Otter Springs feels like one of those spots you’d stumble across by surprise, a second magnitude spring surrounded by clusters of ancient oaks and towering cypress. While it remained in private hands for many years, it is now a Gilchrist County Park.
Resources
Overview
Location: Trenton
Lat-Lon: 29.641817, -82.940345
Fees: Day use $2-4. Annual passes available.
Open: Daylight hours (hours not posted) except for campers
Phone: 352-463-0800
The south end of the park has easy access for cyclists to the Nature Coast Trail via back roads. Non-agressive pets are welcome but may not be taken to the swimming areas.
Location
Details
Encompassing more than 600 acres along the spring run and the Suwannee River floodplain, Otter Springs Park & Campground is an outdoor getaway in the uplands above one of the quieter stretches of the Suwannee River.
The spring itself bubbles out ten million gallons a day at 73*F, creating a stream that winds through the forest to the river. You can rent a canoe to paddle down the spring run – the launch is near the general parking area for the spring – or bring your own. Nature trails also link the main spring and cabin areas with the river and Little Otter Spring, a spring situated along the Suwannee River.
Camping options include full electric sites for tent or RV camping, primitive tent camping, and several cabins (bring your own linens). The park has a large lodge and other buildings available for rentals for family gatherings and weddings. A indoor swimming pool provides an alternative place for the family to swim.
Explore the park
Hiking trails at Otter Springs
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