North of Cedar Key, Florida
Chiefland: Manatee Springs State Park

Manatee Springs State Park is west of Chiefland, Florida on State Route 320. From Cedar Key, take County Route 347 to Camp Azalea Road, which eventually leads to Rte. 320.

Not far from Cedar Key, you'll find one of the clearest, cleanest swimming holes anywhere, at Manatee Springs State Park. As you may guess by the name, the spring is a popular hangout for manatees, who seek out warm water in the winter months. But it's also popular with humans, who want to enjoy the invigorating 72 degree waters.

Manatee Springs pumps out more than a 100-million gallons of water every day. On the surface, you can see the water bubbling out of the aquifer. It's so pure, the water glows with a beautiful greenish-blue tint.

Steps surround the spring, and going for a dip is as simple as walking down the stairs, and into the water.

The spring is popular with scuba divers as well. With the right equipment, you can explore a network of underground caves. You must be certified, though, and you'll need to pay an extra fee. You can also rent a canoe or kayak during certain months of the year.

Water from the spring flows down a short channel and into the Suwannee River. There's a boardwalk that takes you alongside the channel, through a swampy forest of cypress trees. It ends at a boat dock, and a short pier. (My visit was in February, 2006 - these trees would be much greener in the summer!)

Look out for the vultures that congregate in the area!

While the main attraction at Manatee Springs is the spring itself, there are other things to see and do as well. The park has several miles of trails, winding through dry and swampy areas. One easy hike is the sinkhole loop, just off the main road near the camping areas.

The loop will take about a half hour, if you're walking at a leisurely pace. It passes by several sinkholes, some of which are partially filled with murky water. Sinkholes like this are a Florida homeowner's nightmare--just imagine one opening up under the foundation of your house!

If you want to save time, take a left instead of a right onto the loop trail. The biggest sinkholes are just a short distance away, and you can skip the rest of the path.

There are other trails as well, but if you've done much hiking in Florida, you know what you'll see: oak trees and palmetto bushes. After a while, it's not terribly exciting.

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North of Cedar Key, Florida Chiefland: Manatee Springs State Park

North of Cedar Key, Florida
Chiefland: Manatee Springs State Park