Exploring the Nature of Florida: Ichetucknee Springs State Park

This beautiful park is located in Columbia County just a few miles north and west of the small town of Fort White. The main attraction is the six-mile long, crystal clear spring-fed Ichetucknee River. This stream is protected for most of its length within the boundaries of the state park before it joins the waters of the Santa Fe River, which eventually flows into the Suwannee for the final leg of the journey to the Gulf of Mexico. Ichetucknee is an Indian word meaning "pond of the beaver".

Ichetucknee River from the Trestle Point Trail

The park has a northern and southern section, each with a separate entrance gate that helps facilitate a large number of tubers and rafters who float the river during the warmer months of the year. There are many private outfitters located nearby that supply all of the equipment and floation devices that are necessary for this fun adventure in the park.

The Florida State Park website states that: "The Ichetucknee River is the MOST pristine spring-fed river in the state of Florida. Two hundred and thirty three million gallons of fresh water flow daily from the springs within the 2,241-acre park."

You can see clear to the bottom!

The plant communities include hardwood hammocks with live oak and magnolia, as well as extensive wetlands and cypress swamps which line the banks of the river. There is also a pine upland ecosystem that is different than the rest of the forest cover in the park and hosts a large community of deer and wild turkey. A visitor is likely to encounter a wide range of birds such as herons, egrets, barred owls, and kestrels. Other critters in the park include raccoons, turtles, foxes and a wide range of fish in the river and the springs which feed it.

Trestle Point Trail

Again from the park website: "Look down into the clear waters and be amazed by the abundance of aquatic wildlife. Largemouth and Suwannee bass, catfish, red-bellies, bluegill, mullet, and gar are but a few of the many species of fish that are present in the Ichetucknee. Peer yet closer into the crystal waters and see snails, crayfish, small turtles, grass shrimp and more. The gopher tortoise, indigo snake, or fox squirrel may also be out among the pines."

A pair of turtles on a log in the river.

We visited twice in late December and were pleasantly surprised to be practically the only persons there. I am told that this park is heavily used by recreational floaters from the spring through late fall, so be aware of this fact if you are looking for a time when things are more calm and serene such as the winter months.