Blue Spring Recreation Area is only a few miles upstream from Pitt Springs up Econfina Creek and you can drive to it easily enough, with just one little hassle of a dirt road to travel. The recreation area has the namesake Blue Spring, which comes out of a cave that you can get into if the water level is low enough. I’ve had the experience of lowering myself into the water just far enough that only my head was above water and crawling in. I’m not sure how far back the cave goes but it widens up immediately past the entry point and somewhere back in the darkness a bat was rather pissed off that I’d intruded.
To find the entry point you just walk down the stairway leading into the spring, step into the chilly water, follow the bank to the immediate left for about 50 feet and you’ll see where the water is flowing from and a nice big limestone entry point complete with ferns growing on it, cave spiders and who knows what else. Bring a waterproof flashlight if you want the best experience of knowing what you’re exploring.
Aside from the cave the spring area is basically a little inlet from the main Econfina Creek, mostly crystal clear water, lots of bluegill and other fish swimming around. It is a great day use picnic and swimming sort of spot. I have not yet tested putting a kayak in here to head down toward Pitt Spring yet, but that’s on the future agenda. Also within the recreation area is a Karst water feature where water comes up from out of the ground then gets sucked back down again, with a tiny nature walk to view it. Fishing and camping are both apparently viable here, but I’d caution this place may be a little loud and rowdy mid summer.
Address:
5247-5273 Blue Springs Rd.
Youngstown, FL 32466
