Santa Fe Basecamp › River guide
Boat & kayak guide · Santa Fe and Suwannee rivers
Dozens of springs line the 31 miles of Santa Fe from River Rise to the Suwannee, plus the stretch of Suwannee from Royal Spring down to Hart Springs. Some have parks and ramps. Others you can only see from a boat. This guide lists them by river mile and covers how to reach each one by motorboat or paddle, where you can land, what's closed this week and how to read the river before you go.
Why stay here
Most visitors pick one river and drive to it. From the lower Santa Fe near Branford you can boat either one. Branford's free ramp opens up the springs of the middle Suwannee, and the Santa Fe joins the Suwannee about 10 river miles below town. From there the springs stretch up the Santa Fe to the Ichetucknee mouth and the Ginnie group.
The two rivers are a good match. The Santa Fe is narrow, shaded and calm, and paddlers love it. The Suwannee is broad, with high limestone banks, and in good water a small motorboat can cover a lot of it in a day. On a cool or windy morning, take the sheltered river. On a calm day, take the big one.
Distances on this page are river miles, not driving miles. Suwannee miles come from the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail guide, counted upriver from the Gulf. Santa Fe miles are our own measurement along the river from the Suwannee confluence (mile 0), accurate to about a quarter mile. Treat every distance as an estimate.
Map
Tap a dot for river mile and status, then use the link to jump to that row in the planner. Spring locations come from OpenStreetMap. Ramp markers are approximate.
Trip planner
Listed upstream to downstream. Access shows whether you can reach a spring by motorboat, which assumes a small boat and decent water, or only by paddle. Even where boats can reach a spring, many runs and swim areas are closed to boats, so tie up in the river and swim or wade in. Land? shows whether you can go ashore. Respect private land. Most of these banks are posted.
| Spring / landmark | Mile | Access | Land? | Fee | Status (Oct 17, 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe River RiseWhere the Santa Fe comes back up after about 3 miles underground. The water is tea-colored, not clear. Reach it by paddling about 2.5 miles upstream from the US 441 launch. | 31.0 | Paddle only | State preserve land; landing rules from the water not verified | None by water | Check firstNo park notice found; access by water is a 2-mile upstream paddle |
| Columbia SpringA large spring a few hundred yards below the US 441 launch, on private land. Take a quick look before you turn upstream for River Rise. | 28.2 | Paddle only | No. Private land, stay in your boat | None | Private / view onlyView from the water |
| Poe SpringsAn Alachua County park and the base for Anderson's Outdoor Adventures. The park, ramp and outfitter are operating, but the spring itself is off-limits. | 23.4 | Motorboat or paddle | Yes, county park with ramp and dock | Free Oct–Mar; $6/vehicle May–Sep | Closed nowWater area closed (low water) since July; county staff want it shut until January |
| Lily SpringSmall vents at the head of a short, shaded run. The guidebook describes it as open to visitors coming in from the river, but we couldn't confirm current access. | 22.5 | Paddle only | Private land; swim from the water only unless invited | None | Check firstNot officially managed, conditions unverified |
| Pickard SpringRight next to Lily, beside the river. Stay off the dock. | 22.4 | Paddle only | No. Private dock and land | None | Private / view onlyView from the water |
| Rum Island SpringA spring basin that opens straight into the river at a county park with a boat ramp. It gets crowded on warm weekends. Jonathan Spring is a short paddle upstream. | 21.2 | Motorboat or paddle | Yes, Columbia County park with boat ramp | $5/vehicle by land | OpenOpen: 7:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m. (winter 8–5:30) |
| Gilchrist Blue SpringsQuarter-mile run on the south bank, just below Rum Island. The guidebook notes that a fence blocks boats from the main spring even in normal times. | 21.0 | Paddle only | State park. No day-use access right now | $6/vehicle when open | Closed nowNo day use during construction (camping only, Oct 1, 2026) |
| Devil's Eye, Devil's Ear & Little DevilThree vents on the Ginnie property. Devil's Ear opens in the riverbed and draws cave divers, so watch for dive flags and slow to idle. | 20.2 | Motorboat or paddle | Ginnie Springs property. Paid admission to land | $25 adult Mar–Oct, $20 Nov–Feb | OpenGinnie open: 8–5 Mon–Thu, 8–7 Fri–Sat, 8–6 Sun |
