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Ginnie Springs
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The best natural springs near Miami for a refreshing dip and unique wildlife

Crystal clear and crisp year-round, these picturesque natural springs near Miami are the cure to a hot Florida day.

Eric Barton
Falyn Wood
Written by
Eric Barton
Contributor
Falyn Wood
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We won't tell you how to do the best natural springs near Miami. Maybe you're planning a family adventure with the kiddos complete with swimmies, amazing hikes and a full itinerary. Or perhaps your only plan is to spend the day floating on your back, searching for cloud animals while enjoying the benefits of your medicinal marijuana card. Whatever this particular excursion has in store, we know Florida’s 700 freshwater springs are a fine place to cool off on a hot day, considering many of them stay a chilly 72 degrees year-round. Some on this list might require a good day’s drive or a quick flight from Miami, but the crystal-clear water, the manatees, and a good White Claw buzz on an inflatable swan make it all worthwhile.

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Best natural springs near Miami

Seven natural springs pop up among these 200 acres of forest, where you’ll find little swimming spots shaded by old-growth trees and downright picturesque camping spots. Dive into caves, cruise on a paddleboard, or do like the college kids and drink the day away on an innertube down the slow-moving Sante Fe River.

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For divers and snorkelers, the largest spring on the St. Johns River is a place to explore underwater caves. For those not interested in getting in, cop a squat on the boardwalk overlook to watch a manatee aggregation (yep, that’s what a group is called) breeze past. During high season, visitors may experience long lines and intermittent closures. To ensure entry into the park, make a reservation.

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Here, you’ll be riding an innertube for six undeveloped miles on eight crystal-clear, fairytale springs as they join to create the Ichetucknee River. We’re not going to judge you if floating next to you is a well-stocked cooler. Just be sure to keep an eye out for beaver, otter, gar, softshell turtle, wild turkey and more residing in this 2,669-acre wildlife haven.

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Conquistador Ponce de Leon charged his way across the Americas looking for the Fountain of Youth, so it makes sense that a swimming hole that looks like one bears his name. It’s not that you’ll stay young forever by swimming here, but considering the carloads of teenagers and college kids who crowd the 68-degree waters here, you just might feel like it.

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This 200-foot-deep natural spring with an archaeological site at the bottom is the warmest in Florida, with a year-round temperature of 85 degrees and one of the highest mineral concentrations in the country. Formed from a 30,000-year-old sinkhole, Warm Mineral Springs Park suffered damage from Hurricane Ian in 2022 and is set to reopen this April after extensive recovery efforts.

More of a saltwater person?

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