Florida spring
Ponce De Leon Spring
Photo by: Florida SpringsPonce de Leon Springs is within Ponce de Leon Springs State Park. This spring, named after the Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León, who sought the "Fountain of Youth" in 1513, produces 14 million gallons of crystal-clear water daily from two underground flows in the Floridan Aquifer. The spring pool, surrounded by hardwood forests and cypress trees, maintains a constant 68°F year-round, perfect for swimming and snorkeling. The park spans 386 acres, featuring two short nature trails—Spring Run and Sandy Creek—along with picnic areas, pavilions, and a bathhouse. This spring is often mixed up with De Leon spring. Water clarity at Ponce de Leon Springs can reach up to 50-100 feet when conditions are ideal, but it’s heavily influenced by the nearby Sandy Creek and Choctawhatchee River. For optimal clarity, the Choctawhatchee River should be at 3-3.5 feet. Above 5.5 feet, river backflow can reduce visibility to 5-10 feet due to tannic water intrusion or "Brown Out". This spring gets busy when other local springs are browned out as it will often remain clear.
Amenities & Rules
Access & Rules
Activities & Amenities
Amenities & Rules status summary
Access & Rules
- Private: No access via land or water: No
- Reservation Required: No
- ADA Access: Yes
- Alcohol: No
- Boat Ramp: No
- Disposables: Yes
- Land Access: Yes
- Paddle Access: No
- Park: Yes
- Pets: Yes
Activities & Amenities
- Bathrooms: Yes
- Boating: No
- Camping: No
- Changing Rooms: Yes
- Fishing: Yes
- Food: No
- Free Diving: Yes
- Gear Rental: No
- Grills: Yes
- Hiking: Yes
- Lockers: No
- Paddling: No
- Pavilions: Yes
- Picnic Tables: Yes
- Portajohn: No
- Scuba Diving: No
- Showers: Yes
- Shuttle: No
- Swimming: Yes
- Trash Cans: Yes