Ichetucknee State Park

Ichetucknee State Park is a natural wonder located in north-central Florida, known for its crystal-clear springs, beautiful hiking trails, and exciting kayak trips down the Santa Fe River. The park is not far from Ginnie Springs but has a completely different character. The park is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and offers a wide range of activities for visitors to enjoy. There is a south-end and north-end entrance. I headed to the south-end entrance, paid my $6 entrance fee and proceeded to the restaurant / visitor center. The told me all the kiking trails were at the north-end.

Hiking

One of the main attractions at Ichetucknee State Park is the beautiful hiking trails. The park offers several different trails that vary in length and difficulty, making it perfect for hikers of all skill levels. The Blue Hole Spring Trail is a popular option and offers a 1-mile round-trip hike that takes visitors through a beautiful forest to the Blue Hole Spring. The trail is considered to be easy and is perfect for families with children. For those looking for a more challenging hike, the Ichetucknee Springs Trail is a 3-mile round-trip hike that takes visitors through a more rugged terrain and offers beautiful views of the Ichetucknee Springs.

I made it to the north-end fairly early and hiked most of the trails. I watched as kayakers, canoers, and paddleboarders pushed off. The area looked much more appealing than Ginnie Springs and I wanted to go kayaking.

Boat Entry

Double Crested Cormorant (??)

I followed the trail along the river and then came to another trail which was about a 1.5 mile loop that had been through a forest fire. I was left with an eerie feeling as I walked through this charred forest. There was a silence and deep contrast compared to the forest along the river. I tried to find details about the fire but couldn’t find anything online. I asked people that frequented the river and they weren’t aware of the charred remains of trees. I wondered if this was a controlled burn to allow the pinecones to open or some other required fire.

A couple told me to be sure to visit the spring hole, known as The Blue Hole Spring. I later learned that it is one of the main attractions of Ichetucknee Springs State Park. The spring is a circular, deep blue pool that is fed by an underwater cave system. It is known for its crystal clear water and is a popular spot for swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving. Visitors can also rent tubes or kayaks to float down the nearby Ichetucknee River, which is fed by the spring.

Kayaking

I guy at the boat launch told me that I could rent a kayak if I got there before 1:30 pm. I had 45 minutes to make it back to the south-entrance. At first they told me I was too late to rent a kayak. I told them I thought I could rent if I arrived before 1:30 pm. They finally relented, probably because there are others that need to use the shuttle to the north-entrance. I took the shuttle with four other people to the boat launch.

One of the most popular kayak trips is the "head spring" to "midpoint" run, a 6-mile trip that takes you through the crystal-clear water of the Ichetucknee Springs, surrounded by lush vegetation and wildlife. This trip is considered to be moderate and is perfect for those who want to experience the beauty of the Santa Fe River without having to be too experienced in kayaking. I was told I have three hours for the trip and that it takes about two hours to float downstream.

The five of us dropped in about the same time. The area near Head Spring is somewhat narrow with a lot of vegetation and leaning trees. Fish were visible in the clear waters below.

It's worth mentioning that during the summer months, the park may have restrictions on the number of visitors and also a shuttle system to get to the head spring area, due to the popularity of the park and to preserve the natural resources. Also, visitors should be aware of the park rules, like no litter, no feeding the wildlife and respecting the established paths and limitations. We were not permitted to have food or any packaged items. Our bags were searched and we had to leave behind certain items. This is one of the reasons the park is so pristine unlike Ginnie Springs.

There were clear differences in the ecology of the stream. Initially it was narrow, with a lot of vegetation. This opened in winder part of the Santa Fe river and we began to see more birds. At one point several 3-4 foot long gar swam around my Kayak. They were curious and then darted away as I tried to capture a photograph.

The beginning of the stream required us to pass under trees and through shallow narrow areas.

Then we came to the turtle colony with hundreds of turtles all around.

There were several places where I spotted deer. Near the end, as I was trying to get back to the dock in time to avoid heavy late charges I came upon a heard of 20-30 dear grazing in the forest along the water. The deer roamed among the birds and neither seemed be worried about the presents of the other.

Cohabitating: Birds, Turtles, and Deer

There were many species of birds along the waterways. A small island had formed and there were probably close to 100 ibis picking for food. We watched as herron swallowed hole small fish. These area of the stream was a little louder with all the chatter in the background.

Others in the group saw the manatee. I arrived just as they swam under the thick water plants.

I made it back with 5 minutes to spare and avoided the late charges. This was by far one of the best kayaking experiences I had ever had. Thank you Carol for grabbing a few photos of me, truly appreciate it. You guys were a lot of fun to paddle with.