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

Tanner Spring

Hamilton County

Summary of Features

  • Scale - 2nd magnitude
  • Scenery - very good to fine
  • How Pristine? - almost completely pristine
  • Swimming - fair
  • Protection - unknown
  • Crowds - few visitors
  • Access - good, canoe only
  • Facilities - none
  • Safety - good
  • Scuba - unknown
  • Cost - $5 to put canoe in at Madison Blue Springs State Park, free if put in at boat ramp

Directions

Quick Directions

About 40 minutes downriver from Pot Spring on the east bank of the Withlacoochie River.

Full Directions

By canoe, the spring is about 90 minutes downriver from Madison Blue (see that spring for directions). By car, from I-10, go north (left) on exit 38 (County Road 255). Cross U.S. 90 at Lee and continue to State Road 6 (about 4 miles). Turn right and travel east for 4-5 miles to Madison Blue State Park on the right at the bridge over the Withlacoochie River. Alternatively, one may put in a canoe at either the Highway 143 boat ramp (from County road 6 take Highway 143 south around two sharp curves to the first graded road on the right. Follow this road to the ramp), or another boat ramp between the Highway 143 ramp and the launch at Madison Blue (from the river go west on County Road 6 to the first graded road on the south side of the road. Follow the road 0.7 miles and the take the left fork to the ramp). The latter ramp is the nearest above the spring.

Spring Description

The spring lies in a basin in a natural amphitheater and is circular and about 40 feet across. The water is somewhat dark and the bottom was not visible. There is a strong boil near the back of the pool and a powerful flow to a run to the river that is about 15 feet wide and 40 feet long. Hornsby & Ceryak (1998) characterize this spring as HAM612981, observed three boils, and state that the spring has a maximum depth of 24 feet (p. 135). Land rises 20-30 feet around the basin with fairly steep sides. The land around the spring is damp and rich in vegetation.

As most people come across this spring after canoeing past Pot Spring, the natural inclination is to compare them. By comparison, Tanner Spring is larger, further off the river, more canopied, and with darker water.

Use/Access

Nearby Springs