Information to Florida’s Ichetucknee Springs State Park

For all of Florida’s fame as probably the greatest states for seashores, the Sunshine State’s lush inside has some freshwater wonders price exploring, too. On a scorching summer time day (or, let’s face it — within the sultry spring and fall months right here, too), there’s nothing I like higher for a cool-down than bypassing the busy, sunburnt seashores and loading up the automobile with my youngsters to satisfy with mates at one of many state’s greater than 1,000 crystal-clear freshwater springs.

Whereas these pure wonders may be discovered and loved all around the state, the Florida springs I do know and love are discovered across the cities of Ocala, Gainesville, and Lake Metropolis in Central Florida — a simple drive north of Tampa, the place I dwell.

Throughout my school days on the College of Florida, a favourite springtime ritual was to hit the Ichetucknee River and Ichetucknee Springs State Park to go tubing in waters as clear because the Caribbean.

The six-mile-long river is fed by eight main gin-clear springs, and the water stays a relentless 72 levels year-round. These temps can really feel brisk while you first dip in however provide much-appreciated refreshment when the mercury is pushing into the 80s or 90s in Florida, because it does for a lot of the yr.

And I’m hardly the one one in love with this place. “Ichetucknee stands out as probably the most iconic out of doors spots within the state,” mentioned journey and out of doors author Kevin Mims.  “The headsprings and adjoining Blue Gap Spring are each havens for swimmers, snorkelers, divers, or simply anybody trying to cool off in the summertime months.”

“Add in a traditional tubing or paddling journey on the river and you’ve got a combo that simply can’t be beat. It truly is considered one of my favourite journeys to take wherever in Florida,” mentioned Mims.

Between the crystal-clear waters and the cover of historical cypress timber hanging over its snaking path via stunning Florida forest, the surroundings feels straight out of a fairy story.

“It is a spot the place time slows down, inviting you to drift, discover, and lose your self in the great thing about nature’s purest escape,” mentioned Konnie Patke, govt director of Florida’s Springlands, the tourism workplace for Central Florida’s Lake County.

Prepared for an Ichetucknee Springs State Park journey of your individual? This is what you’ll want to know. 

Planning Your Go to

Like most of Florida’s stunning state parks, Ichetucknee Springs State Park welcomes guests all year long and is open from 8 a.m. to sundown, each day. Rely on about 2.5 hours to get right here if you happen to’re driving from Orlando Worldwide Airport (roughly 155 miles away) and a contact longer from Tampa Worldwide Airport (157 miles away). Jacksonville Worldwide Airport is even nearer at simply 1.5 hours (92 miles) away, and if you happen to’re flying into tiny Gainesville Regional Airport, the park is only a 50-minute (38-mile) drive away.

In case you’re planning to go tubing, be sure you put the park’s south fundamental entrance, alongside Freeway 27, into your GPS, as that’s the place all tubes and different watercraft are permitted to launch from. There’s restricted parking on the park’s north entrance, however that is the place it’s best to head if you happen to plan to only picnic and hike or if you happen to want to swim, snorkel, or scuba dive within the stunning waters of Blue Gap Spring, the place 67 million gallons of water are pumped up from the bottom every single day.

Most guests arrive on the park in a non-public or rental automobile. Admission prices $6 per automobile for between two and eight passengers. In case you’re driving right here solo, it’s simply $4 to enter. Pedestrians and bicyclists get in for simply $2 an individual.

Whereas the park stays open till sunset, entry to the river put-in factors closes between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., relying on which launch level you select. All tubers are required to be off the river by 6 p.m.

In terms of the perfect instances to go to the park, the summer time months are typically the busiest however are additionally probably the most comfy for floating within the chilly water because the air temperature is good and heat.

To keep away from crowds, plan to go to outdoors of that point, suggests Patke. “For these trying to swim and paddle, the spring and fall may be a lot quieter and see much less crowds,” she mentioned.

Facilities listed below are fairly normal for Florida state parks and embody picnic areas with shaded benches and grills for barbecuing. A concessionaire inside the park referred to as Paddling Adventures rents tubes and lifejackets, and there’s a devoted launch space within the river for canoes, kayaks and paddleboards.

There’s additionally a common retailer on the park’s south entrance promoting cold and hot meals that embody burgers, wraps, salads, sandwiches, and ice cream in addition to water and different equipment like sunscreen, t-shirts, and paddling and swimming provides. A meals truck is usually parked onsite on the park’s north entrance close to the playground and swimming space, however don’t depend on it being there (so don’t come hungry, simply in case).

Accessible facilities on the park embody a chairlift for accessing the pinnacle spring on the north entrance, wheelchair-accessible picnic tables and grills, and wheelchair entry on the tram for tubers.

Showers can be found at bathtub homes on the park’s north and south entrances for rinsing off on the finish of the day.

Issues to Do

It’s simple to spend a whole day having fun with Ichetucknee Springs State Park, even when a tube run alongside the spring (see the following part for more information on that) isn’t your fundamental mission.

Paddling

Whereas tubing is the preferred water sport on the park throughout the summer time months, you’ll discover canoers, kayakers, and stand-up paddleboarders shifting quietly via these calm waters all yr spherical. You may lease tools on the park’s concessionaire, the place you may as well prepare tram transport to retrieve you additional downstream and produce you again to the south entrance car parking zone.

Wildlife Viewing

“Those who float down the river will see numerous species of turtle, fish, birds, and even manatees and river otters,” Patke mentioned. “The river is bordered by forests of oak, cypress, maple, and pine. The setting is true, pure Florida and due to this, there are alligators current.”

In my scores of instances tubing the river right here, I’ve by no means seen an alligator, nevertheless it’s finest to not enterprise into the thick crops lining the river, simply in case.

