Gary W. Green / Orlando SentinelJennifer Bernatis, top, and Kristi Lee with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, inventory invertebrates at Rock Springs in Apopka.
Jacob Langston / Orlando SentinelSwimmers enjoy the clear waters of De Leon Springs State Park.
Jacob Langston / Orlando SentinelDakota Bachtell, 13, from DeLand fishes at De Leon Springs State Park.
Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando SentinelSwimmers play at Alexander Springs in the Ocala National Forest.
Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando SentinelOne of many waterfalls is pictured at Rainbow Springs State Park in Dunnellon.
TOM BENITEZ / ORLANDO SENTINELSwimmers enjoy the 72 degree water of Juniper Springs. The swimming area is part of the Juniper Springs Recreation Area in the Ocala National Forest.
Joe Burbank / Orlando SentinelSunlight filters through the crystalline waters of Blue Hole, about a 1/2 mile from the headwater spring of the Itchetucknee River, at Ichetucknee State Park near Fort White. Located in an ancient cypress flood plain, Blue Hole, flowing with an estimated 67 million gallons each day, is the largest of the 7 springs feeding into the river.
Orlando SentinelWekiwa Springs State Park: The park and adjoining conservation tracts contain the state?s best bear habitat, a mosaic of scrub, swamp forest, hills and flatwoods. The park now covers 7,800 acres and is part of 440,000 acres of protected lands extending 25 miles along the Wekiva and St. Johns rivers and across the Ocala National Forest.
Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando SentinelA snorkeler pushes a raft through the cool water at Alexander Springs in the Ocala National Forest.
Jacob Langston / Orlando SentinelThe revamped entrance at Silver Springs.
Tom Benitez / Orlando SentinelScene from Manatee Springs State Park.
Stephen M. Dowell / ORLANDO SENTINELKayakers Melinda Vasquez, rear left, Ellen Lewis, front left, and Wayne Lewis, right, enjoy the crystal clear waters at Rainbow Springs State Park in Dunnellon.
Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando SentinelTubers ride the current of the crystal-clear waters at Rock Springs at Kelly Park.
Red Huber/Staff PhotographerManatees find refuge in the warm waters of Blue Spring located at Blue Spring State Park, Orange City, Florida.
George Skene / Orlando SentinelLarry Gil of Daytona swims to the surface of the main spring at Salt Springs Recreational Area in the Ocala National Forest Friday. He is with his grand daughter for a week of camping for summer vacation. There are several springs in the Ocala Forest for people to enjoy.
Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando SentinelSnorkelers enjoy the cool water at Alexander Springs in the Ocala National Forest.
Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando SentinelDavid Harden, Ocala, at rear of canoe, and Tom Harris, Ocala, try to get over a submerged log during the challenging canoe run at Juniper Springs in the Ocala National Forest.
Red Huber / Orlando SentinelWith a day off from work Tuesday, Christine Bryant,18, (left) of Orlando and her boyfriend Davis Harvey, 17, of Longwood and Dawn Locke, Harvey's mother of Longwood take advantage of the warm weather and float down Rock Springs Run at Kelly Park in Apopka.
Christine Baker / SPECIAL TO THE SENTINELWekiwa Springs State Park: The park and adjoining conservation tracts contain the state's best bear habitat, a mosaic of scrub, swamp forest, hills and flatwoods. The park now covers 7,800 acres and is part of 440,000 acres of protected lands extending 25 miles along the Wekiva and St. Johns rivers and across the Ocala National Forest.
Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando SentinelCanoers are gathered in heavy foliage at the start of the challenging canoe run at Juniper Springs State Park near Ocala.
Joe Burbank / Orlando SentinelA view of overhanging trees as seen from the crystalline waters of Blue Hole, about a 1/2 mile from the headwater spring of the Itchetucknee River, at Ichetucknee State Park near Fort White. Located in an ancient cypress flood plain, Blue Hole, flowing with an estimated 67 million gallons each day, is the largest of the 7 springs feeding into the river.
Joe Burbank / Orlando SentinelA serene scene at the end of the day at Blue Hole, about a 1/2 mile from the headwater spring of the Itchetucknee River, at Ichetucknee State Park near Fort White. Located in an ancient cypress flood plain, Blue Hole, flowing with an estimated 67 million gallons each day, is the largest of the 7 springs feeding into the river.
