Natural North Florida’s Gilchrist Blue Springs is Now Florida’s Newest State Park, 11/1/17

Florida now has 175 State Parks, and everyone’s excited that the transition from private to public for Gilchrist Blue Springs is now  a “done deal”.  The property, which contains six natural springs and includes approximately one mile of frontage along the Santa Fe River, has been providing recreational opportunities as a private park since 1958. As a state park, Gilchrist Blue Springs will continue to offer numerous opportunities for resource-based recreation, including swimming, paddling and hiking.

Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park is located in Gilchrist County about 5 miles to the west of High Springs, FL off NW 182nd Ave (Hwy 236) in the north central part of the state along the Santa Fe River. The park is located 25 miles south of Lake City and about 20 miles to the northwest of Gainesville.

Naked Spring is one of the six named springs in Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park

Among the six natural springs contained on the property is a large second magnitude spring that produces an average of 44 million gallons of water per day. This spring, known as Gilchrist Blue, discharges water through a shallow spring run about one-quarter mile to the Santa Fe River. The other named springs on-site are Little Blue Spring, Naked Spring and Johnson Spring.

It’s easy to reach the main spring at Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park

from the Santa Fe River by way of the spring run

One of the best things to happen with the State’s acquisition of the 407-acre property is that the admission is now $6 per vehicle (up to 8 passengers).  Another advantage is that the FUN FACTOR will remain the same at this family-friendly park!