Suwannee Springs, Spring in Suwannee County, Florida, United States

Suwannee Springs is a spring system in Suwannee County, Florida, made up of six individual springs, five of which flow directly into the Suwannee River. The water rises from deep limestone formations underground and carries a natural mineral content.

In the 1890s, the springs were developed into a resort destination at a time when mineral spring waters were widely promoted for health. A limestone wall from that period still stands on the site, left over from when the place was a recognized tourist stop.

The name Suwannee Sulphur Springs reflects the hard, sulphur-laden water that once drew health seekers. The springs are also the site of the 1944 lynching of Willie James Howard, a 15-year-old, a fact tied to the site's history. Today the spring and river banks are used for swimming, hiking and paddling.

The main spring flows inside a limestone wall about 15 feet high and 3 feet thick, built in the late 1890s, so bathers enter a defined pool rather than an open bank. Five of the six springs spill directly into the south side of the Suwannee River. The Suwannee River Water Management District manages the site for swimming, hiking and paddling.

The spring water holds a steady temperature of around 70 to 76 degrees Fahrenheit (21 to 24 degrees Celsius) throughout the year, no matter how hot or cold the air gets. This makes swimming here noticeably refreshing in summer and warm compared to the outside air in winter.