Wes Skiles Peacock Springs State Park is a 733-acre park that is extremely popular among SCUBA divers for the miles of underwater caves and tunnels accessible through the springs inside the park.
Open for picnicking, swimming, diving and hiking, the park tends to see the most use from SCUBA divers. With cave systems accessible from Peacock Springs I and Orange Grove Spring, the cave system in the park is one of the largest underwater caves in the continental United States, with over 28,000 feet having been explored.
Peacock II Springs is popular for swimmers because the spring emerges at a constant 72 degrees. Peacock Springs and Orange Grove Spring are the only springs in the park that allow swimming, snorkling and SCUBA diving. Orange Grove is the only spring where divers with only an open-water SCUBA certification are permitted.
The end of the park's parking area has a short trail to an ADA-friendly boardwalk leading down to Orange Grove Springs. A dirt road past this first parking area leads to a second parking area, and trails to Peacock Springs, as well as a hiking trail to other sinkholes and springs in the park. Picnic benches are set among the trees, and SCUBA benches line the parking areas, as these divers tend to make up the bulk of park visitors.
Wes Skiles Peacock Springs State Park is open daily from 8 a.m. until sunset. SCUBA divers must show their certifications to park staff or leave them on their car dash while diving. Park entry is $4 per vehicle. More information can be found at the park's website or by calling 386.776.2194.
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