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

Morrison Spring

Walton County

Summary of Features

  • Scale - 1st magnitude
  • Scenery - excellent to outstanding
  • How Pristine? - small beach area, store and outbuildings, underwater platform; spring very unspoiled
  • Swimming - fair to good
  • Protection - excellent
  • Crowds - small, mostly scuba divers
  • Access - very good
  • Facilities - good
  • Safety - good
  • Scuba - yes
  • Cost - free

Directions

Address: 874 Morrison Springs Road, Ponce de Leon, FL 32455. Hours: Open daily, sunrise to sunset. Web site: www.co.walton.fl.us/523/Morrison-Springs. Morrison Spring is south of I-10 off exit 96. Go south 3.6 miles and turn left on State Road 81. Turn left (east) on County Road 181. Drive 1.6 miles and turn right onto Morrison Springs Road. You will soon come to a fork in the road. Keep left and proceed to the spring. Small signs for Morrison Springs Park are posted at each turn.

Spring Description

The spring lies in a low area. Its 250-foot-diameter pool is bounded by primeval cypress swamp and thickly wooded floodplain. The dirt parking area leads down to a sandy beach. The rest of the spring perimeter is bordered by swamp. The small beach itself shows the remains of cypress stumps from when the area was timbered.

The water is very blue and clear, with excellent visibility except in times of high water. The temperature is about 67 degrees. As you snorkel out into the vent, which is in the middle of the basin, you pass over ad ive platform that is about 25 feet deep. Scuba divers can be seen congregating here before they enter the cave. The large entrance has a large cypress log across it. The log is at a depth of 25-30 feet, and the cave entrance is another 60 feet further down. According to accounts, the cave extends over 300 feet deep. The 150-foot wide run flows for about a mile before joining the Choctawhatchee River.

Use/Access

The site is a popular dive spot. Many scuba classes hold checkout dives here. Until 2004, the land around Morrison was a privately owned dive resort.In 2004, the land was acquired by the State of Florida is managed by Walton County as a county park.  The county continues to offer diving through a concessionaire and create additional recreational activities.

Local Springiana

Morrison Spring is known for the many eels that inhabit its caves.

Personal Impressions

The spring is in a lovely swampy setting. JF swam there alone, and felt creepy in the cold, deep water by himself. Morris on is a major challenge for free divers. Reaching the sign at the cave entrance that says, "Prevent Your Death: Do Not Proceed Further without" cavern dive training is a breath-holding accomplishment.

Nearby Springs

Other Nearby Natural Features