Ichetucknee Springs State Park

Ichetucknee Springs State Park encompases nearly 2,700-acres around the beautiful Ichetucknee Springs and river.

The park has two main entrances that do not connect inside the park. The activity you are planning will determine which entrance you should use. The primary activity offered in the park are tube and canoe/kayak floats of the river. Rental activity as well as trams that drop off and pick up from the multiple river entry/exit points are centered inside the south entrance. There is also a nature center and nature trail here, along with dispersed picnic tables scattered through the parking area.

A concessions and gift shop sells tram tickets and tube rentals. The tram stop is immediately behind the building, along with trails to the Midpoint and Dempier's put in points. While floating is permitted year round, the tram only operates seasonally, so a walk carrying your tube may be required outside of the main season. Float accesses should be determined by the length of time floaters are intending to spend on the river, which can vary from 45 minutes to 3.5 hours, depending on choice of access points. Private concessionaires outside of the park also offer rental and shuttle services.

Inside the park's north entrance are Ichetucknee and Blue Hole Springs. Ichetucknee is the head spring of the river, and it is set in an emerald blue pool surrounded by stone walls and steps. Blue Hole requires a quarter-mile hike to reach, but it grants access to a cave system for cave certified SCUBA divers. There is also a large picnic area and playground area, access to several hiking trails, and the first put-in point in the park for canoes, kayaks and tubes.

There are several restrictions that should be noted inside this park. SCUBA divers are only permitted to dive from October until March. Tubing from the north entrance launch point is only permitted from the Saturday before Memorial Day until Labor Day. All canoes and kayaks must be on the water by 3 p.m. Dogs, tabacco products, and disposable food containers are prohibited on the river.

The park becomes extremely crowded during the summer months. Ichetucknee Springs State Park is open daily from 8 a.m. until sunset. There is a $6 entrance fee per vehicle. More information can be found at the park's website, or by calling 386.497.4690.