Orlando Sentinel FileWakulla Springs State Park, near Tallahassee, offers glass-bottom boat rides.
MATTHEW BECK / Associated PressHomosassa Springs Wildlife State Park Park Ranger Ken Torres feeds two of the park's captive manatee slices of sweet potato as a treat for the upcoming holiday season in Homosassa. Rangers held an animal enrichment activity for many of the animals that reside at the park located north of Tampa. Some of the other animals fed natural treats Tuesday were the park's sibling black bear cubs, a pair of cougars, river otters and a number of Key deer. Rangers use the enrichment activities several times yearly to stimulate the animals.
Chris Livingston / NYTBeth Ann Rutledge heads back to the surface of Ginnie Spring in High Springs. Visiting the freshwater springs of central Florida: abundant, clear, beautiful -- and maybe gator-free.
George Skene / ORLANDO SENTINELWes Skiles, cavediver and underwater photographer enters an underwater cavern with his video camera at Ginnie Springs in north Florida.
Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando SentinelSwimmers enjoy the cool waters at Rock Springs at Kelly Park.
George Skene / Orlando SentinelNicole Elias snorkels with her mother Michaela Elias as they enjoy a day at Salt Springs in the Ocala National Forest. They are from Lady Lake in nearby Lake County. Salt Springs is slightly salty and runs out to Lake George which is part of the St. Johns River system.
Lisa Roberts / ORLANDO SENTINELFall leaves accentuate the shoreline at Alexander Springs in the Ocala National Forest.
Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando SentinelOne of many waterfalls is pictured at Rainbow Springs State Park in Dunnellon on Friday, June 3, 2011.
Gary W. Green / Orlando SentinelNed Johnson of Paddleboard Orlando paddles into Kings Bay, the head waters of the Crystal River, to watch manatees taking refuge in the warm waters of Three Sisters Springs.
Red Huber / Orlando SentinelSteam rises off the surface of Blue Spring run as Wayne Hartley, of the Save the Manatee Club conducts a manatee survey in 30-degree weather.
Jacob Langston / Orlando SentinelPonce de Leon Springs State Park.
Gary W. Green / Orlando SentinelA West Indian manatee rests in the warm waters of Three Sisters Springs in Kings Bay, the head waters of the Crystal River in Citrus County. The manatees seek refuge in the warm springs of Kings Bay in the winter months, where the water temperature remains 72 degree Fahrenheit year round.
Red Huber / Orlando SentinelLynelle Kolk, 15, of Lakeland pauses for a moment among a rock formation while snorkeling down the crystal clear Rock Springs Run in Kelly Park in Apopka.
George Skene / Orlando SentinelFloating through the invisible water of the aquifer, Josh Dolan, cave diving instructor at Ginnie Springs north of Gainesville travels through the Devil's Eye into the Devil's Ear underwater cave system that goes under the Santa Fe River.
GARY BOGDON / ORLANDO SENTINELA chilly Sunday morning lured manatees inland to the warmth of springs. This one surfaces at Weeki Wachee Spring, an attraction about 50 miles north of Tampa.
Red Huber / Orlando SentinelBriana Atwell, 10, right, took time out from searching for minnows at Rock Spring Run to dump a bucket of crystal clear cool water on her brother Aiden Atwell, 6, as they enjoy family time at Kelly Park in Apopka.
Gary W. Green / Orlando SentinelCat Melnyk watches a manatee come up for air while paddle boarding in Three Sisters Springs with Paddleboard Orlando.
Pete Souza / Chicago TribuneManatees swim near a federal sanctuary in Crystal River, Florida. Blue paint on the manatee at left is from an apparent encounter with the bottom of a boat.
Phil Coale / Associated PressVisitors to Wakulla Springs State Park pass by in a river tour boat as swimmer David DiDomenico dives into the Wakulla River in Wakulla Springs.
Gary W. Green / Orlando SentinelA West Indian manatee rests in the warm waters of Three Sisters Springs in Kings Bay, the head waters of the Crystal River in Citrus County. The manatees seek refuge in the warm springs of Kings Bay in the winter months, where the water temperature remains 72 degree Fahrenheit year round.
Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando SentinelTubers ride the current of the crystal-clear waters at Rock Springs at Kelly Park.
