This Florida State Park Has a Caribbean-blue, Spring-fed Swimming Hole and Is a Gathering Site for Hundreds of Manatees

Blue Spring State Park is Florida at its finest. Located west of Orange City and north of Orlando, the 2,600-acre destination centers around the eponymous first-magnitude spring that discharges more than 70 million gallons of water into the St. Johns River each day. 

“Blue Spring State Park is a unique and beautiful state park in which one can experience and connect with nature in several different ways,” Gina McClain, the secretary of the board of directors for Friends of Blue Spring State Park, tells Travel + Leisure. Those ways include kayaking on the river and into the Blue Spring and swimming in what she describes as “crystal-clear, cool spring water.” Not only is the water a stunning turquoise blue, but it’s also a nice 72 degrees Fahrenheit all year round. 

And that consistent temperature is just right for West Indian manatees. Blue Spring State Park is considered one of the largest winter gathering sites for manatees in the state. From November through March, hundreds of them congregate in the spring run, leaving behind the cooler waters of the St. Johns River in favor of warmer temperatures. 

Although the manatees are the stars of the show, McClain notes that there is also other wildlife to see in the park. “While swimming, one may be fortunate to see manatees or our new family of otters swimming nearby, and there is always a variety of fish. You can hike the trails and experience scrub jays, gopher tortoises, deer, bears, various birds, and many other water and woodland creatures,” she says. 

“This is an opportunity to also learn about the history of the land that comprises BSSP and understand how important the St. Johns River was to life on the river,” she adds. During the manatee season, interpretive programs on the “sea cows” are offered daily, and there are also interpretive exhibits available on kiosks along the Spring Run boardwalk.

Things to Do

Blue Spring State Park has a range of activities, but enjoying the refreshing water is a must during a hot Florida day. “When entering the water, go for it and jump right in. With water at a chilly 72 degrees, easing in doesn’t always work,” McClain says. She also shared an insider tip for those who plan on swimming: “Walk up the boardwalk to the diver’s entry, and enter the water there. Once in the water, take a right and walk or swim against the current a short distance to enter the spring head, known as ‘the boil,’” she says. “Enjoy the head spring, and, when ready, let the current take you all the way down to the swim deck, where you exit and do it all over again. New folks tend to enter the water at the swim deck and then must fight the current all the way up to the spring head, about a half mile.” Snorkeling and even scuba diving are also possibilities, and you can book a scuba tour with Florida Dive Company. 

McClain also recommends going on a river cruise with Blue Spring Adventures. “The captains are entertaining and knowledgeable, and the boats offer shade and great views of the animal life in and on the river, including alligators, amazing birds, and, if lucky, manatees,” she says. The company provides canoe and kayak rentals as well. Note that swimming and boating in the spring run is only possible from late March or early April through mid-November; all water activities are prohibited in this area during manatee season. 

There are plenty of other things to do when the manatees arrive, though. For starters, visitors can view the majestic creatures in the spring water from a boardwalk and observation platform. Here, McClain says, you can “enjoy watching the manatees and hear their exhalations as they breathe and rest.”

Hiking is another excellent choice, and visitors can opt to trek along the 3.6-mile (one-way) Pine Island Trail. “We also offer weekly yoga classes in the park and full moon hikes each month after hours,” says McClain. You can find all current events online.

Best Time to Visit

Unsurprisingly, manatee season is one of the best times to visit Blue Spring State Park. “Our spring is always a refuge for manatees, but during manatee season, the water is closed to humans and becomes a magical paradise for manatees who use the spring to rest and warm up as the St. Johns River water cools very quickly during our winter cold snaps,” McClain explains. “We will have hundreds of manatees when the river drops down into the 50s and 60s, as manatees have very little fat to protect them and need to be in water that is 68 degrees and warmer.” This is also an ideal time for exploring the park’s hiking trails and boarding a boat tour. 

Alternatively, consider timing your trip for the firefly season, which begins in mid-March and runs for about a month. “Our park is home to the Florida single snappy firefly, and each year at this time, they emerge to mate and propagate the species. Talk about magical! It is an incredible sight to see our beautiful wooded areas come alive with the twinkling lights of the fireflies,” says McClain. 

Come summer, it’s all about the water activities—from swimming and snorkeling to kayaking and tubing—so really, there’s no bad time to explore Blue Spring State Park.