Summary of Features Scale - 3rd magnitude Scenery - excellent How Pristine? - house and cleared area near spring, otherwise very natural Swimming - excellent, excellent snorkeling Protection - outstanding Crowds - none Access - very limited (see below) Facilities - none from water, furnished rental house on site Safety - fine Scuba - no Cost - rental fee for house on spring

Directions
From the intersection of State Roads 40 and 19 in the Ocala National Forest, drive about three miles north on SR 19 to where the highway crosses Juniper Creek. Put in and canoe about 0.6 miles upriver to mouth of Sweetwater Spring run on the right and go a short distance (about 135 feet) to the spring.  Note:  a sign at the mouth of the spring run declares that one may not enter the spring basin.  Access by land limited to people who win a lottery to stay a week at the cabin on the creek.  The entrance to the spring by land is a 1-mile dirt drive a few hundred feet north of the bridge over Juniper Creek on the west side of the road.

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
Sweetwater Spring consists of two main flows that form a single pool with rough overall dimensions of 75 by 40 feet in diameter. The larger flow is from beneath a limestone ledge in the central portion of the pool near the bank on the north side. The opening is about 2 feet long, 10 feet deep, and the flow creates a visible boil on the surface. The second vent is much smaller and is in the NW corner of the pool adjacent to the bank in about 4 feet of water. Water from the vents is clear and clean, and there is a blue tint over the vents. The bottom of the pool is mostly sandy, and there are small fish in the pool.

Land on the north side of the pool slopes up perhaps 15 feet above the water, and the bank is about 5 feet high. The south side is separated from Juniper Creek by a small peninsula and an island in the creek. The pool is almost completely canopied, and the lower portion is dominated by a large live oak that leans over into the pool. This tree is buttressed by a wooden pillar to prevent it from falling completely into the pool.  Flow from the pool exits at the SE end in a clear run that is 5-12 feet wide, 2-4 feet deep, and about 100 feet long before joining Juniper Creek.

Use/Access

• From January-May each year, people may submit up to three sets of dates to try and reserve the cabin on Sweetwater Spring for a week during the next calendar year at the current rate of $600, plus tax and refundable $100 security deposit.  The fully furnished (except linens) house on the spring sleeps 10. Competition for the cabin-on-spring is extremely keen.
• While one may canoe Juniper Creek to the mouth of the Sweetwater Spring run, access to the spring itself is denied—a sign says the area is not open to the general public in order to protect the privacy of folks renting the cabin at the spring.
• The overarching oak tree provides excellent perches and jumping-off opportunities for swimmers.
• There is a rope swing at the spring.
• The Florida National Scenic Trail comes to within a couple of miles of the spring.

Nearby Springs

• Alexander Springs
• Fern Hammock Springs
• Juniper Springs
• Salt Spring
• Silver Glen Springs
• Silver Springs
• DeLeon Spring
• Orange Spring

• Lake Woodruff Wildlife Refuge
• Welaka State Forest
• Tiger Bay State Forest
• Withlacoochie State Forest
• Ocala National Forest