Staring over the lip of this impressive spring, it feels like you’re looking into a bottomless pit. Steep and broad, it drops 42 feet, which is why Suwannee County provides a high launch platform for jumping into the spring.
Wrapped in ribbons of turquoise and blue, it’s a wild place, the natural shoreline accented only with a few staircases to help you get to the water’s edge. Royal Springs is a beauty, a rare natural swimming hole off the beaten path along the Suwannee River.
Overview
Location: O’Brien
Trailhead: 30.084623,-83.075025
Address: 20051 157th Lane, O’Brien
Hike: 0.5 mile double round-trip (horseshoe)
Fees / Permits: free
Restroom: portalets
Land Manager: Suwannee County Parks
Phone: 386-362-3004
The park opens at sunrise daily except on Wednesdays, when it opens at 11am. There are portable toilets and picnic tables by the parking area.
While there is no camping on the grounds, there are several private campgrounds not far away:
Cave Dive Camp
Ichetucknee Family Canoe & Cabins
Ichetucknee Springs Campground
River Run Campground
As well as O’Leno State Park, about a half hour away.
Directions
From the intersection of US 27 and US 129 in Branford, follow US 129 north for 5.5 miles. Turn west on CR 349. Follow this rural road for 8.9 miles to the turnoff onto 198th Terrace, where there is a sign.
Continue 0.7 mile to the turn onto unpaved 157th Lane, which leads right into the park.
Details
A horseshoe-shaped trail wraps around the spring, providing access to the Suwannee River on either side.
Walking down the sidewalk to the right of the dive platform, it leads you behind a screen of forest on the bluff to an observation deck with a prime view down into the spring and across to the platform.
After the developed path ends, you’re free to roam. A well-beaten but unmarked trail traces the outflow of the springs beneath ancient cypress trees.
It climbs up along a hilly slope as it flows over rapids to meet the Suwannee River. Along the way, you circle a small spring in a tight spot.
Going the opposite way, the sidewalk provides an accessible route for visitors to get to two entry points to the spring. The first provides spring-level access to dive into the depths from a rocky ledge.
The second goes to a shallow shelf for a more gentle dip in the water. The paved path ends at an observation deck overlooking the Suwannee River next to a boat ramp.
Trail Map
Explore More!
Slideshow of Royal Springs
See our images of our visit to Royal Springs
Other Nearby Springs
More places to enjoy a splashing good time.
Ichetucknee Springs State Park
A swimming hole as a work of natural art, the deep gash in the earth that is Ichetucknee Spring glows an unearthly robin’s-egg blue, cradled in a limestone bowl within a leafy glen.
Peacock Springs State Park
Wes Skiles Peacock Springs State Park is a top international destination for cave divers thanks to its extensively mapped system of underwater tubes: more than six miles of passageways connecting two major springs, six sinkholes, and the Suwannee River.
Springs of the Suwannee River Valley
It’s August. It’s Florida. Where do you go to cool off? The springs of the Suwannee River Valley. No matter the size, these natural swimming holes are a delight.
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.
Well, praise God, the locals have been raised proper and actually respect where God gave them to play.
I hope this place is protected from people leaving trash and harming nature.I was there in January and did not see any signs saying not to harm the turtles,etc.No signs saying NOT to leave trash around either. I was told by a nearby resident that it get really crowded in summer and people leave trash everywhere. Please protect this beautiful place .
So no signs then? Sweet! Signs ruin the natural environment.
Yes sir, you are correct, they sure do. Thank you.
It’s common sense . Some people just don’t have it.