surprised at all High Springs, Florida has to offer! There is an amazing cluster of State Parks, swimming, and other activities including floating the Santa Fe river and stopping off at the multiple springs along the way. Make sure to pack your goggles and/or masks during your adventures as you never know when they may come in handy.
The biggest downfall to the High Springs area is the lack of free camping, but if you know how to be stealthy you could make it work for a few nights. We were able to stay at two different Boondockers Welcome spots if you are lucky enough to get them while they have open availability.
Leave a comment below and let us know your thoughts on visiting High Springs and if you did any other activities not listed in this post. Remember to share with all your friends traveling through and planning their trips to Florida.
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