Blue Springs State Park
Every winter, Blue Springs State Park offers Central Florida visitors a unique opportunity to get up close and personal with some amazing natural phenomenons.
First is the spring itself, around which the park is designed. The Blue Spring is the largest natural spring on the St. John’s river.
If you’ve never seen a natural spring before, you’re in for a treat! Which is cliche, I know, but true. The entrance to the spring is actually a large underwater cave that feeds out into what can best be described as a large creek. Eventually the creek widens and flows into the very large St. John’s River.
The water is 73 degrees year around. Even on the coldest January days, visitors to the park can feel free to swim in the warm waters. Of course, you’ll want to bring a towel and something warm to get into as soon as you get out of the water and step into the much colder air.
If you do venture into the spring waters and head toward the mouth of the underwater cave, you may see professional divers who explore the spring’s opening almost daily.
Swimming with divers at Blue Springs State Park
You may also see an alligator or two.
Yes, it’s true. Blue Springs State Park has signs posted up and down the water way warning visitors to watch for alligators. In fact, the last time my family and I went we were pleased to see three very large alligators in the water – about five minutes after we had gotten out of it.
It's a marsh in Florida - of course there are alligators!
Blue Springs State Park, which is located in Deland, Florida (about 25 minutes outside of Orlando), also features several walking trails for hiking, bird watching, and romantic hand holding.
Walking in Blue Springs State Park
But the most popular attraction at Blue Springs is the return of the manatees each winter.
The spring serves as a natural warm water haven for the manatees when the temperature of the St. John’s River plunges in October or November each year. On some cool mornings, visitors can see more than 100 manatees swimming along the spring run in Blue Springs State Park. As the weather (and water) warms up in the spring, you’ll find fewer and fewer manatee. However, even as late as March you may run across a few refugees from Sea World’s rescue and rehabilitation program.
Annie and Rocket - Sea World Refugees
These two manatees, Annie and Rocket, had been released last March back into the wild by Sea World. They were equipped with tracking devices to help trainers and scientists monitor if they are joining the other manatees and returning to the river to feed.
Manatee from Sea World's rescue program - injured by boat props
swimming at Blue Springs State Park
What makes Blue Springs State Park unique from other Central Florida attractions is the ease with which visitors can interact with nature. Although park rangers forbid swimmers from approaching and/or touching the manatee, it’s not uncommon for the manatees to approach the swimmers and bump humans with their large noses. They’re harmless, and swimming with them truly is a unique, calming experience. Even the spring itself is easily accessible via wooden walk ways, piers and docks.
Blue Springs State Park is open 365 days a year from 8am until sundown. Admission is $5.00 per vehicle, or $1.00 for bicycles and pedestrians.
All photos by Britt Reints
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28 Responses
Stop giving me stuff to do in Florida! I’m running out of vacation days!
Seriously though – this sounds so awesome. How is it in the summer though?
I’ve actually never been here in the Summer! I guess the appeal of lukewarm water loses some of its luster in 100 degree heat.
I’m sure the hiking trails are more popular in the Summer, however.
I was planning my vacation around this post until I saw the tip about alligators in the water. I think I will float through the park and not even consider dipping a toe in that water. Beautiful, informative post.
Alligators! I’ll just watch from the bridge, thanks.
Harmless or no, if a manatee decides to nudge me–I’ll be needing some new trunks.
This looks like a great place to visit and loved the pics of the manatees! However, the idea of swimming near alligators really gives me the creeps….I think I would be paranoid looking around for alligators rather than enjoying the warm water. Will check it out and try to do a swim, though!
Don’t worry about the lukewarm water in summer. It stays 73 degrees year round. Believe me 73 degrees is coooold in the summer days of 100 degrees.
Don’t worry about the lukewarm water Britt. It stays 73 degrees year round. And believe me 73 degrees is cooold during summer days of 100 degrees.
