Little River Springs County Park is located on County Road 248 near Branford, Florida. You can find directions here.
This place is truly a gem! Admission is free to this large spring on the Suwannee River. The springs are made of limestone slabs and are surrounded by large rocks to prevent bank erosion.
From the parking lot, go down the stairs to the spring. Ritter River Springs offers great snorkeling, diving, and swimming.
For those who want to explore the cave, there are several deep areas around the cave, but there are also many shallow areas. There is also a place at the end where you can sunbathe or just sit and enjoy the sandy area.
This spring has strong currents and there are signs posted warning people to be careful. This spring offers crystal clear water, fun snorkeling, and lots of beauty. There are limestone rocks near the cave, perfect for snorkeling. In addition to the rocks, you can also observe many fish swimming around.
Please note that in the spring there are only porta potties. You can also go up the stairs and place a chair on the concrete or by the fountain.
This beautiful spring quickly became a family favorite. Little River Springs is the second largest spring, pumping out millions of gallons of crystal clear water every day. This spring is located along the Suwannee River, so it is surrounded by beautiful scenery.
Little River Springs is not far from Royal Springs, so it’s also close to several other springs if you want to go spring hopping, for example.
Little River Springs is a family-friendly hot springs with fun for everyone, including snorkeling, diving, games, and relaxing. When we arrived there was only one diver on site so we were able to avoid the crowds. When we were ready to leave a few hours later, there was a camp with several families and about 25 children.
We usually plan to go on weekdays and arrive early to avoid the crowds.
This is a beautiful natural spring that you should definitely add to your list of places to visit. Like all springs in central and northern Florida, the temperature remains constant at about 72 degrees year-round.
Refreshing even on hot days! This spring, we’re about 35 minutes from Rum Island Springs County Park and about 37 minutes from Troy Springs if you’re looking for a spring hop.
Little River Springs County Park Will Receive More Than $100,000 In Restorations
After years of bank erosion and damaged spring beds, Little River Springs County Park near Branford is investing more than $100,000 in renovations.
The Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD) Board announced a partnership agreement with the county to carry out the cleanup after significant erosion and bank failures occurred on the north side.
Suwannee Parks and Recreation Coordinator Jason Farley said years of flooding have eroded the shoreline and caused parts of the boardwalk to collapse.
“It’s not actually going to block access, but what’s going to happen is it’s going to wash sediment off the bank into the headwaters itself,” Farley said.
Farley said SRWMD improved the park several years ago by adding handicapped access, a boardwalk and a boardwalk deck. In addition to providing safe access to the park, mats were installed to prevent erosion and large rocks were placed on the west side of the spring area.
But even after improvements are made, the damage continues to worsen, and more funds are needed to repair more than 70 feet of eroded shoreline.
The park is approximately 150 feet long and the underwater cave system is over 1,200 feet long
In early March, Florida senators proposed the Florida Springs and Aquifer Protection Act to improve water quality and reduce nutrient pollution in Florida’s much-needed springs.
Farley said the Suwannee Parks and Recreation Department approved the proposal to the SRWMD board because it believed Little River Springs County Park met standards and the department did not have sufficient funds to restore the shoreline. Ta.
The district will provide $90,000 in funding through the Florida Springs and Aquifer Protection Act, according to a news release. Suwannee County will provide $15,000 for the project.
Project Manager Patrick Webster said the exact start date will be determined by the county. But Farley hopes restoration work will begin in the fall and last six to 12 months.
Due to rising waters from recent rains, the park is currently closed and construction has been suspended as the summer season approaches.
The county’s goal is to restore stability to the river and prevent further shoreline erosion. Portions of the sidewalk will need to be updated and stones and erosion control mats along the embankment will need to be replaced.
Webster said several different remediation efforts need to be considered to prevent future erosion and flooding problems. Placing concrete between rocks along the embankment will prevent rocks from falling onto the shoreline.
“There are other ways to repair benches,” Webster said. “We could change the configuration of the levee to some extent and increase its slope to prevent further erosion.”
Mr Webster added that planting vegetation along the coastline can also reduce erosion problems along the coast. Despite the damage to the shoreline, visiting Little River Springs’ 125-acre property, which includes picnic areas, nature trails, and two observation points where a wide variety of wildlife can be seen, is not prohibited. Spring cave dwellings are not restricted.
Robert Knight of the Howard T. Odum Florida Springs Institute said construction debris and trash sometimes washes into the springs, causing sediment to build up. Knight studies aquatic ecology and is the institute’s founder, president and CEO.
Often used for cave diving, the springs have wooden steps and decks that allow divers to use them without eroding the banks. Knight said damage could be caused simply by people walking in and out of the springs, and sediment could build up in access areas.
While Little River Springs needs to repair flood damage, other springs need sediment removed from their banks, Knight said.
Webster said the district is currently considering various spring restoration plans approved by the board, including projects at Hart Springs Park, Otter Springs Park and Charles Springs.