Joe Burbank / Orlando SentinelSunlight filters through the crystalline waters of Blue Hole, about a 1/2 mile from the headwater spring of the Itchetucknee River, at Ichetucknee State Park near Fort White. Located in an ancient cypress flood plain, Blue Hole, flowing with an estimated 67 million gallons each day, is the largest of the 7 springs feeding into the river.
Joe Burbank / Orlando SentinelCypress trees frame theThe crystalline waters of Blue Hole, about a 1/2 mile from the headwater spring of the Itchetucknee River, at Ichetucknee State Park near Fort White. Located in an ancient cypress flood plain, Blue Hole, flowing with an estimated 67 million gallons each day, is the largest of the 7 springs feeding into the river.
Orlando SentinelA curious manatee strikes a pose as itfinds a warmer water refuge at Blue Spring from the St. Johns River located in Orange City, Florida.
Red Huber / Orlando SentinelIn 68 -72 degree water Thanh Trinh, center, left and his wife Huyen Nguyen, hat, float in tubes down Rock Springs at Kelly Park keeping cool from the extreme hot temperatures.
Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando SentinelJessica Gwin, 12, Silver Springs, plays beneath a stone bridge at Juniper Springs State Park near Ocala.
Stephen M. Dowell / ORLANDO SENTINELRainbow Springs State Park
Joe Burbank / Orlando SentinelSHADES OF BLUE -- A view of the shaft opening of the crystalline waters of Blue Hole, about a 1/2 mile from the headwater spring of the Itchetucknee River, at Ichetucknee State Park near Fort White. Located in an ancient cypress flood plain, Blue Hole, flowing with an estimated 67 million gallons each day, is the largest of the 7 springs feeding into the river.
Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando SentinelSwimmers play in the day use area at Alexander Springs state park in the Ocala National Forest.
Gary W. Green / Orlando SentinelKayakers, paddleboarders and snorkelers meander through Three Sisters Springs to watch West Indian manatees relaxing in the warm spring waters.
Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando SentinelMembers of a church group get ready for the challenging canoe run at Juniper Springs State Park.
Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando SentinelJessica Gwin, 12, left, and Katie Spicher, 12, both of Silver Springs, play in the crystal clear waters beneath a stone bridge at Juniper Springs.
Jacob Langston / Orlando SentinelDakota Bachtell, 13, from DeLand fishes at Ponce de Leon Springs State Park.
Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando SentinelSnorkelers enjoy the cool water at Alexander Springs in the Ocala National Forest.
Barbara V. Perez / Orlando SentinelFramed by trees is the spring pool swimming area in Ponce de Leon Springs State Park.
Gary W. Green / Orlando SentinelSnorkelers swim amidst the manatees at Three Sisters Springs in Kings Bay, the head waters of the Crystal River in Citrus County. West Indian manatees seek refuge in the warm springs of Kings Bay in the winter months, where the water temperature remains 72 degree Fahrenheit year round.
George Skene / Orlando SentinelTwo manatees play at Homosassa Springs as tourists look on.
George Skene / Orlando SentinelSilver River at Silver Springs State Park.
GARY BOGDON / ORLANDO SENTINELNicole Marino, 23, a mermaid in the show at the Weeki Wachee Spring attraction was getting in some early morning swimming practice before performances started. She is in the company of a group of manatees that visit the spring for its warmer waters during the winter month's. The attraction is located on State Road 50 and U. S. Highway 19, about 50 miles north of Tampa.
Joe Burbank / Orlando SentinelSHADES OF BLUE -- Cypress trees frame theThe crystalline waters of Blue Hole, about a 1/2 mile from the headwater spring of the Itchetucknee River, at Ichetucknee State Park near Fort White. Located in an ancient cypress flood plain, Blue Hole, flowing with an estimated 67 million gallons each day, is the largest of the 7 springs feeding into the river.
Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando SentinelThe swimming area and the Rainbow River are pictured at Rainbow Springs State Park in Dunnellon on Friday.
Joe Burbank / Orlando SentinelSunlight filters through the crystalline waters of Blue Hole, about a 1/2 mile from the headwater spring of the Itchetucknee River, at Ichetucknee State Park near Fort White. Located in an ancient cypress flood plain, Blue Hole, flowing with an estimated 67 million gallons each day, is the largest of the 7 springs feeding into the river.
