Should you go?
Little River is a Suwannee County park on the river of the same name — a compact blue basin with a short run, popular with locals for swimming and with cave divers for the extensive system beneath.
Entry is a few dollars or free depending on the season and staffing, which makes it one of the best-value springs in North Florida.
Visiting
Entry is $5 per vehicle (verified against Suwannee County Parks — it was free until recently, so older guides are wrong). Hours are seasonal: 9am-7pm April-October, 9am-5pm November-March. A 150-foot run flows into the Suwannee, and the spring is famous for its 1,200-foot underwater cave, which draws cave divers worldwide — full cave certification required, and the flow is genuinely strong. Open-water divers and snorkelers stay in the basin; there have been fatalities here, so respect the cavern boundary. High Suwannee levels back tannic water into the spring and kill visibility. Popular with local students, so it's busiest on summer weekends. For snorkel: A large, family-casual spring on the Suwannee with plenty of room away from the cave entrance for comfortable open-water snorkeling. For swim: A large, open basin on the Suwannee with plenty of room to swim away from the cave-diving zone. The spring sits on a limestone shelf ringed with large rocks placed specifically to prevent bank erosion — a small but deliberate design choice that keeps the shoreline stable despite heavy visitor traffic. Posted signs warn about the current near the cave entrance, worth reading and respecting rather than ignoring; the flow there is genuinely strong.
When to go
Dry-weather weekdays when the Suwannee is low. The spring is unusable when the river is high.
Local tips
Pair with Troy Spring, fifteen minutes away, for a quiet Suwannee day. Check river levels first — this spring is very sensitive to them. Wheelchair-accessible pathways make this one of the more accessible county springs on this list, and designated pet areas exist if you're bringing a dog.
Rules & restrictions
Cave diving requires full cave certification. The system is dangerous and has claimed untrained divers.
Good to know
Dogs: No pets. Season: Year-round.
Facilities
Basic restrooms, picnic tables, parking, and stairs into the basin. No concessions or rentals. Boardwalks, accessible parking, and picnic areas round out a well-maintained county park setup.
Wildlife you may see
Fish school in the basin, turtles along the run, and the Suwannee brings otters and sturgeon in season.
History & background
Suwannee County has managed the park for decades, and the cave system below has been explored and mapped by divers since the 1960s.
Map & directions
FAQs
Is Little River Springs free?
Entry has been free or a few dollars per vehicle depending on the season and county staffing. Verify current Suwannee County policy.
Can you cave dive at Little River?
Yes, for fully cave-certified divers u2014 it's a well-known system. Open-water swimmers stay in the basin.
Why is Little River sometimes brown?
When the Suwannee River rises, it backs into the spring and eliminates visibility for days or weeks at a time.
Visitor photos
See this week’s shots: Instagram #littleriversprings · TikTok #littleriverspring
Great for: Free Entry · Scuba Diving · Snorkeling · Swimming