| July SpringAcross the river from the Ginnie side. Swimmers cross over from Ginnie, so watch for them and for boat traffic. | 20.1 | Motorboat or paddle | No. Posted private bank on the north side | None from the river | Private / view onlySwim or float in, no landing |
| Ginnie SpringThe namesake spring of the Ginnie group, with Dogwood, Twin and Deer just downstream. Ginnie's rental canoes and kayaks only go upstream and must be back by 5 p.m. | 19.9 | Motorboat or paddle | Yes, with paid Ginnie admission (on-site ramp) | $25 adult Mar–Oct, $20 Nov–Feb; kids $5–6 | OpenOpen; no pets, no jet skis, ID required to camp |
| Sawdust SpringAcross from the downstream end of the Ginnie group. | 19.4 | Paddle only | No. Posted private land | None | Private / view onlyView from the water |
| Siphon Creek Rise & Big Awesome SiphonThe river runs both directions here. Water comes up at Siphon Creek Rise, and about a mile above SR 47 it drains back underground at the Big Awesome Siphon, which can form a whirlpool. | 17.0 | Paddle only | South bank is water-management-district land | None | Check firstSiphons can pull swimmers under. Don't swim near them |
| SR 47 ramp (Santa Fe River Park) & 47 Boatramp SpringA small spring comes up right by the ramp. Myrtle's Fissure is about 0.3 mile upstream on private land, so stay in the water. | 16.1 | Motorboat or paddle | Yes, public ramp | Not verified | OpenTake-out for the 8 Springs in 8 Miles paddle |
| Wilson SpringA spring pool on private land. Below Wilson, the river makes a couple of sharp bends that turn into shoals and small rapids in low water. | 13.2 | Motorboat or paddle | Spring is private; public ramp just below the run | None | Private / view onlyPaddle in only |
| Sunbeam SpringA fissure in the middle of the river. In drought you can stand on the limestone and look into the vent. Boats pass close, so fly a dive flag if you snorkel. | 9.7 | Motorboat or paddle | Yes, wade in. It's in the riverbed | None | OpenBest in low water, hard to see in high water |
| Ichetucknee River mouthClear blue Ichetucknee water meets the tea-colored Santa Fe. The lower river below US 27 is shallow (around 4 ft on average, under 2 ft in places), so idle in and keep off the grass beds. | 7.0 | Motorboat or paddle | Riverfront homes, no public landing | None | Check firstBoats allowed up to US 27; no motors inside the state park |
| Betty SpringA small spring about 1.4 miles upstream of the US 129 ramp. | 3.9 | Motorboat or paddle | No. Posted private bank | None | Private / view onlyView or swim from the water |
| Campground & Trail SpringsTwo springs at a riverside campground about a mile below US 129. | 1.3 | Motorboat or paddle | Private campground; fee to land | Campground fee | Private / view onlyNo unauthorized landing |
Also on the upper Santa Fe, between US 441 and River Rise: Darby, Treehouse and Hornsby springs (Hornsby is on private Camp Kulaqua land). Around US 27: Alligator Rise, next to the ramp. Near Ginnie: Jonathan, Dogwood, Twin and Deer, plus Oasis (mi 9.0, private ramp). We left out springs that are hard to find or have no access from the water.
| Spring / landmark | Mile | Access | Land? | Fee | Status (Oct 17, 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal SpringA limestone spring basin in a small county park. No pets or alcohol. It's a long run from Branford, 14 miles upstream. | 90.4 | Motorboat or paddle | Yes, county park with one-lane concrete ramp | $5/vehicle | Check firstOpen 9–5 (Nov–Mar). Very low flow, may not flow in low water |
| Owens SpringA spring that rarely flows out to the river. The walk in passes sinkholes, so watch your step. | 86.7 | Motorboat or paddle | Land at Ft. Macomb ramp (mile 86.6) and walk in | None | Check firstRarely flows to the river; deep sinkholes on the path |
| Troy SpringA 70-foot first-magnitude spring with the ribs of the Civil War steamboat Madison in the shallow run. Certified open-water divers only, no solo diving. | 82.7 | Motorboat or paddle | State park. Call before landing | $5/vehicle | Closed nowClosed to swimming since Oct 13, 2026 |
| Ruth SpringBeach at the mouth and walk the 250-ft run to the spring. | 80.9 | Motorboat or paddle | Yes, water-management-district land. Beach and walk 250 ft | None | OpenNo closure posted |
| Little River SpringsA short 150-ft run over a cave system that draws cave divers from around the world. The water district lists no boating at the spring, so tie up in the river. No pets or alcohol. | 80.5 | Motorboat or paddle | Tie up in the river and wade or swim in | $5/vehicle by land | OpenNo closure posted on the county page |