Barbara V. Perez / Orlando SentinelWekiwa Springs State Park: The park and adjoining conservation tracts contain the state's best bear habitat, a mosaic of scrub, swamp forest, hills and flatwoods. The park now covers 7,800 acres and is part of 440,000 acres of protected lands extending 25 miles along the Wekiva and St. Johns rivers and across the Ocala National Forest.
Joe Burbank / Orlando SentinelWekiwa Springs State Park: The park and adjoining conservation tracts contain the state's best bear habitat, a mosaic of scrub, swamp forest, hills and flatwoods. The park now covers 7,800 acres and is part of 440,000 acres of protected lands extending 25 miles along the Wekiva and St. Johns rivers and across the Ocala National Forest.
Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando SentinelThe water is cool and inviting at Alexander Springs in the Ocala National Forest.
Joe Burbank / Orlando SentinelWekiwa Springs State Park: The park and adjoining conservation tracts contain the state's best bear habitat, a mosaic of scrub, swamp forest, hills and flatwoods. The park now covers 7,800 acres and is part of 440,000 acres of protected lands extending 25 miles along the Wekiva and St. Johns rivers and across the Ocala National Forest.
Jacob Langston / Orlando SentinelKayakers paddle through Silver Springs State Park.
Christine Baker / SPECIAL TO THE SENTINELWekiwa Springs State Park: The park and adjoining conservation tracts contain the state's best bear habitat, a mosaic of scrub, swamp forest, hills and flatwoods. The park now covers 7,800 acres and is part of 440,000 acres of protected lands extending 25 miles along the Wekiva and St. Johns rivers and across the Ocala National Forest.
Red Huber/Staff PhotographerManatees find refuge in the warm waters of Blue Spring located at Blue Spring State Park, Orange City, Florida.
STEPHEN M. DOWELL / ORLANDO SENTINELThe day use area can be used by campers at Juniper Springs State Park in the Ocala National Forest.
Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando SentinelAlexander Springs in the Ocala National Forest.
Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando SentinelSnorkelers enjoy the cool water at Alexander Springs in the Ocala National Forest.
Lisa Roberts / ORLANDO SENTINELSwimmers queue up to jump off a platform and into the water of Fanning Springs, protected by a state park. The spring water provides cool relief from summer heat.
JESSICA MANN / ORLANDO SENTINELThe Sugar Mill Restaurant at De Leon Springs State Park, north of DeLand.
Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando SentinelJoelie Bos, 8, visiting from Canada, enjoys the crystal-clear waters at Rock Springs at Kelly Park.
Joe Burbank / Orlando SentinelDespite reports of a recent alligator attack, the Drummond and Burroughs families, visiting from Melbourne, enjoy an afternoon of tubing at Blue Spring State Park, in Orange City.
Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda / Orlando SentinelWekiwa Springs State Park: The park and adjoining conservation tracts contain the state's best bear habitat, a mosaic of scrub, swamp forest, hills and flatwoods. The park now covers 7,800 acres and is part of 440,000 acres of protected lands extending 25 miles along the Wekiva and St. Johns rivers and across the Ocala National Forest.
Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando SentinelA scuba diver ascends at Alexander Springs in the Ocala National Forest.
Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando SentinelSam Filter plays with her two-year-old son Liam Filter at Alexander Springs Recreation Area in the Ocala National Forest.
JESSICA MANN / ORLANDO SENTINEL
George Skene / Orlando SentinelThe show stage is far below the surface of Weeki Wachee Springs and the partially submerged auditorium is to the left.
Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando SentinelSnorkelers enjoy the cool water at Alexander Springs in the Ocala National Forest.
Chris Livingston / NYTCooling off in one of the Ichetucknee River's feeder springs in Fort White. Visiting the freshwater springs of central Florida: abundant, clear, beautiful -- and maybe gator-free.
Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando SentinelSnorkelers swim at Alexander Springs in the Ocala National Forest.
BURT WINGFIELD / Associated PressA Florida manatee swims with snorkelers, not shown, in the Homosassa River in Homosassa Springs.
Orlando Sentinel / Jim AbbottEven on a cloudy day, there's an impressive view of Seminole Falls at Rainbow Springs State Park in Dunnellon.
Carrie Alexander / SPECIAL TO THE SENTINELA view of Silver Springs from the Lighthouse ride that rises 80 feet in the air and rotates for a panoramic view of the park.
