Florida spring

St Marks River Rise

Known for its tannic, 72-degree water and a flow of about 228 million gallons per day. Set where the river resurfaces after a 0.5-mile underground flow from Natural Bridge, its 100-foot-wide basin—up to 60 feet deep—offers a challenging spot for kayaking, surrounded by hardwood hammocks. Accessible by boat from the Newport Bridge ramp off US 98 (7 miles upstream). Access by land via the Natural Bridge Battlefield Historic State Park. Summer weekends draw strong paddlers—arrive early for calm. For quiet, visit weekdays in spring (April-May) or fall (September-October), mornings ideal. Water clarity is typically brown due to tannins but improves in dry periods. Check —stable, low levels around 6-6.5 feet enhance visibility, clearest from late fall to early spring.