Troy Spring State Park

Current status

Before anything else: as of late October 2026, Troy Spring is closed to swimming. Florida State Parks posted the alert effective Oct. 13, 2026 and gave no reason or reopening date. The rest of the park, the boardwalk, the trail and the picnic area appear to be open as normal. The park’s own swimming page says the spring “may be closed to both diving and swimming at any time if water clarity is compromised,” so a closure like this is not unusual on the Suwannee. Call the park at 386-935-4835 before making a special trip.

What to expect

Troy Spring is a deep, round spring pool on the west bank of the Suwannee River, inside a small state park in rural Lafayette County. It is one of Florida’s 33 first-magnitude springs, and the bowl drops to about 70 feet. On a clear day you look down through blue-green water to the limestone far below.

It is not a hot spring. The park measures the water at 72°F22°C all year, which is normal for Florida springs. On an August afternoon that feels cold for the first minute and then just right. In winter it is a brisk swim.

What sets Troy apart is history. In 1863 the captain of the steamboat Madison, a Confederate steamer, scuttled her in the spring run so she would not fall into Union hands. What remains of the hull lies in the shallow run between the spring and the river. You can see the timbers from the boardwalk, or float over them with a mask when the water is clear.

The park is small and quiet. There is a boardwalk and dock at the spring, a shaded picnic area a short walk away, accessible restrooms with an outdoor shower and a diver rinse station, and a half-mile nature trail through hardwood hammock past two small ponds.

Getting there

The park is at 674 NE Troy Springs Road, Branford, a few miles northwest of the town in Lafayette County. From Branford, follow US-27 west across the Suwannee River, then turn north onto Troy Springs Road and follow the signs to the park gate.

Parking is a short walk from the spring along an accessible walkway. Divers carrying tanks can use a long paved switchback ramp down to the spring dock. Pay at the honor box at the entrance with exact change.

When to go

When the river is low. Troy is a river spring, and it looks its best in dry spells, when the Suwannee is down and the spring water runs clear into the river. After heavy rain upstream, dark river water can back into the spring and cloud it, and that is when the park tends to close it.

Spring and fall weekdays are the quietest. Summer weekends bring local families and dive groups,, though it is a smaller, quieter park than the big springs on the Santa Fe River. Summer afternoons bring thunderstorms; swim in the morning.

Rules and etiquette

• Entry: $5 per group of up to eight people, $4 for a single-occupant vehicle, $2 for walkers, cyclists and extra passengers. Honor box, exact change.
• Hours: 8 a.m. to sundown every day.
• No lifeguard. Swim at your own risk.
• Diving: certified open-water divers only, in pairs, no solo diving. Show your card or leave it on the dashboard. No lights, no cave entry, no scooters or DPVs. Finish one hour before sundown. Instructors need a commercial dive permit.
• Dogs: on a 6-foot handheld leash, never in the spring or buildings, and not left alone for more than 30 minutes.
• Leave the wreck alone. The Madison is a protected historic site. Look, but do not touch, stand on or take anything.
• No boat ramp. The park lists the river dock as a fishing spot; there is no ramp for launching a boat.

What to bring

The park keeps facilities simple, so pack for a day out:

• Mask and snorkel. The best way to see the Madison timbers and the drop-off is from the surface, face down.
• Exact change for the honor box. There is no staffed booth to make change.
• A picnic. Tables and grills sit under shade trees a short walk from the spring, first come, first served. There is no concession stand listed for the park.
• Water shoes. The steps, dock and limestone edges get slick.
• Your dive card if you plan to scuba, plus a buddy. Solo divers are turned away.

If the swim closure is still in place when you visit, the boardwalk view of the wreck and the nature trail are still worth a short stop on a Suwannee River drive.

Where to stay nearby

There is no camping in the park. Branford has limited lodging, and Live Oak and Mayo are the nearest larger towns. Several other springs make a good base within half an hour: Little River Springs on the other side of Branford, Royal Springs upriver in Suwannee County, and Ichetucknee Springs to the east. Many Suwannee River Wilderness Trail paddlers stop here, as the park is recognised as a trail site.

Safety notes

• Depth: the bowl drops to 70 feet just off the dock. Weak swimmers and children should stay in the shallow run.
• Cold: 72°F22°C water saps heat on a long swim or dive. Bring a wetsuit for diving.
• River current: do not swim out of the spring run into the Suwannee. The river is dark, fast after rain, and home to alligators.
• Diving limits: open-water certification only. The cave is off limits, and people have died entering Florida spring caves without cave training.
• Water clarity: if it looks dark or tea-coloured, the river has backed in. Respect any closure signs.