Gary W. Green / Orlando SentinelWekiwa Springs State Park: The park and adjoining conservation tracts contain the state's best bear habitat, a mosaic of scrub, swamp forest, hills and flatwoods. The park now covers 7,800 acres and is part of 440,000 acres of protected lands extending 25 miles along the Wekiva and St. Johns rivers and across the Ocala National Forest.
Jim Abbott, Orlando SentinelEven on a cloudy day, there's an impressive view of Seminole Falls at Rainbow Springs State Park in Dunnellon.
Joe Burbank / Orlando SentinelBlue gills school in the waning moments of daylight in the crystalline waters of Blue Hole, about a 1/2 mile from the headwater spring of the Itchetucknee River, at Ichetucknee State Park near Fort White. Located in an ancient cypress flood plain, Blue Hole, flowing with an estimated 67 million gallons each day, is the largest of the 7 springs feeding into the river.
Tom Benitez / Orlando SentinelCampers and day visitors enjoy the day at Juniper Springs.
Jacob Langston / Orlando SentinelThe famous glass-bottom boats sit docked at Silver Springs.
Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando SentinelKids peer into the clear waters at Rock Springs at Kelly Park.
Joe Burbank / Orlando SentinelA view of the shaft opening of the crystalline waters of Blue Hole, about a 1/2 mile from the headwater spring of the Itchetucknee River, at Ichetucknee State Park near Fort White. Located in an ancient cypress flood plain, Blue Hole, flowing with an estimated 67 million gallons each day, is the largest of the 7 springs feeding into the river.
Jacob Langston / Orlando SentinelKayakers paddle around the calm waters at Silver Springs.
Joe Burbank / Orlando SentinelTubers head to the run at Blue Spring State Park, in Orange City.
George Skene, Orlando SentinelWeeki Wachee Springs features mermaid performances.
Joe Burbank / Orlando SentinelVisitors to Blue Springs State Park snorkel at the spring head, while nearby officials from numerous water-quality regulatory agencies gathered to announce plans for improving the water flow from the magnitude 1 spring, located near Orange City.
Gary W. Green / Orlando Sentinel
1 of 100
Jennifer Bernatis, top, and Kristi Lee with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, inventory invertebrates at Rock Springs in Apopka.
Expand
By Amy Aumick
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
Rainbow Springs is Florida’s fourth largest spring, but what sets it apart are its waterfalls. Three man-made waterfalls come from when the park was a privately owned attraction.
From the 1930s through the 1970s, the springs featured glass-bottom boat tours, a unique tree-level monorail, an aviary, the three waterfalls, rodeo, zoo complex and garden.
It re-opened as a public park in the mid-1990s minus most of the fanfare, but retaining the waterfalls. Now visitors can enjoy the spring’s natural side with camping, tubing, swimming, fishing, canoeing and kayaking.
Tubing is the most popular activity at the spring, but you can’t tube in the headwaters. There’s a second park entrance with access to the Rainbow River with tube rentals that are available from April-Memorial Day on weekends, then daily through Labor Day and then back to weekends only again through the rest of September. Tube rentals are closed from October-March.
Rainbow Springs offers many educational opportunities that are sure to delight visitors of all ages. Park activities include programs on butterfly gardens, guided bird and butterfly walks and an education series on Florida’s water issues. Hikers can enjoy walking a 2.5-mile path by those three waterfalls and a native plant garden before reaching the visitor center..
Recently, the park has started hosting Geo-Chaching events through Operation GeoTour. Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunt using hand-held GPS devices to find location coordinates and find caches.
Rainbow Springs is RV and pet-friendly and also has a great recreational area for family reunions, weddings, meetings and retreats if you want to rent a pavilion or the amphitheater. The park offers many great discount perks with a membership. They open at 8 a.m. Remember to arrive early so that you will not be turned away because the park can fill up by mid morning.
Rainbow Springs State Park
19158 81 Place Road, Dunnellon
352-465-8555
FloridaStateParks.org/park/Rainbow-Spring
MORE WAYS TO GET WET
*Adventure Island water park
Bring sunscreen, towels and bathing suits because this is an all-day trip.
10001 McKinley Dr., Tampa
888-800-5447
*Warm Mineral Springs in North Port
This spring descends into one of Florida’s deepest aquifers and is seen as one of the most important archeological sites in North America.
12200 San Servando Ave., North Port
941-426-1692