Blue Spring State Park is a Florida state park located west of Orange City, Florida. The park is a well-known tourist attraction.
Blue Spring State Park encompasses over 2,600 acres and contains the largest spring on the St. Johns River.
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Blue Spring is a designated manatee refuge, with a growing population of West Indian Manatees wintering there. Several hundred manatees can be seen atop the spring’s overlooks on cold days during manatee season, which lasts roughly from mid-November to March.
From mid-November to at least mid-March, the spring and spring run are closed to all water activity. Swimming or diving with manatees is prohibited and strictly enforced.
The park’s spring (Volusia Blue Spring) is the biggest on the St. Johns River. The spring attracts many Florida manatees during the winter due to its relatively warm temperature of 73 °F (23 °C). Every day, approximately 102 million US gallons (390,000 m3) of water flow out of Blue Spring into the St. Johns River.
During peak seasons, visitors may encounter long lines to enter Blue Spring State Park. The park frequently reaches capacity and may have to close temporarily. Closures occur infrequently and can last for several hours. Visitors with camping or boat tour reservations will be admitted while the park is closed, but pedestrians and bicyclists will be denied entry until the park reopens.
During the winter and summer months, Blue Spring State Park is frequently at capacity during the week and on weekends. Please arrive at the park early to avoid long lines.
On the St. Johns River and the lower section of the spring run, boat tours and canoe/kayak rentals are available. Blue Spring Adventures can be reached at 386-775-0046 for information on boat tour times and pricing.
Swimming, snorkeling, diving, tubing, canoeing, kayaking, paddle boarding, hiking, and other activities are available. Winter (November through March): It’s manatee season. Hundreds of manatees congregate here during the winter in the spring.
Blue Spring State Park is home to the endemic Florida scrub jay. With so many families living in the rare scrub ecosystem, you’re bound to catch a glimpse or hear their calls. Please make a note that feeding Florida scrub jays is illegal and not allowed, as it can be extremely harmful to the birds.
The campground has 51 campsites in the sand pine scrub, all of which are within walking distance of the spring. Each site has a picnic table, water, electricity, and a grill. There is a dump station in the park.
Pets are permitted in the camping area, though you must follow the Pet’s Policy. There are accessible sites available. Two new bathhouses have accessible showers and bathroom stalls.
St. Johns River Cruises and Tours offers boat tours at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. daily. This is a two-hour narrated nature and ecological cruise on the historic and beautiful St. Johns River.
A wheelchair lift into the vessel provides wheelchair access. When making a reservation, please specify any accessibility requirements.
Blue Spring State Park is pleased to allow responsible, certified divers access. The Scuba Discovery tour offered by Florida Dive Company allows participants to experience what it’s like to breathe underwater and see wildlife in its natural habitat.
Swimming at Blue Springs State Park is a popular summer activity because the water temperature remains constant at 72 degrees Fahrenheit. There are several locations where you can jump into the spring water, as well as a concession stand on the boardwalk.
Blue Spring State Park is dedicated to making a variety of amenities available to all visitors.
Cabins can sleep up to six people. The first bedroom has a double bed, while the second bedroom has two single beds. Although the cabins have space for six people, they only have three beds. If necessary, guests are welcome to bring cots and linens to accommodate two additional people.
The campground at Blue Spring State Park has 51 single-family campsites (with water and electric hookups) for tents, trailers, and RVs (up to 40 feet).
There are several restaurants near Blue Spring State Park. Some of them are as below:
Blue Spring State Park is one of the most popular parks in Central Florida for canoeing, kayaking, and Stand Up Paddleboarding.
Snorkeling in a crystal-clear spring run is available at Blue Spring. It is not permitted to swim with the manatees. Children and non-swimmers should always be accompanied by an adult swimmer. There are no lifeguards on duty.
Blue Spring State Park encompasses over 2,600 acres and contains the largest spring on the St. Johns River. Blue Spring is a designated Manatee Refuge, and it is home to a growing population of West Indian Manatees during the winter.
Manatees have a lot of teeth but they don’t bite. They eat seagrass and other plant life with their teeth. They are voracious eaters, the ocean’s largest herbivore, measuring nearly 14 feet long and weighing up to 3,000 pounds.
The best time to observe manatees is from November to April, and the local manatee population peaks between December and February. Manatees can be seen in our waterways all year, but the population is much smaller during the summer.
Manatees flock to Florida in the winter to take advantage of the warm water gushing from the springs. Because of the large numbers, December, January, and February are the best months to swim with manatees. Take this into consideration when planning your trip.
There are no true predators of manatees. Sharks, killer whales, alligators, and crocodiles could eat them, but this is uncommon because they do not usually share the same waters. Humans are their greatest threat. As a result, all manatee species are endangered or threatened.
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