Summary of Features Scale—3rd magnitude Scenery—fair How Pristine?—near road and cleared land; otherwise unspoiled Swimming—none Protection—excellent Crowds—none Access—excellent Facilities—excellent Safety—good Cost—free

Quick Directions
One block east of intersection of State Roads 61 and 267 in Wakulla Springs State Park about 30 minutes' drive south of Tallahassee.

Full Directions
From downtown Tallahassee, drive south on South Adams until it becomes Crawfordville Highway (US 319 South). Continue past Capital Circle until the road forks to the left and forms Wakulla Springs Road (State Road 61).  Continue on through portions of the Apalachicola National Forest until you come to State Road 267.  Turn left for a few hundred feet and then right into the entrance of Wakulla Springs State Park.  About 100 yards past the entrance is a small bridge. The spring is at the bridge on the left.

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 pool area is bordered by swamp on two sides and joined by the flow from nearby Indian Springs.  The oblong pool area is perhaps 30 feet across and forms a run that flows for more than half a mile into the Wakulla River.  According to Rosenau et al. (1977, p. 416) the spring discharges from a shelf under the road that leads to a cave of unknown depth and distance.  The water can be choked with exotic vegetation.  Alligators are sometimes seen in the spring, the clarity of which varies from clear blue to murky.

Use/Access

A trail leads from Wakulla Springs lodge to the spring, which may also be accessed off the park entrance road or the parking lot at the park pay station.

Diving and swimming are not allowed in the small spring.

Local Springiana

The spring is named for Sally Ward, who owned the land around the site in the early 1900s.  She would let her neighbors' cows drink from the spring.

Personal Impressions
It is a pleasant walk from the Wakulla Springs Lodge to the spring, but the trail and site are not particularly scenic.  It is easier to simply pull over at the pay station lot when driving into or out of the park and look at the spring from the bridge or a viewing spot at the end of the trail.

Nearby Springs

Indian Springs

Kini Spring

McBride Slough Spring

Newport Spring

Riversink Spring

Shepherd Spring

Wakulla Springs

Other Nearby Natural Features

Leon County Sinks Park

Apalachicola National Forest

Wakulla Spring State Park

St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge

Contact Information

Wakulla Springs State Park
550 Wakulla Park Drive
Wakulla springs, FL 32305
840-224-5950