Blue Hole
O'Brien, Florida · on Ichetucknee River · Ichetucknee Springs State Park
Verified · 4 independent sources · top-verified
- WATER
- spring
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $6 per vehicle
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Blue Hole
Blue Hole (also called Jug Hole or Jug Spring by cave divers) is the largest and only first-magnitude spring within Ichetucknee Springs State Park near Fort White/O'Brien, Florida, discharging roughly 67 million gallons of 72°F water daily into the Ichetucknee River system. This spring swimming hole is an officially designated snorkeling and certified-cave-diving spot reached by a short boardwalk trail from a park parking area, distinct from the tubing run on the main river.
The spring sits within Ichetucknee Springs State Park's 2,669-acre hardwood hammock and limestone landscape in north-central Florida, reached via a boardwalk and sandy, root-crossed nature trail roughly a quarter- to half-mile from a paved parking lot with picnic tables, a small playground, and restrooms.
Swimming at Blue Hole
The spring pool is roughly 85 by 125 feet with a calm mirrored surface disturbed by a central boil, water depth of about 7 feet at the surface shelf dropping through a 40-foot vertical limestone vent into a cave system; water is exceptionally clear and shifts from turquoise to deep cobalt blue. A noticeable outflow current makes it best suited to strong swimmers and snorkelers rather than children or weak swimmers, and visitors are asked not to stand on the bottom to protect submerged grasses. Certified cave/cavern divers can descend into the roughly 600-foot cave passage, but general diving elsewhere in the park is prohibited.
How to get to this swimming hole
Accessed from within Ichetucknee Springs State Park (12087 SW US Highway 27, Fort White, FL) via a designated Blue Hole parking area and a short boardwalk/nature trail leading to the spring; the park's north entrance area is used for this spring rather than the south tubing entrance.
Parking: Dedicated paved parking lot at the Blue Hole trailhead cited as holding roughly 140 vehicles; the park closes to all visitors (no roadside waiting) once capacity is reached, per the park's 2026 visitor notice.
The hike in
Blue Hole Trail
- To the water
- About 0.5 mile one-way (official park figure); one visitor's GPS track measured roughly 0.96 mi round trip (~0.48 mi each way), consistent with the official distance.
- Time on foot
- Roughly 15-20 minutes one-way at a casual walking pace.
Difficulty: Easy - flat, part boardwalk (crossing the Ichetucknee River) and part packed dirt, wide and easy to follow, with only about 20 ft of elevation gain reported.
Trailhead: Starts at the north entrance of Ichetucknee Springs State Park, from the ~140-car paved Blue Hole parking lot (park address: 12087 SW US Hwy 27, Fort White, FL) - this is a separate entrance from the south tubing/main entrance.
The Blue Hole Trail is a dedicated out-and-back spur running directly from the north-entrance parking lot to the spring - it is not a segment of a longer through-trail serving other destinations, so the whole hike is to Blue Hole and back.
Trail passes through hardwood forest and cypress floodplain and ends at stairs/an overlook platform used to enter the spring; one visitor reported turtle and fish sightings along the way and called it kid-friendly as a walk (though the spring itself is not, due to depth/current).
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
Not ideal for young kids
Multiple first-hand sources say Blue Hole is unsuitable for children or weak swimmers: the pool is ~7 ft deep at the shelf (too deep to stand) with a noticeable outflow current most people can't swim against, dropping into a 40-ft limestone shaft. The short access trail itself is flat and easy for kids, but the swim spot is recommended for strong swimmers/snorkelers only.
Parking
Paid, $6 per vehicle (park entrance fee, covers parking)
Dedicated paved lot at the Blue Hole/north entrance holding roughly 140 vehicles; the park closes entry to all visitors (no roadside waiting) once capacity is reached, per the park's 2026 visitor notice.
