Information to Florida’s Ichetucknee Springs State Park

For all of Florida’s fame as top-of-the-line states for seashores, the Sunshine State’s lush inside has some freshwater wonders price exploring, too. On a sizzling summer season 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 automotive with my children to fulfill with buddies at one of many state’s greater than 1,000 crystal-clear freshwater springs.

Whereas these pure wonders will 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 stay.

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 once 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 12 months.

And I’m hardly the one one in love with this place. “Ichetucknee stands out as one of the vital iconic out of doors spots within the state,” stated 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 one in all my favourite journeys to take anyplace in Florida,” stated Mims.

Between the crystal-clear waters and the cover of historic cypress timber hanging over its snaking path by means of 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,” stated Konnie Patke, government 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 it’s good 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, every day. Depend 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 major 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 is 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 on daily basis.

Most guests arrive on the park in a personal or rental automotive. Admission prices $6 per car 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.

On the subject of the very best occasions to go to the park, the summer season months are usually the busiest however are additionally essentially 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 will be a lot quieter and see much less crowds,” she stated.

Facilities listed here are fairly commonplace 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 basic 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 rely 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 major mission.

Paddling

Whereas tubing is the most well-liked water sport on the park through the summer season months, you’ll discover canoers, kayakers, and stand-up paddleboarders shifting quietly by means of these calm waters all 12 months spherical. You’ll be able to hire gear on the park’s concessionaire, the place you too can organize tram transport to retrieve you additional downstream and convey you again to the south entrance 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 stated. “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 occasions tubing the river right here, I’ve by no means seen an alligator, but it surely’s finest to not enterprise into the thick vegetation lining the river, simply in case.

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

Swimming

You might have a couple of choices for going for a dip on the park. If I’m not planning to go tubing, I all the time 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 by means of the forest downstream. However understand that the waters are deeper right here (bottoming out at about 32 toes, the place a protracted underground cave attracts divers). Currents will be stronger right here, too, so it’s not a spot to go together with younger children or weak swimmers.

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

Scuba Diving

The visibility is just about infinite for licensed scuba divers who descend into the attractive waters right here, even when the marine life is proscribed 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 consult with 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 threat 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 by means of 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 fascinating sights like sandhill ecosystems the place longleaf pine timber rise.You’ll wish to carry loads of water, bug spray, and sunscreen.

Tubing on the Park

Significantly through the warmest months of the 12 months, renting a tube to drift down the Ichetucknee River is essentially the most beloved exercise on the state park. You’ll be able to carry your individual tube you probably have one, however it could’t be larger than 60 inches in diameter or include glitter, confetti, or different supplies which are damaging to the setting.

Whereas the shallow northern a part of the river is closed to tubers, you’ll be able to enter the water to tube from Midpoint or Dampier’s Touchdown (accessed by way of the south major entrance of the park) all 12 months spherical. Make certain to not carry disposable gadgets like plastic luggage, plastic water bottles, and the like. Alcoholic drinks are additionally prohibited on the river.

Tubes and life jackets can be found for hire 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. Ensure you 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’ll be able to exit the water to stroll a quarter-mile again to the parking zone on the south entrance or select to proceed floating for an additional hour onward to the ultimate take out level (from there, catch the tram service or stroll roughly half a mile again to the parking zone). Alternatively, observe 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 occasions differ with the move charge of the river, which might change based on climate situations and different elements all year long.

Wildlife and Nature

You’re exploring the true 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 generally be seen within the Ichetucknee River through the winter months, from October by means of March, after they arrive to feed on pastures of eelgrass and beginning their calves within the calm and guarded waters.

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

Alligators and snakes additionally dwell within the park, but it surely’s uncommon to see alligators within the river since they are usually shy and the water is cooler than they like. That stated, bear in mind that alligators can all the time 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 through the busy summer season months and public holidays, all of which have a tendency to attract massive teams trying to tube.  “The state park does have every day limits on the variety of paddlers and tubers, and making a reservation forward of time is very advisable,” stated Patke.

Go away your radios and waterproof audio system at dwelling; the objective is to calm down in nature right here, and such gadgets are prohibited on the water.

Coolers and backpacks are additionally prohibited on the river. To remain refreshed, I all the time 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 could be taking place throughout your go to. You would possibly discover packages like moonlit paddles, guided historical past excursions, and even story time and pancakes feasts with the rangers.

To kick off the 12 months on a enjoyable word, each New Yr’s Day on the park options guided hikes with rangers alongside the Pine Ridge and Trestle Level trails.

October is one in all my favourite occasions to go to the park (after the crowds of summer season are gone). It often ushers in cooler climate and is a good time to see native wildflowers in bloom right here, too, notably alongside the sandy flooring of the Pine Ridge Path.

In the course of the summer season months, massive teams are inclined to arrive en masse in the beginning of the day. To keep away from the crowds, plan to start out your tube run someday after noon as an alternative.