“Whereas most wildlife has little curiosity in people, it’s suggested to not feed, strategy, or try to frighten these animals,” mentioned Patke.

Swimming

You’ve got a couple of choices for going for a dip on the park. If I’m not planning to go tubing, I at all times head for the park’s north entrance to dip into the headspring, the place the freshwater bubbles up from deep within the Florida aquifer and the water’s depths replicate unbelievable shades of blue and inexperienced. I additionally like swimming at Blue Gap Spring right here, a brief stroll via the forest downstream. However remember that the waters are deeper right here (bottoming out at about 32 ft, the place a protracted underground cave attracts divers). Currents may be stronger right here, too, so it’s not a spot to go along with younger youngsters or weak swimmers.

All swimmers on the Ichetucknee River itself, outdoors of the spring heads, are required to have a flotation system with them for security.

Scuba Diving

The visibility is just about infinite for licensed scuba divers who descend into the beautiful waters right here, even when the marine life is restricted to gar, catfish, turtles, and the like. Stroll the half-mile path from the headspring along with your gear to scuba dive at Blue Gap Spring (most divers seek advice from this spring as Jug Spring; carry a cart or wheelbarrow alongside to lighten the load). Solely cavern- or cave-certified divers are permitted to enter the spring vent as a result of excessive danger of getting disoriented within the darkness inside. Swimmers and free divers ought to steer effectively away from the doorway.

Mountain climbing

Hikers head to the north entrance of the park to entry three simple trails. The Blue Gap Path is simply half-mile lengthy and a simple meander via the forest and cypress floodplain to Blue Gap Spring. A contact longer, the Trestle Level Path has stunning views because it follows Ichetucknee River alongside a route used within the 1900s when phosphate was mined within the space. For an extended stroll, go for the two-mile loop referred to as the Pine Ridge Path to see attention-grabbing sights like sandhill ecosystems the place longleaf pine timber rise.You’ll need to carry loads of water, bug spray, and sunscreen.

Tubing on the Park

Notably throughout the warmest months of the yr, renting a tube to drift down the Ichetucknee River is probably the most beloved exercise on the state park. You may carry your individual tube if in case you have one, however it might’t be larger than 60 inches in diameter or comprise glitter, confetti, or different supplies which can be damaging to the setting.

Whereas the shallow northern a part of the river is closed to tubers, you may enter the water to tube from Midpoint or Dampier’s Touchdown (accessed through the south fundamental entrance of the park) all yr spherical. Make certain to not carry disposable objects like plastic baggage, plastic water bottles, and the like. Alcoholic drinks are additionally prohibited on the river.

Tubes and life jackets can be found for lease from the park’s concessionaire, and you’ll head to the Normal Retailer, additionally on the south entrance, for tram schedules for the transport from the tip of the tube run again to the south entrance parking space. Be sure to buy a wristband if you happen to plan to journey the tram again earlier than setting off.

In case you put in at Midpoint Touchdown (accessed by strolling along with your tube about .65 miles from the rental space), it’s roughly an hour float to Dampier’s Touchdown, relying on the move charge. From there, you may exit the water to stroll a quarter-mile again to the car parking zone on the south entrance or select to proceed floating for one more hour onward to the ultimate take out level (from there, catch the tram service or stroll roughly half a mile again to the car parking zone). Alternatively, comply with a path from behind the concessionaire’s constructing roughly 1 / 4 of a mile to the river and Dampier’s Touchdown for a shorter float of roughly an hour to the ultimate takeout level. Take into account that float instances range with the move charge of the river, which might change in accordance with climate circumstances and different components all year long.

Wildlife and Nature

You’re exploring the actual and wild Florida right here, so that you by no means know what you’re going to see. It’s enjoyable to carry a snorkel masks or goggles to see beneath the river’s floor and spot passing gar fish, diving birds, and turtles. Florida manatees can typically be seen within the Ichetucknee River throughout the winter months, from October via March, once they arrive to feed on pastures of eelgrass and start their calves within the calm and guarded waters.

Different Florida wildlife you might get fortunate sufficient to identify within the space embody softshell turtles, wooden geese, gopher tortoises, wild turkeys, and maybe even the elusive and endemic Bachman’s sparrow.

Alligators and snakes additionally dwell within the park, nevertheless it’s uncommon to see alligators within the river since they are typically shy and the water is cooler than they like. That mentioned, bear in mind that alligators can at all times be current in any freshwater space in Florida.

Ideas for Visiting

Plan to reach early if you happen to’re visiting over the weekend or throughout the busy summer time months and public holidays, all of which have a tendency to attract giant teams trying to tube.  “The state park does have each day limits on the variety of paddlers and tubers, and making a reservation forward of time is extremely really helpful,” mentioned Patke.

Depart your radios and waterproof audio system at residence; the objective is to loosen up in nature right here, and such objects are prohibited on the water.

Coolers and backpacks are additionally prohibited on the river. To remain refreshed, I at all times carry a reusable water bottle together with me and a carabiner to connect it to my tube’s deal with.

Pop by the customer heart — or higher but, name forward of your go to — to see what kind of particular programming is likely to be occurring throughout your go to. You may discover packages like moonlit paddles, guided historical past excursions, and even story time and pancakes feasts with the rangers.

To kick off the yr on a enjoyable be aware, each New Yr’s Day on the park options guided hikes with rangers alongside the Pine Ridge and Trestle Level trails.

October is considered one of my favourite instances to go to the park (after the crowds of summer time are gone). It normally ushers in cooler climate and is a good time to see native wildflowers in bloom right here, too, significantly alongside the sandy ground of the Pine Ridge Path.

In the course of the summer time months, giant teams are inclined to arrive en masse at the beginning of the day. To keep away from the crowds, plan to begin your tube run someday after noon as an alternative.