Telford Spring

Telford Spring is named for Reverend William B. Telford, who homesteaded this stretch of the Suwannee River in the mid-1800s. The spring discharges about 20 million gallons a day through two cave passages beneath a natural limestone arch into a shallow pool on the river's east bank. Pioneer cave diver Sheck Exley first connected the major passages in 1976; subsequent exploration mapped 5,000+ feet of passage connecting Telford to Luraville Springs, nearly 7,000 feet away.

This is an honest profile about a wild spring. The land is privately owned. Access has historically been allowed by the landowner but is not guaranteed. There are no facilities — no restrooms, no trash cans, no lifeguards, no cell service. The site has known erosion, litter, and weekend-crowd issues. Clarity depends entirely on the Suwannee River stage. For families with older children who want to experience an unmanaged Florida spring on the Suwannee, Telford delivers. For families with young children who want lifeguards and restrooms, Peacock Springs State Park is 2.2 miles away.

• Location: Luraville (Suwannee County), east bank of the Suwannee River
• GPS: 30.10701°N, 83.16573°W
• Ownership: Private — access not guaranteed; verify locally
• Hours: Daylight; no management
• Entry: Free (no staff, no fee)
• Water temperature: 68–70°F year-round
• Magnitude: Second-magnitude (~20.1M gal/day)
• Pool: ~66 ft × 51 ft; max depth ~11 ft over vent
• Cave system: 5,000+ ft surveyed, connects to Luraville Springs (6,743 ft)
• Facilities: None

By land (when access is open): From SR-51/Luraville, turn east on Luraville Road at the flashing caution light. First right onto a sand road; drive ~0.9 miles south. At the fork, right leads to the spring (~0.1 mi), left to the boat ramp. Road is bumpy.

By water (always legal): Launch from the Suwannee River bridge boat ramp near Luraville and paddle/motor upstream ~0.3–0.5 miles to the spring cove on the east bank.

Verify land access: The spring is on private land. Contact Dive Outpost (on 180th Street near Luraville) or the Suwannee County Tourism office for current conditions.

• Swimming in the shallow spring pool (~11 ft max). Sheltered cove off the river. Clarity variable with river levels.
• Snorkeling — the limestone arch over the dual cave entrances is visible from the surface when water is clear.
• Cave diving — 5,000+ ft of mapped passage including the Mud Flats, Beulahland (white-rock high-ceiling room), the Rifts (narrow vertical fissure), Ripple Canyon, and the Expressway. Full cave cert required. DPVs sometimes used. Telford is "first to blow and last to clear" after floods — visibility can drop to zero for weeks.
• Kayaking/canoeing the Suwannee — the Luraville stretch is part of the Wilderness Trail.
• Wildlife viewing — wading birds, ospreys, river otters; alligators present.

Everything. No restrooms, no changing areas, no rinse stations, no trash cans, no concessions, no air fills, no cell service, no lifeguards, no parking management.

Nearest dive support: Dive Outpost, 180th Street near Luraville.

• Dive Outpost (Luraville area) — cabins and camping for divers.
• Live Oak (~25 mi) — chain hotels.
• Branford (~15 mi) — budget motels.
• Gainesville (~55 mi) — full range.

Pack a cooler. The Cookin' Shack at Suwannee River Rendezvous (Mayo, ~30 mi) for a sit-down meal.

• Access is not guaranteed. The land is privately owned. Verify before driving.
• No facilities means no facilities. Bring water, food, trash bags, and pack everything out.
• Cave diving requires full cert. The passages are silty; improper technique = zero visibility in seconds. The connected Luraville system is 6,743 feet from this spring.
• Suwannee River levels dictate everything. High water floods the pool with tannins. Check the USGS gauge at Luraville. Low/normal stage = clear. High stage = don't bother.
• Bank erosion is severe. Decades of unmanaged use. Tread carefully.
• Weekend crowds can be rowdy with alcohol use common (no rules, no enforcement).
• Alligators documented in the spring cove by dive teams.
• Peacock Springs State Park is 2.2 miles away — managed, lifeguarded (sort of), with restrooms. Use Peacock as the family destination, Telford as the side adventure for confident, self-sufficient visitors.

Last verified: May 28, 2026. Telford Spring is on private land; access status may change without notice. The spring has no management, no staff, and no facilities. ExploreFloridaSprings.com makes no representation as to current landowner consent. Cave diving requires full certification.