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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.

Lee      ( 30.481558,-83.24457 )      

15.5Kshares

Cradling a bowl of aqua blue, Madison Blue Spring is the most picturesque first-magnitude spring in Florida.

From its billowing bowl of deep blue pouring out through a shallow spring run to the Upper Withlacoochee River, every perspective on it is an amazing sight.


Resources

Resources for exploring the area

Explorers Guide North Florida and Panhandle 50 Hikes in North Florida

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: Lee
Trailhead: 30.481558,-83.24457
Address: 8300 NE SR 6, Lee
Fees: $4-5 per vehicle
Land Manager: Florida State Parks
Phone: 850-971-5003

Open 8 AM until sunset daily. When the parking area reaches capacity, the park gates will close.

This can happen early on summer weekends, so come early or wait until a weekday to enjoy a quieter visit.

Dogs are not permitted around the spring basin but are fine in the picnic area.


Directions

 
From Interstate 10 exit 262, Lee, follow CR 255 north through Lee to SR 6. Continue east on SR 6 until you see the state park entrance sign on the right just before the Withlacoochee River bridge.

About the Park

There is nowhere else quite like Madison Blue Spring, an ethereal natural pool of blue surrounded by rocky bluffs.

From the 82-foot-wide basin, a hundred-foot spring run pours out into the Withlacoochee River across aquamarine shallows.

Madison Blue Springs
The bowl that is Madison Blue Spring

Swimming

With stairs to ease you down to water level, Madison Blue Spring is a compelling place for a swim. If you’ve wanted to take the plunge in a Florida spring, this is a beauty.

While there is no diving platform, you can simply let go and launch into the depths. The clarity is amazing.

Blue spring
Soaking in blue at Madison Blue Spring

Visitors who prefer the shallows to swimming in the deep spring hang out in the spring run to splash, play, and launch their kayaks into the Withlacoochee.

You are welcome to bring a tube and float along the spring run, too.


Paddling

From the bluffs overlooking the Withlacoochee River, you can see the waters of the spring intermingling with the tannic waters of the river in the riffles across the rocks.

The Withlacoochee is known for its shoals and rapids. It meets the Suwannee River less than a dozen miles downriver from this park.

Madison Blue Spring
Madison Blue Spring outflow to the Withlacoochee River

Picnicking

The park also offers a picnic area in a clearing in the woods behind the spring. There are three large picnic pavilions good for groups.

A beaten path leads around the top of the spring to the picnic area.

Enjoy the views along this short footpath, as they provide the best perspectives down, across, and into the spring.

Madison Blue Spring panorama
Panorama from the trail to the picnic area

Cave Diving

With more than 26,000 feet of mapped passages, Madison Blue is considered one of Florida’s top cave dives.

Certified cave divers are welcome to explore the tight spaces beneath the glowing blue waters. Solo diving is not permitted due to the difficulty of this dive.


Explore More

Slideshow of our Madison Blue images


Related Articles

More articles about Madison Blue Spring

Madison Blue Springs

Spring Hopping Around Tallahassee

Between Madison and Marianna and across Wakulla County, explore a colorful collection of natural springs for swimming and snorkeling, all within an hour of Tallahassee.

Blue spring

Reflections on Madison Blue

Soaking in blue: reflections on the magical waters of Madison Blue Spring, an aquamarine pool along the upper Withlacoochee River, and its future as a spring.


Official Website

Category: Florida State Parks, Launch Points, North Florida, Paddling, Parks, Places, SpringsTag: Dog-friendly, Fishing, Florida State Parks, Geology, Live Oak, Madison, Picnic, Rivers, Scuba, Sinkholes, Snorkeling, Springs, Swimming, Wildlife Viewing

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