- Scale—Dry to 3rd magnitude, est.
- Scenery—Very good to excellent
- How Pristine?—Mostly undisturbed, near developed land
- Swimming—No
- Protection—Unknown
- Crowds—None
- Access—Very good, by boat only
- Facilities—None
- Safety—Very good
- Scuba—No
- Cost—Free
Summary of Features
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Directions
Accessible via small boat. From the center of Marianna on U.S.
90, go north on Jefferson Street (State Road 167—the same turn as for Florida
Cavern State Park) and proceed about 1.5 miles to the bridge over the Chipola
River. Put in and go downstream about 7 miles. Look for openings
in the west bank of the Chipola River over the course of about 1/2 mile
at the following GPS coordinates:
#1--N30.44.427; W85.12.778
#2--N30.44.353; W85.12.822
#3--N30.44.353; W85.12.840
#4--N30.44.383; W85.12.822
#5--N30.44.383; W85.12.804
For maps, 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 authors passed and/or partially explored several sites where water
was flowing into the river from creeks on the west side. None had
a large flow, but all were flowing in early March 2004. When revisited
in late March 2004, one run was dry and two others only had a trickle of
flow. Some were explored up to 400 feet, but no spring vents were
seen and so the authors do not know the source of the flows. It appears
that the flows regulary dry up before reaching the river or perhaps do
not flow at all at some times, so the flow may or may not be from springs.
Some details follow:
#1 A small opening in the west bank--perhaps 18" wide--with only a trickle of water. This run wound westward from the river and was not explored. There is a large cypress stump at the opening in the riverbank, and there was a sandbar jutting about 10 feet into the river.
#2 Another small opening in the west bank, which was dry on date of visit in late March 2004.
#3 This run/creek enters the Chipola from the west side, carving an opening in the 6-foot bank. At its mouth, the run was 2-3 feet wide and a couple of inches deep and was clear and odorless in early March 2004. The flow was reduced to a trickle 3 weeks later. The authors walked up the run a distance of about 100 feet to where the run exited from a thicket, and decided not to follow it any further.
#4 This run/creek also enters the Chipola from the west side, creating a run that is about 2 feet side and 3 inches deep. The run widens near the river, and was about 4 feet wide and 1 foot deep at its mouth in early March 2004, and about half those dimensions 3 weeks later. JF walked up/alongside the run for a distance of about 400 feet, to a point where it passes beneath an old, small, collapsed railroad trestle. Just above the trestle is a small beaver dam, and the run continued on up out of sight. Water was somewhat backed up by the lodge, and the run widened and deepened due to the backup caused by the dam. The flow point was not found. The land adjacent to/downriver from this run to the south was cleared for several acres and had a picnic shelter/house/cook shack on it with a no trespass sign.
#5 This run/creek mouth was a few minutes’ paddle below #4 and also on the west bank. The mouth of the run was about 10 feet wide, and the run was wide and deep enough to ascend it in a canoe for a distance of about 300 feet in early March 2004, and only about half that far 3 weeks later. As with run #4, the authors could not go beyond a railroad trestle or determine how far back the spring originated. This site had no sign of development other than the decaying railroad line. This creek/run was not photographed.
Use/Access
There is no apparent use of any of these creeks/runs. The old
railroad line is in a very decayed and decrepit condition—the ties and
trestle were completely collapsed, leaving only the rails spanning the
gap (about 10 feet) over run #4. Nearby, the authors saw a well-fed
alligator basking on the east bank. The ‘gator was about 5 feet long,
and allowed the authors’ to approach to within about 50 feet before retreating
into the river.
Nearby Springs