First Magnitude Florida

Some places have the power to transport you back in time. It is a feeling that gives you a sense of peace. A sort of grounding moment, in contrast to the ever shifting landscape of our cities and neighborhoods.

“Old Florida” not only refers to past conditions of the state, it also describes areas which seem to be stuck in an earlier time. A trip to “Old Florida” is just a car ride away for Floridians, so it is hard to understand the fuss about time machines…

Journey to Lafayette Blue Springs and the Suwannee River, and you will be transported to scenes mostly unchanged from hundreds of years ago. Admittedly, there are a few more docks along the river, with a modern boat or two. But spend some time floating in the current, observe and feel, and you’ll know that your experience is not very different from river-goers of one-hundred years ago. The scenery, the sounds, the flow of the river. This is truly Old Florida.

The Suwannee is wide, dark, swift, and surrounded by forests and farmland in Lafayette county. Its momentum is powerful, but silent. Stuck in its natural state, the river is ever-shifting but largely guarded against fundamental changes thanks to conservation areas and state parks.

Lafayette Blue Springs State Park forms a piece of the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail, a “trail” of over 100 miles of river to paddle along. It is Florida’s first long distance paddling trail. Visitors can launch water vessels from the Lafayette park and travel to other state parks long the Wilderness Trail, such as Troy Springs State Park.

Lafayette Blue Springs consists of two pools of cool water, separated on the surface by a limestone bridge. The first magnitude spring lies just off of the Suwannee River, without much of a spring run.

Lafayette Blue is one of four first magnitude springs which feed the Suwannee. Dozens of smaller springs are also found alongside the river, and opportunities for exploration abound. Read about and see images of the other first magnitude springs along the Suwannee River, Fanning & Manatee Springs, here.

Perhaps the most interesting part of the first magnitude spring quest has been watching, cultivating, and enjoying the spring journey of Stephanie. A native of New York, she had only been to a couple of springs in passing during her ten-plus years in Florida, prior to meeting me. Although her fear of alligators is not totally abated, it doesn’t ever stop her from climbing into a canoe. She feels most at home with her “South Tampa” friends, trying some new wine at a new restaurant. But, to tell you the truth, she looked pretty comfortable on a 17ft, man-powered canoe on the Suwannee River.

As you journey through the list of first magnitude springs, you find the breathtaking ones. Clear water, deep blues and greens. Otters, manatees, ospreys. You can’t seem to take enough photographs, to capture the beauty and then take it home to your friends.

Lafayette Blue Springs, on an overcast day, did not offer that same experience. Replacing it was a keen sense of protection, and thankfulness for the state parks system. Despite being on the borderline of acceptance as a postcard image of Florida, the spring and park provided a fantastic day in Old Florida. This place must be a treasure for locals, and as a Floridian I sleep well at night knowing it is protected. And that I can return again, at will, to show others.