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Ichetucknee
Springs
State Park
Fifteen
minutes' drive from O'leno State Park, and
located on the crystal clear Ichetucknee
River, this park is a tuber's paradise, and
what visitors come here to do is to climb
into a rubber tube and float down the river.
The river flows through virgin hardwood
hammock, with limestone outcroppings. It is a
quiet, undeveloped area that is disturbed
only by the tubers who come to experience the
serenity -- in hordes. The park has become so
popular that a limit of 750 tubers at one
time has been designated for the upper half
of the river. Tubes are available at the
north and south entrances, beginning at 8
a.m. (the park closes at sunset). The north
end is shallower, and tubers are encouraged
to float the south stretch. A free in-park
shuttle is provided for people who enter at
the south gate. A swimming area is also
provided.
The
full river run (from the north entrance)
takes three hours, or two hours to the
Dampier's take-out. The float from the
mid-point put-in (take the shuttle from the
South Entrance) takes 1.5 hours. From the
south entrance to the last take-out takes
about an hour. Take your choice. A shuttle
provides transportation back to the North
Entrance (for drives with passes, only) prior
to the float.
The
Ichetucknee is a wild river, unhampered by
dams and other man-made obstructions in the
park area. You may see alligators and snakes
along the way. The park is located four miles
north of Fort White, via State Route 47 and
County Road 238. For information on this
unique park, contact the park office, at
(904) 497-2511.
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