Springs Fever: A Field & Recreation Guide to 500 Florida Springs.

Lime Spring

Suwannee County

Summary of Features

  • Scale - 1st magnitude, intermittent
  • Scenery - outstanding
  • How Pristine? - mostly unspoiled; bridge over mouth of run and path along run, near a boat ramp
  • Swimming - none
  • Protection - excellent
  • Wildlife - fair to excellent
  • Crowds - none
  • Access - very good, 30-minute walk
  • Facilities - excellent
  • Safety - good
  • Scuba - no
  • Cost - $5 per car

Directions

From Interstate 10 exit #262 travel north on County Road 255 four miles to town of Lee and turn right (east) on U.S. 90. Drive about 12 miles to Suwannee River State Park (Address: 3631 201st Path, Live Oak, FL 32060, (386) 362-2746; website--www.floridastateparks.org/park/Suwannee-River), shortly after crossing the Suwannee River and proceed to the parking area just above the boat ramp at the end of the paved road. Lime Spring Run trail heads back from this parking area. The spring pool is just beyond where the trail crosses the run in Suwannee River State Park. The spring appears to lie within the State Park boundaries, but one must leave the path to reach it. From I-10 exit #275, travel west on U.S. 90 8-9 miles to the state park. (You will pass the entrance to Falmouth Spring on the way from exit #275.)

Spring Description

When visited separately by the authors in times of dry weather (1997, 1999), the spring appeared as a sink--a circular depression of between ½ and 1 acre that had no visible flow. Another similar depression lies between the spring and the run. According to Rosenau et al., who visited the spring under flood conditions, the spring is about 70 feet deep and has a large cave in the center (1977, p. 369). When the authors visited, the water was dark and the area was thick with vegetation.

The spring run, which has also been called Dry Run, Limesink Run, Lime Run Sink, and Dryspring Run, is often dry. The run is 2/3 mile and empties into the Suwannee River about 75 feet above the boat ramp in the State Park. Under certain conditions when the spring is flowing and the run flows into the river, there is another small spring in the run on the south side about 40 feet from the mouth of the run. At times, small seeps may be seen along the banks of the river below the mouth of the run and the State Park boat ramp.

Use/Access

Local Springiana

In the 1960s and 1970s, a lower portion of the run was made into a beach and swimming area, complete with bathroom and dressing room facilities. Those structures are now gone, and it is difficult to tell the area was ever developed.

Nearby Springs

Other Nearby Natural Features