Salt Springs Recreation Area

Useful Information

Location:	13535 FL-19, Fort McCoy, FL 32134. (29.3505839, -81.7327351)
Open:	All year daily 8-20. [2024]
Fee:	Adults USD 12. [2024]
Classification:	Karst Spring
Light:	n/a
Dimension:	Yavg=230,000 l/s, T=23 °C.
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	yes
Bibliography:
Address:	American Land & Leisure, 260 S 2500 W, Suite 103, Pleasant Grove, UT 84062, Tel: +1-801-226-3564, Tel: +1-800-342-2267. E-mail: National Forests in Florida Supervisor’s Office, 325 John Knox Road, Bldg F, Suite 210, Tallahassee, FL 32303, Tel: +1-850-523-8500.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1900s

spring frequented by people believing it had medicinal healing powers.

Description

photography — Salt Springs, Florida, U.S.A. Public Domain.

The Salt Springs Recreation Area is named after a massive karst spring and is located in the northern part of the Ocala National Forest. The name is unfortunately a little generic, as there are dozens of salt springs in Florida. The spring produces spectacular 230,000 l/s, which is actually a full river flowing out of an underwater cave system. The spring is also warmer than other springs, the water has 23 °C. It is quite popular among manatees during winter.

Despite its huge size, the spring is often very crowded, especially on summer weekends. Further drawbacks are high entrance fees and very strict rules, which many find too rude. It is definitely different from the other springs which are State Parks, starting with the $12 entrance fee per person, where the others cost $5 per vehicle with up to 8 persons. This site is not a state park, it is managed by the company American Land & Leisure, and is a business, not a public park. Nevertheless, it is a popular and crowded tourist site with all the drawbacks that come with so many visitors.

The water of the spring is actually salty, it flows through underground salt deposits, dissolves some salt and thus contains a variety of minerals. The water has a mild salty taste. The huge pool is about 115 m long, 45 m wide and between 0.6 m and 1.5 m deep. There are huge limestone rocks separated by wide cracks, sediment filled vents which are up to 6 m deep, from where the water rises. There are actually four distinctive springs in the huge pool. From here the water flows into Salt Spring Run, which is between 100 and 250 m wide and flows into Lake George/St. Johns River after only 6 km. The spring and the whole river system are only slightly above sea level and so the water flows very slowly to the sea.