Spring Run Trail

Spring Run Trail follows the crystal-clear spring run at Manatee Springs State Park from its boiling source to its confluence with the Suwannee River, one of the most iconic waterways in the American South. The spring discharges approximately 100 million gallons of 68-degree water daily, creating a brilliantly clear channel where visibility extends 50 feet or more through the water column. West Indian manatees seek refuge in the warm spring run from November through March, congregating near the spring head where the temperature remains constant.

The trail runs along the spring run bank through a canopy of ancient bald cypress, water tupelo, and swamp bay draped with Spanish moss. Boardwalk sections extend over the water at several points, providing elevated viewing angles into the spring run where manatees, mullet, bass, and gar swim below. Limpkins call from the cypress margins, and wood ducks nest in cavities overhead. The trail terminus at the Suwannee River reveals the tannin-dark blackwater river meeting the spring-fed blue water in a dramatic color boundary visible from the shore. The contrast between the two water types is one of the most visually striking natural phenomena in north Florida, and the confluence area is excellent for wildlife observation throughout the year.