Restrooms
Yes
Flush toilets at the Blue Hole/north-entrance parking area, reported ADA compliant; the main park (south entrance) also has restrooms/showers near the visitor center and concession.
Water clarity
Clear
Described by a first-hand visitor account as so transparent it's 'invisible' except for the dark, craggy central boil/vent; color shifts from turquoise to deep cobalt blue depending on light, with a midday 'light beam' effect noted by another source.
Hours
Park open 8am until sunset, 365 days a year; the Blue Hole area/trail specifically closes one hour before sunset per the Florida State Parks experiences page.
On the water
Restrictions: The Blue Hole basin itself is fenced off from the Ichetucknee River, so kayaks, canoes, tubes, and paddleboards cannot enter or pass through the spring - it is land-access only via the trail. Scuba/cave diving is the one exception, permitted only for cave/cavern-certified divers who register with rangers. Tubing, canoeing, kayaking, and paddleboarding are allowed on the separate Ichetucknee River tubing/paddling run (different launch points elsewhere in the park); no motorboats or jet skis are permitted anywhere in the park.
The rental businesses below serve the park's river tubing/paddling run generally, not the Blue Hole spring itself, since Blue Hole cannot be reached by water.
Rentals nearby
Canoes, kayaks, and standup paddleboards from a ~120-boat fleet, plus roughly 3,000 river tubes and small rafts; tram and van shuttle service for tubers and paddlers.
Operates under contract with the Florida Park Service at the park's main concession facility (south entrance area).
Canoe rentals/trips (site directs to a separate pricing page not accessible during this research) alongside cabin/campground/RV lodging.
About 1/4 mile west of the state park's north entrance (the same entrance used for the Blue Hole trailhead). · Park opens 8am; their concession stand at Dampier's Landing opens 10am in season.
What regulars say
A 2025 first-hand visitor account described the walk as flat and easy with turtle and fish sightings, divers present at the spring, and called the overall experience a "great scenic payoff" for a short walk.
Blue Hole: FAQ
Does Blue Hole charge a fee?
$6 per vehicle park entrance fee (official park page/brochure); scuba divers must additionally register with park rangers and pay a small diving fee per a first-hand account.
Is Blue Hole kid friendly?
Multiple first-hand sources say Blue Hole is unsuitable for children or weak swimmers: the pool is ~7 ft deep at the shelf (too deep to stand) with a noticeable outflow current most people can't swim against, dropping into a 40-ft limestone shaft. The short access trail itself is flat and easy for kids, but the swim spot is recommended for strong swimmers/snorkelers only.
How hard is the hike to Blue Hole?
A hike is required, about About 0.5 mile one-way (official park figure); one visitor's GPS track measured roughly 0.96 mi round trip (~0.48 mi each way), consistent with the official distance. to the water (roughly 15-20 minutes one-way at a casual walking pace.). Wear real shoes, since approaches to natural swim spots are often rocky or rooty.
Where do I park for Blue Hole?
Dedicated paved lot at the Blue Hole/north entrance holding roughly 140 vehicles; the park closes entry to all visitors (no roadside waiting) once capacity is reached, per the park's 2026 visitor notice.
When is the best time to visit Blue Hole?
Water stays a constant 72°F year-round so it can be visited any season; official brochure states scuba diving is permitted year-round, though a hiking-guide source describes cave diving there as limited to October-March, so seasonal diving access should be confirmed with the park directly. Summer draws the largest crowds; early arrival is recommended.
What are the rules at Blue Hole?
Scuba/cave diving at Blue Hole requires cave or cavern certification and is the only spot in the park where diving is allowed (prohibited in the river and other springs); dives must end one hour before sundown. Park-wide rules prohibit fishing, fireworks, hunting, and tobacco on the river, require food/drink in non-disposable containers on the river, and require pets to be leashed (6 ft max) and kept away from the water.
What water body is Blue Hole on?
Blue Hole is on Ichetucknee River, a natural spring verified in USGS hydrography data.
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