Troy Spring State Park

In October 1863, with a Union gunboat patrol pushing up the Suwannee River, the crew of a Confederate side-wheel steamboat named the Madison steered her into the mouth of Troy Spring, set her afire, and walked away. The river silted around what was left. A hundred and sixty-two years later, the carbonized timbers of her hull are still resting in four to eight feet of crystal-clear, 72-degree water — visible from the surface, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and floatable over without dive gear.

Troy Spring is a first-magnitude spring with a 70-foot-deep vent. The wreck is the headline. The water around it is the reason people come back.

• Location: Branford (Lafayette County), 3 miles north on US-129
• Address: 674 NE Troy Springs Rd, Branford, FL 32008
• Hours: 8 a.m. – sunset, 365 days a year
• Vehicle entry: $5 per vehicle (up to 8 people)
• Water temperature: 72°F year-round
• Magnitude: First-magnitude (~98M gallons/day)
• Spring depth: ~70 feet to primary vent
• Wreckage: CSS Madison (1863) — visible from surface
• Camping: Day-use only — no on-site camping

• Gainesville: 1 hour (US-27 northwest to Branford, then north on US-129)
• Tallahassee: 1 hour 40 minutes (US-90 east to Live Oak, then south on US-129)
• Jacksonville: 2 hours (I-10 west to Lake City, then US-129 south)
• Tampa: 2 hours 45 minutes

Turn west off US-129 onto NE Troy Springs Road, about 3 miles north of Branford. The road dead-ends at the park.

The primary vent drops to 70 feet, with the cave system continuing beyond. The basin holds visibility of 40 to 60 feet on calm mornings, and the limestone walls of the spring drop away dramatically below your fins. Several yards toward the river, the Madison's charred timbers rest on the bottom in shallower water — close enough that anyone with a mask and snorkel can drift over and look down at them.

The Madison is listed on the National Register and protected by Florida law. Do not touch, sit on, or remove any material. Treat it as an open-air museum that happens to be underwater.

The spring is designated an Outstanding Florida Spring under Florida Statute 373.4595.

• Swimming and snorkeling in the spring basin and upper run. Sandy entry; the basin shallows allow toddlers and the depth rewards confident swimmers. No swimming in the Suwannee River channel outside the park's spring area — river hazards include boat traffic and alligators.
• Scuba diving in the spring basin — open-water certification is sufficient for the basin and vent (~70 feet). Full cave certification required to penetrate beyond the daylight zone. Divers must register at the ranger station.
• Snorkel the Madison wreck — the experience that makes Troy unique. Visible from the surface; no dive gear needed.
• Kayaking and canoeing on the Suwannee River from the park's kayak launch. Troy Spring is a designated stop on the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail.
• Picnicking in the shaded upland area; arrive early in summer to claim shade.
• Wildlife viewing — Florida softshell turtles, longnose gar, largemouth bass, and various sunfish are visible to snorkelers. White-tailed deer in upland areas at dusk; wading birds throughout.

• Sandy swim entry with gentle slope
• Restrooms (ADA accessible) near parking
• Outdoor rinse station at swim exit
• Picnic pavilions and tables under shade
• Kayak/canoe launch on the Suwannee
• Ranger station (dive registration, permits, interpretive info)
• Paved parking — adequate for typical days; fills on summer holiday weekends

Not on site: Gift shop, concession, food, gear rental. Stock up in Branford (3 miles south on US-129).

Troy Spring is day-use only. For camping:

• Suwannee River State Park (~30 miles northwest, near Live Oak) — Full-facility state-park campground with tent and RV sites, flush toilets, riverside cabins, and direct Suwannee access.
• Lafayette Blue Springs State Park (~25 miles north) — Five elevated stilt cabins on the Suwannee plus primitive tent camping. The most atmospheric overnight in the corridor.
• Suwannee River Rendezvous Resort (private, near Mayo) — RV hookups and tent sites with river access.

Outfitters:

• Suwannee River Rendezvous Resort (Bell, FL, ~6 miles south of Branford) — Canoe and kayak rentals, shuttle services for Suwannee paddles.
• Branford-area local outfitters — small operators rent tubes and kayaks in summer.
• Nearest full-service scuba shops: Gainesville (~50 miles east) and Lake City (~30 miles north). Arrive with full tanks.

Lodging:

• Mayo (~15 miles southwest) — A few small motels for budget overnights.
• Live Oak (~20 miles north) — Modest chain motel selection (Days Inn, Quality Inn); the most practical lodging hub.
• Lake City (~30 miles north) — Largest regional selection (Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Express).
• Gainesville (~50 miles east) — Full university-city amenities; longer drive but great for combining springs with Gainesville dining.

• Branford (~3 miles) — Small-town diners along US-129; limited variety but sufficient for a quick meal.
• Live Oak (~20 miles north) — Broader selection including chain fast food and sit-down restaurants.
• Lake City (~30 miles north) — Full range of chain and independent restaurants on US-90.

The picnic facilities under shade at Troy Spring are genuinely pleasant — packing lunch is the move.

• Snorkel the Madison from above. No diving certification required; the wreck is visible in 4–8 feet of water from the surface.
• Cave certification is non-negotiable for the underwater cave system. Open-water divers may dive the basin and vent only.
• Protect the wreck. No touching, no sitting on, no removing material. Federal and state protection.
• Summer weekends fill the lot. Arrive before 9 a.m. Memorial Day–Labor Day to secure parking and shade.
• Suwannee River flooding can muddy the spring run. Heavy upstream rain pushes tannin-stained water into the basin. Call 386-935-4835 before a long drive in or after wet weather.
• Mosquitos in summer — DEET, particularly at dusk.
• No swimming in the river channel. Alligators present; boat traffic significant. Stay in the spring swim area.
• Pair with Branford Spring — three miles south at Ivey Memorial Park, free, a charming half-day double-spring stop.

• Lafayette Blue Springs State Park (~25 miles north on the Suwannee) — Stilt cabins, natural limestone bridge, Green Sink cave system.
• Branford Spring (Ivey Memorial Park, ~3 miles south in Branford) — Free community swimming hole and Suwannee River Greenway trailhead.
• Fanning Springs State Park (downstream) — Most developed Suwannee corridor park; manatees in winter.
• Suwanacoochee Spring (~60 miles north at Suwannee River State Park) — Paddle-in spring on the Withlacoochee.
• Suwannee River Wilderness Trail — Troy is a designated stop on the 207-mile route from Georgia to the Gulf.

Last verified: May 28, 2026. Confirm conditions at 386-935-4835 before a long drive, especially during or after heavy upstream rainfall. The CSS Madison wreck is protected by federal and state law. Verify fees and hours at floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/troy-spring-state-park. Photos via Wikimedia Commons.