Entrances to the Park

South Entrance

12087 SW US Highway 27, Fort White, FL 32038

All tubing operations take place here. It is also where our General Store is located. The General Store is where you go for rentals of tubes, paddleboards, kayaks and canoes. They also sell tube tram tickets, shuttle tickets for paddlers, tube pump tickets and their key holding service. Inside, you can visit the gift shop or order from the food menu. 

Take a stroll along our Discovery Trail where you may get to say hello to a gopher tortoise. Afterwards, check out our visitor center. At our visitor center you can learn more about the park and the importance of protecting Florida’s waters. You can also purchase Florida State Park annual passes here. This is our headquarters for Junior Ranger enrollment & activities. 

Swimming without a floatation device is prohibited on the river. Swimmers can enjoy designated swim areas at the North Entrance. 

On hot summer weekends and summer holidays, Midpoint Tube Launch and the South Entrance parking area often reaches capacity, at which time the gates will temporary close. Entry is first-come, first-serve. Online reservations or purchasing day-use passes in advance does not guarantee entry or allow visitors to bypass the line at the ranger station. 

North Entrance

8294 SW Elim Church Road, Fort White, FL 32038

Experience the birthplace of the Ichetucknee River. The site of the Headspring, a National Natural Landmark and perhaps the most pristine spring run in the state. Swim in the clear spring water, always 72 degrees year-round. Take the half-mile walk to Blue Hole Spring to submerge into its deep cyan waters to find another world, shared with many species of turtles and fish.

For the safety of swimmers and snorkelers, tubes are prohibited in the springs. Visitors are welcome to use pool noodles or lifejackets for flotation. Divers interested in exploring Blue Hole should be cave/cavern certified and be prepared to carry their gear the half-mile to the spring. 

If you are looking to stay dry, take a leisurely walk on our pet-friendly Trestle Point Trail and Pine Ridge Trail. The shaded Trestle Point Trail winds along the crystal-clear waters of the Ichetucknee River. As you head away from the river, you travel back in time to the early 1900s when phosphate ore was mined in the area. On Pine Ridge trail, soak in the majestic sandhill with its towering longleaf pine and wide-open vistas. View the natural diversity of this unique and vanishing ecosystem.

Adjacent to the trail heads is our North Boat Launch, the furthest upstream location to access the river. A ramp leads to a fixed dock where visitors can launch their non-motorized vessels, such as paddleboards, kayaks, and canoes. This launch offers a kayak cradle. Kayak cradles provide a safe and stable entry right above water level. 

The Riverside Grill, located near the Headspring, offers fresh cooked hamburgers, hotdogs, sandwiches, tacos, and more. Hours are 10 am to 5 pm daily. 

On hot summer weekends and summer holidays, the North Entrance parking area often reaches capacity. Entry is first-come, first-serve. Online reservations or purchasing day-use passes in advance does not guarantee entry or allow visitors to bypass the line at the ranger station.

South Takeout Gate

South Takeout Gate is approximately 0.5 miles west of the main south entrance. This gate closes to vehicle traffic annually from April 1-October 1. When in operation, the gate closes earlier than park closing. These closure times vary throughout the year as sunset changes. 

South Takeout gate is the closest to the final take-out on the river within the park’s boundaries. It is primarily used for self-shuttling visitors on private paddleboards, kayaks, and canoes. Parking is limited to only 20 spaces. The kayak/canoe drop-off loop brings vehicles temporarily within 150 feet of the river. 

South Take Out has one restroom with an outdoor shower.