At first-magnitude Troy Spring, a surprising deep upwelling of the Floridan Aquifer in its own rocky cove along the Suwannee River, most visitors are here to swim.
Traditionally a swimming hole for local residents, the spring also attracts snorkelers and open water divers thanks to its size and depth.
A steep drop into the spring from a rocky ledgeResources
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Overview
Entrance: 29.998206,-82.998986
Address: 674 NE Troy Springs Rd, Branford
Fees: $5 per vehicle
Restroom: Adjoining the parking area
Land manager: Florida State Parks
Phone: 386-935-4835
Open 8 AM until sundown daily. Leashed pets welcome.
For safety’s sake, the spring may close to swimming and diving if water clarity drops. Divers must be open-water certified and dive in pairs. No cave diving permitted.
Directions
From the intersection of US 27 and US 129 in downtown Branford, cross the Suwannee River and drive west 5 miles to CR 425 (the turnoff is also 12.5 miles east of Mayo along US 27). Turn right. Continue north 1.2 miles and turn right into the park entrance.
About the Park
A winding accessible ramp slowly leads from picnic benches adjoining the parking area to the level of the spring.
A platform overlooks the water at this point. Stairs lead to a lower boardwalk from which more stairs provide direct access into the spring for swimmers and snorkelers.
Ramp and platform at spring’s edgeA short waterfront boardwalk ends at a rocky shoreline where most divers tend to assemble before entering the water.
Cypress edge the clear waters of a pretty little cove at this end of the boardwalk.
Cypress CoveMost visitors are here to swim, but you can tell by the dive benches underwater exploration is also a key feature.
There are two reasons why. The first is the incredible depth of Troy Spring, 70 feet to its floor.
Divers preparing to submergeThe second is the Madison . From the bluffs and boardwalk, it takes a keen eye to discern her outline beneath the water.
The steamboat’s owner didn’t want his ship falling into Union hands when he went to fight for the Confederacy.
He wrote to Governor Milton and it was decided better to scuttle the ship in the Suwannee than to risk it falling into enemy hands.
Beyond its watery attraction, Troy Spring State Park has a picnic grove atop the bluff and a short nature trail.
The half mile trail is marked at both ends with hiker signs, but the access road used to return you to the picnic area makes the loop 0.9 mile long.
Troy Spring Nature Trail At Troy Spring State Park, the nature trail isn't quite a mile long but provides a good introduction to habitats found along the bluffs of the Suwannee River. Trail Map
Explore More!
Troy Spring is along the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail, a paddling route the length of the Suwannee River
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 lifetimeVideo
Our walk in the woods at Troy Spring State Park
Slideshow
See our photos of Troy Spring State Park
Nearby Adventures
More worth exploring while you’re in this area.
Royal Springs Staring into Royal Springs, it feels like looking into a bottomless pit. Steep and broad, it drops 42 feet into shimmering waters of turquoise and royal blue.
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.
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.
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.
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