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Spring basin with natural bridge as seen from above

Lafayette Blue Springs State Park

A beauty spot along the western shore of the Suwannee River, Lafayette Blue Spring is both a swimming hole and a lesson in the curious nature of karst.

Suwannee River Wilderness Trail  |  Mayo
( 30.1266, -83.2267 )      1.0 miles

CLOSED while damage is assessed from Hurricane Idalia.


A long-time local swimming hole, Lafayette Blue Springs State Park offers a splashing good time.

Karst geology is on display within the the spring basin, with a natural bridge spanning two natural pools when the water matches normal river levels.

Rocks and cypress knees surrounded by clear green tinted water Lafayette Blue and its natural bridge


Resources

Resources for exploring the area
Florida Trail Hikes book cover The Florida Trail Guide book cover North Florida Panhandle Explorers Guide book cover 50 Hikes in North Florida book cover Hikers Guide to the Sunshine State book cover  
Disclosure: As authors and affiliates, we receive earnings when you buy these through our links. This helps us provide public information on this website.

Overview

Location: Mayo
Length: 1 mile loop
Trailhead: 30.1266, -83.2267
Address: 799 NW Blue Spring Rd, Mayo
Fees: $5 per vehicle
Restroom: At the picnic area
Land manager: Florida State Parks
Phone: 386-294-3667
 
Open 8 AM to sunset. Leashed dogs welcome except in cabins.

Directions

 
From the junction of SR 51 and US 27 in downtown Mayo, follow US 27 north for 4.8 miles to CR 292. Turn right and drive north 2.1 miles. Turn right on Blue Springs Rd and drive a half mile to the park entrance. From Interstate 10, take SR 255 south from Lee for 3.2 miles. Join SR 53 and continue south another 9.4 miles, passing through the small town of Day. Turn right on CR 290, which makes a 90-degree-turn at a separate entrance into the park for Allen Mill Pond. The road becomes CR 292. Drive another 2.2 miles south to Blue Springs Rd, the entrance to the park.

About the Park

With canyon-like walls rising above deep rock-edged pools and a rocky natural bridge, Lafayette Blue Spring is one of the more compelling natural wonders along the Suwannee.

But it’s not the only spring, just the showiest. In the hardwood forest above the spring basin, waters rise from deep within the earth, surfacing in a sinkhole.

Sinkhole in lush forest Along the Green Sink Trail


A spring run emerges and runs through a ravine, the waters vanishing into a swallet to re-emerge at the lower level with the natural bridge.

While not as obvious as the one between the sinkholes, that means the road around the spring and the trail are on a natural bridge, too.

Spring outflow to river from ravine View from the trail above Lafayette Blue


An entirely separate tract of the park at Allen Mill Pond has direct access to the banks of the Suwannee at Ezell Landing across the river from Charles Spring.

While there is no established trail, the showy outflow of the springs flows past ancient cypress. Massive oaks are on the bluffs of the uplands.

Clear water and cypresses beyond Spring outflow past a forest of cypress knees


Hike

A scenic nature trail, the half-mile Green Sink Trail loops the ravines on a narrow path above the sinkholes and spring run.

An amble from the picnic area down towards the main spring puts you within view of the entrance to that trail across the park road.

Kiosk in picnic area Check the picnic area kiosk for park maps


A pathway leads downslope along the bluff above the spring, with stairs down to the natural bridge and a ramp that curves around to an observation deck.

The outflow of the spring rushes past it to merge into the tannic waters of the Suwannee River.

View of green, blue, and brown water mingling at river's edge Gradient of colors where waters merge


Another staircase on the opposite side of the spring leads from river level up the bluff, with a sign welcoming paddlers.

A walk along the nature trail, around the spring basin, and to and around the campground at the end of the dirt road adds up to a mile.

Large trail sign on bluff with stairs Prominent sign for the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail


Camping

A set of cabins top the bluff within sight of the picnic area and all of them are on stilts, a nod to the unpredictable nature of the river.

Camping is otherwise primitive, with walk-in sites available along a loop a short distance down a dirt road from the spring basin.

A separate group camp may be reserved for youth groups. Call the park for details.

Camping cabin on stilts The camping cabins are like a small house


Cave Diving

More two miles of mapped underway passageways extend into the Floridan aquifer from the main basin at Lafayette Blue Springs.

Teams of no less than two certified cave divers can register at the ranger station before proceeding to the spring for a dive. See the park website for regulations and cautions.

Green spring in a bowl of forest Divers can follow the underwater passage from Lafayette Blue to surface at Green Sink


Paddling

A stop for paddlers along the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail, Lafayette Blue Springs offers both tent camping and potable water at its restrooms.

The boat ramp not far from the picnic area restrooms and rental cabins can be used for launches and landings.

Paddlers can also launch into the Suwannee at Ezell Landing on the Allen Mill Pond tract.

Riverbank with flat mud and cypress knees Suwannee River at Allen Mill Pond


Trail Map

Lafayette Blue Springs State Park Trail Map


Explore More!

Learn more about the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail

Holton River Camp beach Suwannee River Wilderness Trail Showcasing springs, sandy beaches, waterfalls, and haunting swamp forests where manatees gather, the 170-mile Suwannee River Wilderness Trail is a paddling trip of a lifetime

Slideshow

See our photos of Lafayette Blue Springs State Park


Nearby Adventures

More worth exploring while you’re in this area.

Aquamarine tinted water surrounded by cypress trees Wes Skiles Peacock Springs State Park A top international destination for cave divers, Peacock Springs also offers a unique interpretive hike for non-divers to trace the watery passages beneath the surface.
Expanse of large spring Troy Spring State Park A first-magnitude spring along the Suwannee River, Troy Spring State Park has the remains of a Civil War steamboat cradled in its rocky waters.
Fall colors on trees framing Suwannee River view Suwannee River State Park Perched at the confluence of the Withlacoochee and Suwannee Rivers, Suwannee River State Park melds major historic sites with unusual karst topography.
Madison Blue Springs Madison Blue Spring State Park A long-time Old Florida swimming hole along SR 6 between the towns of Lee and Jasper, Madison Blue Spring is a sinkhole pouring out a first-magnitude spring into the Withlacoochee River.

Trail Map (PDF) Reserve Cabin Official Website

Category: Camping, Florida State Parks, Launch Points, Loop Hikes, Nature Trails, North Florida, Paddling, Parks, Places, SpringsTag: Birding, Boating, Cabins, Car Camping, Dog-friendly, Dowling Park, Fishing, Florida State Parks, Group Camping, Live Oak, Madison, Mayo, Perry, Primitive Camping, Rivers, Scuba, Springs, Suwannee River, Suwannee River Wilderness Trail, Swimming, Wildlife Viewing

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