Ahhh, the great outdoors. It’s what Lake City, Florida’s Springlands is all about. Whether it’s a romp in a crystalline spring, a float down a spring-fed river, fishing in a lake, walking a trail or simply relaxing under the sun just about anywhere, you can do all of it and more in Lake City, Florida’s Springlands.
The generous array of parks in Florida’s Springlands offers a wide range of experiences, from a place that commemorates Florida’s largest Civil War battle, to a vast national forest, to several parks that are set amid freshwater springs and rivers. Basically, there’s a park for just about everyone.
Visit a train station turned into a museum at Olustee Depot near Lake City. The building has stayed in pristine condition and is nestled in the woods under Spanish moss trees in the Osceola National Forest.
Just eight miles north of High Springs, O’Leno State Park is conveniently located off of U.S. Route 441 at 410 SE O'Leno Park Road. Stop by the Nature Center, which is home to the park’s resident gopher tortoises and other wildlife native to the area.
This beautiful corner of Florida is located along the Suwannee River and is home to one of only 33 first magnitude springs in the state, producing 65 million gallons of water per day. Whether you’re swimming in the springs, you’re just stopping by as you’re driving through the area or you’re specifically seeking out the wildlife, there’s something at Fanning Springs for everyone.
Falmouth Springs is one of the more private, intimate and peaceful natural springs in North Florida, with far less traffic than others in the area. It is far less developed than many other North Florida swimming holes, with no cement embankments and just simple amenities, but this quiet atmosphere is what gives it its unique charm.