Lithia Springs Park
Lithia Springs Park is a magical place. Pale moss hangs from trees and flows in the breeze. Greenish water bubbles up out of the ground. That’s magic, isn’t it?
The scientific explanation is that a river flowing underground hits up against non-porous rock and runs out of places to go but up. Calcium compounds give it the slight tint. The water bubbles up in the middle of a large, walled-in swimming area before flowing south and joining the Alafia River. This area is quite sandy and full of fish. Because it takes longer for changes in temperature to reach deep in the Earth, the water maintains a constant seventy-two degrees. It sounds just a bit cold for swimming, but people do it anyways. So…magic!
The park features a bath house, playground, canoe launch, camping, and numerous picnic areas, but the best spot is the observation pool a short walk from the spring where one can look down on all the lazy fish among the whites, blues, and greens.
The scientific explanation is that a river flowing underground hits up against non-porous rock and runs out of places to go but up. Calcium compounds give it the slight tint. The water bubbles up in the middle of a large, walled-in swimming area before flowing south and joining the Alafia River. This area is quite sandy and full of fish. Because it takes longer for changes in temperature to reach deep in the Earth, the water maintains a constant seventy-two degrees. It sounds just a bit cold for swimming, but people do it anyways. So…magic!
The park features a bath house, playground, canoe launch, camping, and numerous picnic areas, but the best spot is the observation pool a short walk from the spring where one can look down on all the lazy fish among the whites, blues, and greens.
Right near the entrance of Lithia Springs Park is the trailhead of the Fish Hawk Nature Preserve, which runs along the Alafia River for a long ways. It’s a good place to see birds. On the other side of the river is the Lithia Springs Nature Preserve, accessible from Donnelly Road. This is an undeveloped area with little trail maintenance.
3932 Lithia Springs Road, Lithia
Written by Daniel Noe