Counties: St.
Johns, Flagler, Volusia,
Brevard, Indian River, Osceolo, Polk, Sumter,
Citrus,
Marion,
Putnam,
Lake,
Seminole,
Orange
Citrus County Springs
An
Essay on the Chassahowitzka
Chassahowitzka
Main Spring (or Devil’s Punchbowl)
From intersection of U.S. 19 and U.S. 98, go west
on Highway 480, a.k.a. Miss Maggie's Drive. Follow
1.7 miles to the end, passing small homes and the
Chassahowitzka River Lodge on the right. Turn right
at signs for the Chassahowitzka River Campground and
follow to headwaters. From the boat ramp, go upstream
about 100 feet to the spring, in the middle upper
portion of the basin.
Chassahowitzka
Solution Holes (or Chassahowitzka #1)
From intersection of U.S. 19 and U.S. 98, go west
on Highway 480, a.k.a. Miss Maggie's Drive. Follow
1.7 miles to the end, passing small homes and the
Chassahowitzka River Lodge on the right. T urn right
at signs for the Chassahowitzka River Campground and
follow to headwaters. From the boat ramp, go upstream
to the right (east) behind the main spring basin and
into the manmade channel about 50 feet. Turn left
into run and the solution holes are in the run.
Crab
Creek (Crab or McCrabb or Three Sisters) Springs
From intersection of U.S. 19 and U.S. 98, go west
on Highway 480, a.k.a. Miss Maggie's Drive. Follow
1.7 miles to the end, passing small homes and the
Chassahowitzka River Lodge on the right. Turn right
at signs for the Chassahowitzka River Campground and
follow to headwaters. From the boat ramp, go downriver
about 250 feet and then go right or north into Crab
Creek and about 200 feet to the springs on the west
side and at the back of the run.
The
Crack (or Miss Maggie's Crack or Baird) Spring
From intersection of U.S. 19 and U.S. 98, go west
on Highway 480, a.k.a. Miss Maggie's Drive. Follow
1.7 miles to the end, passing small homes and the
Chassahowitzka River Lodge on the right. Turn right
at signs for the Chassahowitzka River Campground and
follow to headwaters. From the boat ramp, go downriver
about ½ mile and then turn south (left) into
either of two openings of Baird Creek, which flows
around a tiny island at the mouth of the run. Paddle
up main channel for ½ mile to large basin for
Blue Spring. Pass through a narrow opening at the
back right of the pool and continue upstream another
100 yards until the creek is too shallow to navigate.
Walk up the creek another 250 feet to the spring.
Ruth
Spring
From intersection of U.S. 19 and U.S. 98, go west
on Highway 480, a.k.a. Miss Maggie's Drive. Follow
1.7 miles to the end, passing small homes and the
Chassahowitzka River Lodge on the right. Turn right
at signs for the Chassahowitzka River Campground and
follow to headwaters. From the boat ramp, go downriver
about two miles, passing the three tree-covered islands
and the remains of an old railroad trestle that once
crossed the river. The creek is over 300 feet wide
at this point, and estuary-like. After the trestle,
move to the right (north) side of the river and go
perhaps another 800-1,000 feet to mouth of Potter
Creek. Paddle (or pole/plow in low tide) up the creek
about ¾ mile to the spring at the creek’s
headwaters at Potter Spring. The water gets somewhat
deeper in the run. The bottom becomes shallow and
rocky near Potter Spring.
Lettuce
Creek Spring
From intersection of U.S. 19 and U.S. 98, go west
on Highway 480, a.k.a. Miss Maggie's Drive. Follow
1.7 miles to the end, passing small homes and the
Chassahowitzka River Lodge on the right. Turn right
at signs for the Chassahowitzka River Campground and
follow to headwaters. From the boat ramp, go downriver
1-2 minutes from the mouth of Crab Creek, past stand
of wild rice on the left, and look for small entrance/mouth
of Lettuce Spring run. Paddle up run ½ mile
or so to spring.