| Branford Spring (Ivey Memorial Park)In town by the US 27 bridge. A small spring with a wooden deck, right next to the ramps. No dogs in the spring. | 76.0 | Motorboat or paddle | Yes. Two ramps and a floating dock | Free | OpenSpring sunrise–sunset; floods at high river |
| Santa Fe River confluenceThe Santa Fe comes in from the east. From here it's 7 river miles up the Santa Fe to the Ichetucknee mouth. | 65.9 | Motorboat or paddle | No | None | Check firstFWC lists the reach below it as a sturgeon holding area |
| Pothole SpringWatch for property signs. The public land is on the upstream side. | 58.2 | Motorboat or paddle | Upstream side is public district land; private to the south | None | OpenGood swim stop in low or average water, hard to find in high water |
| Rock Bluff SpringNear the CR 340 bridge. FWC also lists Rock Bluff as a sturgeon holding area. | 56.6 | Motorboat or paddle | No. Private land, landing forbidden | None | Private / view onlyIdle in for a look, don't go ashore |
| Gornto SpringA paddler campsite on the Wilderness Trail. The water district spells it Guaranto. | 55.0 | Motorboat or paddle | Dixie County Blueway park (paddler camp) | Not verified | Check firstClosed in 2025 for tree removal. Call before you go |
| Hart SpringsA big county swim park. Its separate ramp is just downstream at mile 43.2. | 43.3 | Motorboat or paddle | Yes. Paddle up the run and check in at the office | $3/person Oct–Mar; $5 weekday, $8 weekend Apr–Sep | OpenOpen; no alcohol or pets |
Also on this stretch: Convict Spring (mi 91.8, a private resort with rentals) and Mearson Spring (mi 85.8, private). The Walker Tract launch (mi 83.6), the Ruth Springs launch (mi 82), Patrician Oaks ramp (mi 79), Sims Landing (mi 63), Eula Landing (mi 46.4) and Turner Point (mi 44.5) are possible put-ins and take-outs. Suwannee miles follow the Wilderness Trail guide.
Sample days
Miles are our estimates of river distance. Motorboat times assume a relaxed 15 to 20 mph between stops, slower in shallows and idle zones. Paddle times assume an easy pace with the current. Swims and lunch take longer than you think.
Want more? Royal Spring is another 7.7 miles up (14.4 from Branford). It's a big limestone basin, but in low water it barely flows.
Check your fuel range before you go. Hart Springs is almost 33 miles down, so for that stretch launch at Hart's own ramp instead.
Below Wilson, the bends get rocky in low water. Trim up and go slow. No motors past US 27 on the Ichetucknee.
This is the shallowest motor trip on the page. Expect limestone, logs and eelgrass, so a jon boat or small skiff with a tilt motor is the right boat. To land at Ginnie you'll need Ginnie admission.
This is the stretch most paddlers mean when they say "the Santa Fe." Stops include Poe (swim area closed right now), Lily, Pickard, Jonathan and Rum Island, then the Ginnie group, Twin and Siphon Creek on the longer run. Rum 138 rents boats and runs shuttles for this trip, and the times come from them. Ginnie's springs are a good lunch stop if you're paying for admission.
Anderson's Outdoor Adventures runs this from its base at Poe Springs Park, with a shuttle back. It also runs a shorter Ginnie paddle that includes a Ginnie pass (about 5 mi, about 3.5 h). They're good options if you don't want to arrange your own cars.
Paddle upstream first from the free city launch at the old Canoe Outpost, past Columbia, Darby and Treehouse, to the pool where the Santa Fe comes back above ground. The way back is with the current. In low water, plan for some shallow, weedy spots and maybe a short drag.
Walk into Ruth, then a short way down swim Little River, and finish at Branford Spring by the ramp. We haven't found a shuttle service for this stretch, so plan to run your own. The Suwannee is wide, so a headwind can double your time.
The upper Ichetucknee inside the state park is its own trip. The park says it's best by canoe or kayak in the cooler months, and motors aren't allowed. Check the park page for launch points and seasonal rules.
Rentals & shuttles
We only list outfitters whose current details we could confirm on their own sites. Call before you drive, because hours change in the off-season.
Canoe and kayak rentals for use on the river by Ginnie. Rental boats go upstream only and must be back by 5 p.m. Day passes stop selling at 3 p.m. Phone 386-454-7188.
Now a free City of High Springs launch for your own boat. No rentals and no shuttles.
River levels & safety
These four USGS gauges cover the water in this guide. Numbers load live from USGS when you open the page.
Showing the Oct 17, 2026 snapshot. Live values replace these when USGS responds. Provisional data, subject to revision. Feet are the reading on the gauge, not water depth.
