Ichetucknee River Canoe and Kayak Home

"The Canoe-camping Experts"

Ginnie Springs

The Santa Fe River

The Santa Fe River takes its name from one of the Spanish missions which were established in Florida during the 1600s - Mission Santa Fe de Toloca.

The Santa Fe has unique features, which make it one of the most interesting rivers in Florida.

It starts out as a blackwater river, rising from marshlands to the north of Santa Fe Lake which is northeast of Gainesville - the Santa Fe Swamp. Along its course the river interacts with the Florida aquifer in a unique way. Water flows from the aquifer into the river and is returned to the aquifer at times through suck holes or siphons.

At O’Leno State Park the river flows underground and rises again some 3 miles away.

The river becomes clearer along its course as water from the aquifer is introduced from springs along the side of the river or under the river. Below are some of the springs which are located on this stretch of what I call the upper Santa Fe River.  To access the lower portion of the river please see the Ichetucknee River 10 mile trip - it is where the Ichetucknee flows into the Santa Fe that manatees are often seen..  

Santa Fe river - 27 Bridge to 47 Bridge- approximately 10 miles.

Enjoy the springs along this stretch. (Use the  map provided by Ichetucknee River Canoe and Kayak, when you come, to locate the springs on this trip)

A spring is an opening where water from the Florida aquifer, stored in lime rock cavities underground, comes to the surface.

most of these springs are 2nd magnitude

1st magnitude - pumps over 64 million gallons/day

2nd magnitude - 6.4 - 64 million gallons/day

Poe Springs to your left - a county park which you can enjoy for free for 20 minutes if you are accessing from the river- enough time to put on a mask and look around underwater. (flow approx 60 million gals/day)

Lily Springs - on your left - free access.

Rum Island - on your right - free access.

Blue Springs - to the left - private but you can paddle up the spring run which borders the long boardwalk on the left. By law you are supposed to be able to paddle freely into any navigable waterway - the land around this spring is private and to access it you may be asked to pay a fee.

Ginnie Springs - on your left - visit the Devil’s Eye and Devil’s Ear and the main spring - Ginnie (flow approx 38 million gallons/day).

As long as you stay in the water you are not required to pay - the bank up to the mean high-water mark is also supposed to be public domain

July Springs - across the river from Ginnie.

Navigable Florida waterways are supposed to be accessible to all. Sometimes government entities take it upon themselves to restrict access to springs. Even private parks surrounding springs sometimes block access. Most springs can be enjoyed without an additional fee by staying in the water and not getting out on private lands or county parks (Poe springs allows a 20 minute visit without charge )which charge admission.

Ichetucknee River River Canoe and Kayak Home

please phone ahead 352-318-4910

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Ichetucknee River Canoe and Kayak Home

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