Hi Britt: I was just at Blue Springs last week – what a great place. I neglected to take a picture of the sign at the end by the Big Spring (boil) that said how deep it was and how many gallons ran out of it per day. Do you happen to know that information. I can’t find it on their website. It was such an amazing amount I wanted to write it down. I think it was 140 feet deep. Thanks, Laura
Great pics! We live in ORlando and are going there today. Tip for all, anywhere there is water in Florida there are alligators. Dont let anyone tell you otherwise!
[...] See the manatees in Blue Springs State Park – hundreds of manatees are looking for warmth at the springs in Blue Springs State Park. [...]
[...] See the manatees in Blue Springs State Park – hundreds of manatees are looking for warmth at the springs in Blue Springs State Park. [...]
[...] Uptake Vacation Blog: Blue Spring [...]
[...] at Daytona Beach. They also come further inland during the cold months to many of the springs. Blue Springs State Park in Central Florida gets hundreds of manatees a day during the winter [...]
[...] at Daytona Beach. They also come further inland during the cold months to many of the springs. Blue Springs State Park in Central Florida gets hundreds of manatees a day during the winter [...]
If you are scared of alligators, don’t swim in Florida. They are in every river, pond, lake around. You may not see them, but they are there!!! Don’t let anyone tell you different. However, get over it and go swimming!! Don’t bother them and they won’t bother you. As far as the manatee’s, it’s a very relaxing experience to swim with them. They are so massive, yet such gentle creatures; very calm and peaceful. And the water at Blue Springs is cold in the summer, too cold for me & my family; we swim in the river!
[...] Vacationers can usually be split up into two categories. Although there are a few other smaller categories, travelers usually find themselves vacationing in either luxury hotels or budget hotels. If you fall into the category of travelers who spend most of your vacations in budget hotels, might I suggest a new type of lodging that has slowly begun to catch momentum and that is vacationing at a state park. [...]
Are dogs allowed on leash at Blue Springs? After reading about the aligators….I’m just wondering.
manatees are harmless!!!!!! they are kind and believe me they are more scared us of then we r of them……
[...] is focused on recreational uses, the city does provide some infrastructure for transportation. …Blue Springs State Park in Central FloridaVisitors can see hundreds of manatees at Blue Springs State Park each year in Deland, Florida. The [...]
[...] best. My closest and most extended encounter with an alligator actually occured during a visit to Blue Springs State Park. We had just finished swimming when we noticed three very large alligators lounging in the water [...]
[...] best. My closest and most extended encounter with an alligator actually occured during a visit to Blue Springs State Park. We had just finished swimming when we noticed three very large alligators lounging in the water [...]
[...] best. My closest and most extended encounter with an alligator actually occured during a visit to Blue Springs State Park. We had just finished swimming when we noticed three very large alligators lounging in the water [...]
[...] trocken. Vorher klären ob das stimmt mit dem Badeverbot im Winter. Welcome to Florida State Parks Blue Springs State Park in Central Florida Everglades kann man nicht nur viele Moskitostiche einfangen sondern mit Airboats ein Vermögen [...]
WATCH FOR THE STATE TROOPER POLICE AT BLUE SPRINGS ORANGE CITY FLORIDA
. I went for the first time to Blue springs with my girlfriend. We stay almost till park closed.
As i was leaving I thought i fully stop at the stop sign at the exit. it has one dirt road to the left and paved to the right . as i was traveling down the road a state trooper stop me and told me i had not fully stopped at the sign He told me he would give me a warning after i gave him my license and registration. He was accompanied by 2 other police officers. THEY SEARCH MY VEHICLE FOR DRUGS for no reason at all of course they did not find anything. My car interior was a mess after they let me leave.I WILL NEVER GO TO BLUE SPRINGS PARK AGAIN.
[...] the 8am opening time as possible. It’s not uncommon to see over 100 manatee at one time in Blue Spring State Park during the [...]
[...] the 8am opening time as possible. It’s not uncommon to see over 100 manatee at one time in Blue Spring State Park during the [...]
I lived in Florida for quite a few years when I was younger but I never saw a manatee. I’d love to visit Blue Springs, if only to show my kids the gentle giants I never had a chance to see myself. Besides, my oldest loves to scuba, so we could squeeze some diving into our holiday as well!