The dog days of summer are no match for the refreshing waters bubbling up at Pitt and Sylvan Springs. These breathtaking parklands lie just off Highway 20 in Youngstown, Florida, along Econfina Creek. As you pull up to the grand gated entrance of Pitt Spring, you will instantly see why this waterway easily draws huge crowds practically year-round. From the native vegetation and well-maintained boardwalks to the clear waters and birds flittering about, there is no shortage of amazing sights.
Within just a couple minutes of walking down the trails and boardwalks, you will arrive at the banks of the springs. If the waterways are not yet crowded, you can see the Sylvan Spring bubbling in three spots while gazing at the crystal clear water. Although the vents seem to gently bubble up to the surface, they actually bring up more than 10 million gallons of fresh spring water each and every day. Continuing on the pathway will take you to Pitt Spring, which has a bright blue hue that is a true sight to behold.
All along the way, you will see plenty of places to launch your inner tubes and canoes — or just walk into the water for a swim. Heed the signs that share the hazards of diving into the water or horse playing along its banks.
Fun things to do here include:
Swim the Day Away
With its fresh spring water coming up from below, the watering holes in this park are prime places to swim the day away. In most places, the water is four feet deep at most, so plan to wade in each time you want to go for a swim. While you do that, watch out for drop-offs where the mainsprings vent into the creek.
Float on Inner Tubes
If you want to skip the hard work, bring along an inner tube to float on. You can easily launch your tube off the dock at the Sylvan Spring and float along that waterway at your leisure. When you want to take a break, just tie up your tube along the dock until you are ready to resume floating.
Explore by Canoe
Canoes are another way to explore all the waterways in this park. You can use the roller launch to easily drop your canoe or kayak in the water and start your adventures off right. When you want to tie up and go ashore, the docks have plenty of cleats for you to use. Just tie your line around the cleat and climb up onto the dock to reach the picnic areas, use the bathroom, or walk the trails.
Have a Picnic
You can get your grub on at the many sheltered picnic areas in this park. They have barbecue grills for cooking up your food and picnic benches for your whole group to rest on. If the shelters are all full, just plop down on the lawn along the trails to sit under the trees and enjoy your meal.
When you go explore all the trails along the waterways, always stay on the pathways. In addition to preventing you from getting lost, staying on the established trails and boardwalks will protect the vegetation and help minimize erosion. The boardwalks, in particular, were built to keep the banks of the creek from eroding away as visitors travel along the paths. 379 chars — 66 wordsBottom Line
Insider Tips:
– Make sure to leave your vehicle in the Pitt Spring parking lot or the overflow area off Porter Pond Road. If you park on the side of the road, law enforcement could ticket your car or even have it towed.
– You can bring the full picnic spread but leave the alcohol at home. It is prohibited at this park.
– Always bring gnat spray to keep the bugs far away from you.
– To skip the crowds, visit in the middle of the week.