Summary of Features   Scale - 2nd magnitude Scenery - fine How Pristine? - unspoiled; dirt road to site and small parking areas Swimming - fair-good Protection - excellent Wildlife - very good Crowds - occasional fishermen Access - very good Facilities - none Safety - very good Scuba - no Cost - free Directions From Interstate 10 exit on old exit #38 (exit also for Suwannee River State Park) and travel north four miles to town of Lee and turn right (east) on U.S. 90.  Drive about 12 miles and cross the Suwannee River.  Take the first right past the bridge onto River Road (across from agriculture station). Drive 2.2 miles, crossing over Interstate 10.  Take the first right into the Anderson Spring State Recreation Area.  Drive about 0.3 miles to the main parking area (past the kiosk) and then look inland for the spring depression.  To locate the flowpoint in the river, walk from the parking area to the river and look for the upwelling adjacent to the shore in a nearly direct line from the parking area. For maps, latitude/longitude data, driving directions, satellite imagery, and topographic representations as well as weather conditions at this spring, go to Greg Johnson's informative "Florida Springs Database" web site at the following address:  http://www.ThisWaytothe.Net/springs/floridasprings.htm#Florida

Spring Description The spring is described and has been photographed as being both inland from the river and lying in the riverbed itself.  When Rosenau et al. visited in 1974, they found a dry run of 150 feet leading from the river to a shallow pool, 50 feet in diameter, in a low-lying and somewhat swampy area. No flow was visible. A local resident informed them that the pool sometimes flowed and was used for swimming (1977, p. 356).

View of dry run, Nov. 2003

This pool has not had water or flow in it on the four times the authors have visited from 1995-2003.   Just to the right of the entrance road--and across from the main parking area--are the dry depression, pool area, and run described by Rosenau et al.  The run goes back perhaps 200 feet, and there are several low spots from when water might flow under very wet conditions.  There is no evidence of recent flow, however.  There is a clear and evident flow point just off the shore in the bed of the river nearby (see photograph).  Rosenau noted that divers had identified Anderson Spring as being in the bed of the river at this latter spot.  Hornsby & Ceryak also report the spring as only being in the river (1998, p. 108). It may be that (1) water in the pool also flows underground beneath the dry run to well up in the river where observed, (2) the pool may still flow overland as well under certain hydrological conditions, (3) the pool no longer flows and flow is only in the riverbed where observed, (4) some other explanation or combination of the above theories is correct.

Use/Access
The tract was run as a management area in the 1990s by the Suwannee River Water Management District.  It is now a state recreation area managed by the Florida Park Service.  The site includes an informational kiosk, trails, fishing, chemical toilet, and a boat ramp.  Visitors can swim in the river.

Nearby Springs

Alapaha Spring

Falmouth Spring

Holton Spring

Little Gem Spring

Ellaville Spring

Lime Spring

Adams Spring

Morgan’s Spring

Suwannacoochie Spring

Suwannee River State Park

Withlacoochie River

Two Rivers State Forest

Contact Information
Suwannee River State Park
Route 8, Box 297
Live Oak, FL 32060
850-362-2746