Gulf sturgeon can weigh over 100 pounds, and they leap out of the Suwannee, mostly from May to early August and most often at dawn and dusk. FWC lists holding areas just below the Santa Fe confluence and near Rock Bluff, both on our stretch. Slow down, keep everyone off the bow and wear life jackets. Report a strike to FWC at 888-404-3922.
Florida requires a Coast Guard–approved wearable life jacket for each person on board, and kids under 6 must wear one while a small boat is moving. On a kayak, wear yours. Coast Guard data show most boaters who drown weren't wearing one.
The motor ban covers only the upper Ichetucknee inside the state park, above US 27. The roughly 3 miles below US 27 to the Santa Fe are open to boats, but they're shallow and lined with homes, so idle through. Local counties have asked FWC to make it a no-wake zone.
Cave divers use Devil's Ear, Little River and other vents. Give a divers-down flag 100 feet of room on the river, and drop to idle if you have to pass closer. If you snorkel in the riverbed at Sunbeam or the Devil's, fly a flag yourself.
The Suwannee is wide enough for wind to build a chop, and summer afternoons bring lightning. Get off the water early. Leave a float plan with someone on land (FSP float plan form), and know that cell coverage is spotty in the river valley.
Manatees use the lower Suwannee and its springs, mostly well downriver of here. Sightings near Branford are uncommon, but idle if you see one. On the Santa Fe, water drains back underground at siphons such as the Big Awesome Siphon above SR 47. Never swim near one.
Florida law requires anyone born on or after Jan 1, 1988, to carry a boating safety education ID to run a boat with 10 hp or more. That includes rented pontoons. The water management district's river information line is 386-362-1001.
Stay on the river
Santa Fe Basecamp is a private 2-bedroom guest house on 15 wooded acres along the lower Santa Fe near Branford. It sleeps 5 and is pet-friendly.
Yes. Ginnie sits on the Santa Fe about 3.8 river miles upstream of the SR 47 ramp, and the park has its own ramp. To land or use the springs you pay Ginnie's admission ($25 per adult March–October, $20 November–February). In low water, watch for limestone, logs and grass beds above SR 47, so a small boat with a tilt motor is the safe choice. Slow to idle near dive flags at Devil's Ear. Ginnie doesn't allow jet skis or pets on the property.
Paddle craft, yes. Motors, only on the lower river. Inside Ichetucknee Springs State Park, the upper river above the US 27 bridge, motorized boats are banned. Below US 27, the roughly three miles through Three Rivers Estates down to the Santa Fe are open to boats, but they are shallow (around 4 feet on average, under 2 feet in spots). Columbia and Suwannee counties backed a petition in 2025 to make that stretch a no-wake zone, and as of Oct 17, 2026, we haven't found a final FWC decision. In the park, the Midpoint tube launch has been closed for repairs since March 17, 2026. Tubers launch from the South Entrance until 5 p.m.
From the Ivey Memorial Park ramp in Branford (Suwannee River mile 76): Branford Spring is at the ramp, Little River Springs and Ruth Spring are about 4.5 to 5 miles upstream, Troy Spring is 6.7 miles (its swim area has been closed since Oct 13, 2026) and Royal Spring is about 14 miles. Downstream, the Santa Fe comes in at 10 miles, Pothole Spring is about 18 and Gornto about 21. Rock Bluff Spring is private, so you can look but not land.
Rum 138 in Fort White rents kayaks, canoes and paddleboards with shuttle included. Launches run 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and trips finish by 4:30 p.m. Anderson's Outdoor Adventures at Poe Springs Park runs the 8 Springs in 8 Miles paddle and bring-your-own-boat shuttles, and it rents pontoon boats on the Santa Fe and Suwannee. Ginnie Springs rents boats that have to paddle upstream and come back by 5 p.m. The Santa Fe Canoe Outpost on US 441 is now a free city launch and no longer rents.
On the Suwannee, yes, from about May through October. They jump most from May to early August, especially at dawn and dusk. FWC lists holding areas just below the Santa Fe confluence and near Rock Bluff, both in our area. Keep your speed down, keep people off the bow and wear life jackets.
Check the live USGS gauges on this page before you go. When the Santa Fe is low, shoals, rocks and grass come up and motors get chewed, but the springs are clearest. When it's high, the water turns dark, springs like Branford flood and lose their color, and FWC switches on idle-speed zones. The Suwannee is wide and catches wind, so check the forecast too.
Yes. The river is at the back of the property. If we're on-site, send a quick message first. We share the exact location after you book.
All descriptions are our own. Facts come from the sources below, and we checked closures, fees and hours against official pages on Oct 17, 2026. If anything here disagrees with an official source, go by the official source.