Black Spring
Jackson County
Summary of Features
  • Scale - 2nd magnitude
  • Scenery - excellent
  • How Pristine? - very pristine
  • Swimming - poor-fair
  • Protection - unknown
  • Crowds - boat traffic on warm weekends
  • Access - good, boat only
  • Facilities - none
  • Safety - unknown
  • Scuba - yes
  • Cost - free

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                                                                                                            Spring pool.  One of two runs to Spring Lake in center back of photo.
     
     
     
       
    Directions
    From U.S. 90 in Marianna, go west on Highway 276, pass under Interstate 10, and continue on to Highway 167. Turn left and go until you pass County Road 1656. Continue on 1.1 miles to Mystery Springs Road. A gray doublewide trailer home is at the intersection. Turn left and proceed 1.4 miles on a dirt road until it and the forest on the left seem to end and there is a large "No Trespassing" sign. Turn left just before the sign onto a narrow dirt road and drive about 100 yards to the water, which is the east run of Black Spring. Proceed by boat 200-300 feet to the left (west) to the spring basin.

    The other four springs in this section (Double, Mill Pond, Gadsen, and Springboard), are accessible from this boat ramp.

    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 basin is round and about 150 feet across. The water is clear and very dark with visibility of 2-3 feet only; the name of the spring is derived from this dark, reflective water. According to Rosenau et al. (1977, p. 173), the spring is 75 feet deep and has nearly vertical sides. There are water lettuce and hyacinth in the basin. The spring is surrounded by dense floodplain forest.

    The spring has two runs that radiate from its basin, each of which is about 100 yards long: one to the east (and the boat launch before continuing east in a swampy area) and one to the west (toward Spring Lake). The western run then splits around a small island, with one channel continuing west and upriver in Spring Lake and the other north and east toward the downstream portion of Spring Lake and the Chipola River. The runs are about 50 feet wide and 1-6 feet deep.

    Use/Access

    Local Springiana
    Cows were heard lowing a short distance south of the spring.

    Personal Impressions
    The authors had wanted to visit this spring for several years, and its natural beauty met all their expectations. It is a wild place in a very rural area and feels remote and peaceful.

    Nearby Springs

    Other Nearby Natural Features