Potter
Spring
From intersection of U.S. 19 and U.S. 98, go west
on Highway 480, a.k.a. Miss Maggie's Drive. Follow
1.7 miles to the end, passing small homes and the
Chassahowitzka River Lodge on the right. Turn right
at signs for the Chassahowitzka River Campground and
follow to headwaters. From the boat ramp, go downriver
about two miles, passing the three tree-covered islands
and the remains of an old railroad trestle that once
crossed the river. The creek is over 300 feet wide
at this point, and estuary-like. After the trestle,
move to the right (north) side of the river and go
perhaps another 800-1,000 feet to mouth of Potter
Creek. Paddle (or pole/plow in low tide) up the creek
about ¾ mile to the spring at the creek’s
headwaters. The water gets somewhat deeper in the
run. The bottom becomes shallow and rocky near the
spring.
Crystal
River/King’s Bay Springs Group
Three
Sisters Springs (Crystal River)
In a modified natural inlet/canal on the east side
of King’s Bay, at the head of a run blocked
by concrete pilings—see map.
Hunter
(or American Legion) Spring
Just offshore at Hunter Spring Municipal Park in Crystal
River. The spring is about 100 feet offshore in the
middle of Hunter Spring Run on the north side. The
run is on the east side of King’s Bay
Catfish
Spring
The spring is at the end of a dock just west of the
boat ramp at the Best Western Hotel.
King’s
(or Tarpon or Tarpon Hole) Spring
About 250 feet south of alcove on south side of Banana
Island in King’s Bay. The spring is adjacent
to Grand Canyon Spring and Mullet’s Gullet Spring—see
map.
Gator
(or Gator Hole or Crystal or Magnolia) Springs
In a neighborhood in a natural inlet near Three Sisters
and Idiots’ Delight Springs. Gator Spring is
in the NE corner of the inlet, near the shore and
adjacent to the back yard of a house. The second spring
(Magnolia) is smaller and located about 150 feet south
of Gator Spring adjacent to the undeveloped east bank
near a cedar tree.
Jurassic
Spring
Located adjacent to an apartment/condominium complex
near the eastern end of the Hunter Spring run in Crystal
River
Artesian
Spring
At King’s Bay Lodge in Crystal River.
Little
Hidden Spring
At the northern tip of an island (GET NAME) in SE
King’s Bay and part of the Crystal River National
Wildlife Refuge. The island is just north of Buzzard
Island and Paradise point on the mainland. Look for
the mouth of the run across from tall reeds where
the channel around the island opens up into King’s
Bay
Unnamed
Spring by Banana Island
Located in a small alcove at the NE corner of Banana
Island, just below the narrow pass between Banana
and (NAME?) island to the NE. The spring is also almost
directly west of Paradise Point.
Independence
Spring
Next to police station in the town of Crystal River
along U.S. 19.
Homosassa
Spring
Located along U.S. 19 in Homosassa (main entrance
to Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park). Alternatively,
go directly to the spring by turning west onto Highway
490 (Halls River Road) in Homosassa. Go about ½
mile, then turn left (SW) unto Fish Bowl Drive and
proceed less than a mile to the spring on the right.
Bluebird
Spring
From U.S. 19 in Homosassa, turn south onto Highway
480 (Yulee Drive). Continue about a mile, then turn
left onto Blue Bird Springs Road. There is a sign
for the park at the turn.
Echo
Spring
From U.S. 19 in Homosassa, turn west onto Highway
490 (Halls River Road). After about ½ mile,
turn left onto Fish Bowl Road. Go about 1 mile, passing
entrance to Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park,
continuing over a spring run on a small bridge. The
spring is on the left, about 80 yards past the bridge,
in the back yard of several houses. The spring can
also be viewed from Spring Cove Road. 100 yards after
the bridge, turn left onto Spring Cove Road. The spring
is on the left, behind two houses, at 9491 Spring
Cove Road.
Hall's
River Spring
From intersection of SR 490A and U.S. 19 in Homosassa,
go north on U.S. 19 for approximately (not measured)
2 miles. Look for sign for Riversport Kayaks at 2300
S. Suncoast Boulevard. Put in at boat launch and take
canal to main channel of Hall's River; proceed upriver
to headwaters, a total distance of perhaps a mile.
Lat. 28.49.36.509, Long. 82.34.49.176.
Pumphouse
Spring
From U.S. 19 in Homosassa, turn west onto Highway
490 (Halls River Road). After about ½ mile,
turn left onto Fish Bowl Road. Go about 1 mile, passing
entrance to Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park,
continuing over a spring run on a small bridge. 100
yards after the bridge, turn left onto Spring Cove
Road. The spring is on the left, adjacent to a small
building/pumphouse, at 9299 Spring Cove Road.
|
