Springs

Four major natural springs of crystal clear water are located in the popular Juniper Springs, Salt Springs, Alexander Springs and Silver Glen Springs Recreation Areas.

The Forest hosts a variety of major recreation, scenic and historic areas.  The recreation activities are as diverse as the environment, from canoeing in wilderness waterways, swimming in crystal clear constant 72º springs, year-round camping, picnicking, fishing, birding, hiking, bicycling, horseback riding and four-wheeling.

Springs are Florida’s lifeblood, pouring fresh water out into the landscape drawn from deep within the Floridan aquifer. There are 3 first-magnitude and 4 second-magnitude springs along the Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway corridor, including one of the world’s largest springs, Silver Springs.

The Meinzer Scale classifies springs on a scale of one to eight, based on the flow, or discharge, of water from a spring. Magnitude one springs, which are on the top of the scale, produce a discharge of more than 100 cubic feet of water per second. Magnitude two springs discharge at a rate between 10 and 100 cubic feet of water per second. Spring discharge for each of the springs listed is provided by the St. Johns River Water Management District.