Portions of the following information were taken from Florida Geological Survey Bulletin 66.
Turtle Spring is located 8 miles southeast of Branford on the west side of the Suwannee River. From
the bridge over the Suwannee River in Branford head west on US 27/20 approximately 1.3 miles to the
intersection with SR 349. Head south (left) on SR 349 and drive approximately 7.3 miles to the second
CR 342 intersection with CR 349 (second CR 342 sign – CR 342 loops around and joins CR 349 at two
points). Turn east (left) onto CR 342 and drive approximately 5 miles to the Simms Landing boat ramp.
CR 342 makes several right angle turns prior to the boat landing. The spring is 0.5 miles downstream
from the CR 342 boat ramp.
Description - Turtle Spring pool measures 30 ft north to south and 66 ft east to west. The depth
over the spring vent is 21.4 ft. The vent is an elongated fracture beneath a limestone ledge. The spring
pool bottom is sand and limestone. The spring water is clear and greenish. There was a small boil in the
center of the pool during May 2002. Algae are abundant on both rock and sand substrates. Several downed
logs are inundated within the spring pool. The spring run is shallow, 90 ft long and 20 ft wide. It flows
into the dark waters of the Suwannee River. Limestone is exposed in the shallow spring run and near the
vent. Turtle Spring is situated along the Suwannee River in a cove surrounded by 15-18 ft high sandy
banks. The surrounding lands are all forested with mixed hardwoods.
Utilization - The spring is undeveloped and surrounded by private land. It is locally used
for swimming.