Getting out in nature is a great way to calm the mind and soothe the soul. Florida has some truly fantastic places in nature to check out that are isolated and secluded, and offer a little bit of respite when you feel the need to recharge. If you’re feeling adventurous but still want to enjoy some solitude in nature, there are some beautiful lazy rivers in Florida that you can float down at your own pace, enjoying some time to yourself under the sunshine. Check out these crystal-clear rivers in Florida:

1. Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park, High Springs
Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park, 7450 NE 60th St, High Springs, FL 32643, USA
C2855GYsandrah / TripAdvisor
You’ll know exactly what to expect with a state park that has the term "Blue Springs" in its name, right? At Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park, you’ll enjoy some of the most enchanting crystal-clear blue waters in Florida. You can spend an afternoon paddling, swimming, snorkeling, and more, but we recommend taking a tube and heading out on your very own journey in this stunning state park.


Take a tour of Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park in this video from CampTravelExplore showing the amazing clear blue springs, hiking trails along a cool boardwalk, and some kayaking in this crystal clear river in Florida:
2. Rainbow Springs State Park, Dunnellon
Rainbow Springs State Park, 19158 SW 81st Pl Rd, Dunnellon, FL 34432, USA
Floridabeachbum/TripAdvisor
Rainbow Springs State Park is a spectacular park that offers visitors a chance to truly explore the lush Florida flora and fauna. Of course, you can spend your day kayaking, swimming, snorkeling, and more, it really is the lazy river that becomes the highlight of the experience. Rent yourself an inner tube and float your way down to Rainbow Springs on a slow, relaxing, two-hour journey downstream.
3. Ichetucknee Springs State Park, Fort White
Ichetucknee Springs State Park, 12087 Southwest, US-27, Fort White, FL 32038, USA
Kirsten S. / TripAdvisor
Ichnetucknee Springs State Park is one of the premier places in Florida where you can spot a manatee. It’s also connected to the Ichnetuckee River, which offers a wide variety of stunning Florida scenery throughout the 6-mile-long river run. The only downside to this extremely well-known tubing spot is that it gets crowded, so if you want to launch without being around people, make sure to arrive early.

Ichetucknee Springs State Park is a delightful natural wonder with crystal-clear rivers in Florida perfect for tubing and swimming. Take a closer look at this video from The Key Largo Dude:

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4. K.P. Hole County Park, Dunnellon
KP Hole Park, 9435 SW 190th Avenue Rd, Dunnellon, FL 34432, USA
Gege B. / TripAdvisor
While this park tends to stay off the radar in many cases, K.P. Hole County Park still offers a 4-hour float down a portion of the Rainbow River. Because the length of this float is so long, children under 3 years of age are not allowed. If four hours seems a bit much, you can always choose a local boat company to take you up the river for half the float time back down.
5. Ginnie Springs, High Springs
Ginnie Springs, 5000 NE 60th Ave, High Springs, FL 32643, USA
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g34287-d123103-Reviews-Ginnie_Springs-High_Springs_Florida.html#/media-atf/123103/439013490:p/?albumid=-160&type=0&category=-160
Ginnie Springs, in High Springs, Florida is an incredible place to spend an afternoon. Drift down the Santa Fe River on an hourlong journey from Devil’s Spring. As it's one of the few places to allow alcohol as you float, you can crack open a cold one and let your worries wash away.
6. Kelly Park, Apopka
Kelly Park, 400 E Kelly Park Rd, Apopka, FL 32712, USA
Lifetraveler1 / TripAdvisor
Tube your way down Rock Springs Run for a mile-long trip down the blue waters. While this isn’t the longest float option offered in Florida, it certainly is one of the more enjoyable, especially if you visit when there isn’t anyone nearby. That way you can go upstream as much as you want to float your way back down.

Let's grab a tube and head to Kelly Park's Rock Springs in Apopka, Florida for some crystal clear river tubing in this video from Coastal Things:

Make sure before you visit any of these lazy rivers, you understand the potential hazards or warnings to visitors that the park may have posted. Additionally, be aware that since some of these lazy rivers are natural, there may be wildlife within, including but not limited to alligators and snakes. While they do prefer to stay away from certain trafficked areas, it’s always smart to stay alert. 

Have you ever floated down these crystal clear rivers in Florida before? Share your experience in the comments section! Or if you have any places in Florida you’d like us to know about for future articles, be sure to nominate them here.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

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What are some of the best swimming holes in Florida?

With oceans surrounding much of Florida, the state has some amazing places to swim. But for a tropical-like setting how about a spring-fed pool of water that makes a fantastic swimming area? Here are a few of the best swimming holes in Florida in natural spring-fed pools:

  • Wakulla Springs, Tallahassee, FL: This amazing freshwater spring is one of the deepest and largest in the entire world! Enjoy a diving platform for jumping off into this incredible lake or catching a few rays of sun between dives. Speaking of diving, there is a great spot for scuba diving at Cherokee Sink.
  • Silver Glen Springs, Ocala National Forest: This beautiful spot in the Ocala National Forest has distinctive emerald waters that make swimming in this secluded spot simply magical.
  • Juniper Springs, Silver Springs, FL: Another spot in the Ocala National Forest, Juniper Springs is delightful with an old mill building in the spring surrounded by a pool of crystal clear water. With hundreds of bubbling springs actively feeding the pool, it stays crisp and clear year-round.
  • Wekiwa Springs, Apopka FL: Only a few minutes from downtown Orlando, this natural spring pool gets quite busy. But if you can get here early you can enjoy the beautiful waters and maybe even grab one of the hammocks gently swaying in the breeze.
  • Manatee Springs, Chiefland, FL: Manatee Springs State Park has an amazing 800-foot boardwalk that runs through a cypress forest surrounded by a natural spring-fed pool. It's an enchanting area to hike, swim, kayak, and simply get away to a magical natural wonder. Keep an eye out for Manatees in the cooler months lazily making their way through the water.

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