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Hontoon Island State Park is closed until further notice. 

Blue Spring State Park and Hontoon Island State Park

Florida’s no. 1 manatee refuge and natural wildlife habitat

Refreshing 72 degree waters of Blue Spring greet visitors at this gem along the St. Johns River

Conservation measures can produce astounding results. In 1970, two years before Blue Spring State Park was established, researchers tracked 14 manatees in the spring run. By 2005, after years of park improvements and manatee protection efforts, wintering manatee numbers exceeded 200 and by 2018, that number skyrocketed to a record 485.

Besides “sea cows,” fish abound in the spring run, and these attract a variety of wading birds, ospreys, eagles and kingfishers. To see the park’s wonders, visitors can hike along the spring run or on the 4.5-mile Pine Island Trail.


 

Learn About Our Other Parks!

DAILY MANATEE COUNT


Hours

8 a.m. until sundown, 365 days

Admission

$6 per vehicle. Limit 2-8 people per vehicle. | $4 Single Occupant Vehicle. | $2 Pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers, passengers in vehicle with holder of Annual Individual Entrance Pass.

Location

2100 W French Avenue
Orange City FL 32763
Get Directions→

Live Manatee Cam

Inactive during the summer tubing & swimming season.

Underwater Manatee Cam at Blue Spring State Park. To learn more or to Adopt-A-Manatee, go to savethemanatee.org.