Summary of Features Scale - 2nd magnitude Scenery - excellent How Pristine? - dock at spring, exotics in water, otherwise fairly pristine Swimming - excellent Protection - very good/private Crowds - heavy on warm weekends Access - fine Facilities - excellent Safety - fine Scuba - no Cost - $5 per person   Directions By land: From High Springs, drive south on U.S. 27/41 about 1 mile. Turn west (right) onto State Road 340 (Poe Springs Road) and drive about five miles to entrance to Blue Springs Campground turnoff (look for sign). Follow another two miles to Blue Springs. From parking area, walk east along dirt path/road to Naked Spring. By boat, putting in at Rum Island: Blue Springs is just downriver of the boat ramp at Rum Island on the opposite bank. From High Springs, drive NW on US 27/SR20 about four miles. Turn left (west) onto State Road 138 and drive about two miles to turnoff to the left (south) at sign for Rum Island. Follow dirt road about 1.5 miles to river. Put boat into the river. Just around the first bend downriver is the platform at the end of the Blue Springs run/Campground boardwalk. Paddle into Blue Springs run at the boardwalk platform, then under the boardwalk to the left where the Naked Spring run joins the Blue Springs run.

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 springs lie in a low, swampy area.  The main spring pool is oval and about 45 by 70 feet in diameter.  Water issues from a
limestone fissure on the west side of the pool, near a dock/platform that has been constructed to provide access to the spring.
Water was very clear on dates of visit (summer 2000 and June 2002), and there was a slick on the surface from the upwelling
water.  Water over the vent was a deep blue. The bottom of the spring was covered in exotic aquatic vegetation everywhere
but at the vent, which appeared to be 12-15 feet deep and surrounded by limestone.

The second spring is about 40 feet from the main pool and forms a circular basin about 25 feet across.  The water is clear, but
the bottom is covered in plants and algae and the vent is not as clear.  There was a mild bould on the surface when visited June
1, 2002, and the bottom appeared to be about 15 feet deep.  Fallen logs hampered access by canoe; the site can also be
reached by land from the nearby dirt road.

The springs are canopied by hardwood, floodplain forest.  The spring run--about 3 feet deep--flows west from the springs
approximately 300 feet to where it joins the run from Blue Springs under the Blue Springs Campground boardwalk.

Use/Access

• The springs are located in the Blue Springs Campground, which has camping facilities, picnic areas, restrooms, swimming, a camp store, and related facilities.
• The authors have visited the springs from the land and also directly from the Santa Fe River by squeezing their canoe under the boardwalk and into the Naked Spring run.  While it is legal to enter the springs in this way (as long as no landfall is made), the campground owners would probably not welcome such entry.
• While most of the visitors at Blue Springs Campground swim in the Blue Springs pool, the Naked Springs pool is also used and can fill quickly because of its relatively small size.
• The floating dock at the larger spring makes for an excellent dive and swim platform.

Personal Impressions
Despite the exotic vegetation, Naked Springs retain a lot of clear water for swimming, and the main spring is an excellent swimming hole.  Of the many springs on the Santa Fe, Naked was the favorite of JF’s daughter for its natural beauty, relative seclusion, clear blue water, and cold temperature.

Nearby Springs

• Poe Springs, Darby Spring, Hornsby Spring, Santa Fe Spring, ALA930971, Lily Springs, Pickard Springs, COL101971, Rum Island Springs, Blue Springs, Little Blue Springs, Johnson Spring, Ginnie Springs group, Sawdust Spring, COL1012972, COL1012971, GIL1012973, Myrtle's Fissure, GIL1012971, GIL1012972, 47 Boatramp Spring (or GIL1012974)

• Ichetucknee Springs State Park
• O’Leno State Park
• San Felasco Hammock State Preserve
• Devil’s Millhopper State Geologic Site
• River Rise State Preserve
• Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park