Troy Spring is one of North Florida’s most distinctive springs. It is a 70-foot deep, first-magnitude spring basin with a sunken Civil War steamboat and short limestone swim-through. It is one of my favorites for freediving.

We visited midday on in July of 2026 as the fourth stop on a spring-hopping day that started with two tubing runs at Ichetucknee, then Little River Springs, then Ruth Springs, and finished the day at Ichetucknee’s north entrance. Troy Spring was the most physically demanding stop of the day, and was worth every second.

Quick Facts

• Location: 674 NE Troy Springs Road, Branford, FL 32008 (Suwannee County)
• Water Temp: 72°F year-round
• Entrance Fee: $5 per vehicle/group, limit 8 people per group
• Hours: 8 a.m. to sundown, 365 days a year. All dives must be completed one hour before sundown.
• Activities: Swimming, snorkeling, freediving, open-water certified scuba diving, picnicking, a short nature trail, canoe/kayak launch and fishing on the Suwannee
• Wildlife: Fish, turtles, wading birds, deer, otters
• Best For: Freedivers and confident swimmers who want depth and clarity, history buffs curious about the Madison, and anyone who wants a quieter alternative to Ichetucknee

Overview

Troy Spring is a first-magnitude spring pushing out roughly 65 million gallons a day, and the basin it forms is dramatic: a nearly circular pool that drops straight down 70 feet to a limestone floor. In the shallow part of the run are the remains of the Madison, a Civil War-era steamboat deliberately scuttled by its owner in 1863 to keep it out of Union hands rather than risk it being seized on the Suwannee.

This is a different kind of spring experience than nearby Ichetucknee, Little River, and Ruth. There is not a lazy river tubing run or shallow wading. Instead you get depth, clarity, and quiet. This spring draws serious freedivers and scuba sivers as much as it draws families out for a swim.

Logistics Note: The parking lot here is small, and on a summer Saturday afternoon we waited 15 minutes to get it. There is no formal reservation system as of this writing, so bring a book and plan on one-out-one-in wait during peak hours.

Who Should Visit Troy Spring State Park?

Troy Spring is great for freedivers, certified scuba divers, history lovers, strong swimmers, and spring hoppers.

Who Should Skip It?

Families with toddlers, weak swimmers, tubers, and visitors looking for a shallow swimming area should skip this one.

Things to Do at Troy Spring State Park

1. Swim and snorkel
2. Freedive
3. See the Madison
4. Swim through the limestone
5. Scuba dive
6. Walk the trail
7. Paddle the Suwannee River

Swimming at Troy Spring State Park

Troy is not a spring where you can casually touch the bottom. The basin drops to around 70 feet, and even strong swimmers will find it challenging to swim all the way down. The depth and excellent clarity make Troy one of my favorite freediving springs. If you’re working on depth of breath-hold training, this is an excellent place to do it.

One sight that most visitors miss entirely is the shallow swim-through “cave” near the edge of the spring that you can explore. My wife and I swam through several times, and it was one of the highlights of our visit.

Because of the depth, flotation devices and close supervision are especially important for children or inexperienced swimmers.

Kayaking and Paddling

A riverside dock provides canoe and kayak access to the Suwannee River. This isn’t the main draw, but it’s a nice option for longer visits to this state park.

Best Time to Visit

Early morning is the best time to swim or freedive. Visibility is best before others stir up any silt, and you beat the heat and parking waits.

Weekdays are less busy than summer weekends. Our Saturday afternoon wait was a result of timing.

Check Suwannee River levels before visiting. As with other springs on this corridor, high water levels on the Suwannee can push into the spring and reduce clarity.

Entrance Fees, Hours, and Reservations

• Fee: $5 per vehicle/group (limit 8 people per group)
• Hours: 8 a.m. to sundown, 365 days a year
• Diving cutoff: All dives must be completed one hour before sundown
• Reservations: None currently required. Fees are collected after the gate in an honor box. The lot is small, though, so expect a wait during peak summer weekend hours.

How to Get There

Address: 674 NE Troy Springs Road, Branford, FL 32008

From US 27, turn onto NE Troy Springs Road (CR 425) and follow it about 1.3 miles to the park entrance. It’s about 15 miles from Ichetucknee Springs State Park’s South Entrance.

What to Bring

• Water shoes for the ramp and dock area
• Swimsuit
• Mask, snorkel, and fins if you plan to freedive
• Full dive gear if you’re certified and diving
• Reef-safe sunscreen
• Towels
• Water and snacks
• Payment method (cash or phone + credit card)
• Proof of certification if diving

Tips to Avoid Crowds

1. Arrive early, ideally right at 8 a.m., especially on summer weekends.
2. Visit on a weekday if your schedule allows it — the difference in wait time is significant.
3. Avoid Saturday afternoons in summer specifically, based on our own 15-20 minute wait.
4. Have a backup plan. If the lot is full, spring-hop while you wait at the many other springs are accessible nearby.

Where to Stay Nearby

There’s no camping at Troy Spring itself — it’s day-use only. For camping and cabins, Lafayette Blue Springs State Park near Mayo is a short drive and has real infrastructure. Otherwise, base out of Branford or Live Oak.

My choice would be to stay at an Airbnb in High Springs. This charming small town is around 30 miles away and also has a better selection of restaurants.

Nearby Things to Do

This section of Florida is packed with state parks and springs that would help to round out your trip.

State Parks near Troy Springs

• Wes Skiles Peacock Springs State Park (20 miles away): If Troy Spring gets you excited about diving but you want actual cave penetration rather than open water, this is one of the top cave diving destinations in the country, with nearly 33,000 feet of surveyed passage.
• Ichetucknee Springs State Park (15 miles away): One of my favorites, with tubing at the South Entrance and swimming at Blue Hole/Headspring at the North.
• Lafayette Blue Springs State Park (23 miles away, near Mayo): A step up in infrastructure from Ruth Springs: a first-magnitude spring discharging up to 168 million gallons a day, plus camping, cabins, hiking, and diving. This also serves as headquarters for the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail.
• Suwannee River State Park (39 miles away, near Live Oak): Worth a stop if you’re extending the trip; strong backcountry canoeing and Confederate earthworks history along the Suwannee/Withlacoochee confluence.

Other Springs Near Troy Spring State Park

• Ruth Springs (1.5 miles away): The undeveloped, quiet counterpoint with no facilities at all — a good short stop on the way to or from Troy Spring.
• Little River Springs (11 miles away): The photogenic, kid-friendly stop with a shallow limestone shelf, best for photos and wading rather than real swimming.
• Owens Spring (8 miles away): Another small, undeveloped, walk-in spring access point in the same low-key style as Ruth Springs.

Hiking Trails Near Troy Spring State Park

The park has a nature trail which passes through hardwood hammock and two small ponds. It is around a half mile on the main loop, but closer to a mile if you loop back using the access road. It’s a nice way to warm up before jumping in or dry off after swimming.

This trail is more of a short nature walk than a destination hike.

Restaurants Near Troy Spring State Park

Options right around rural Troy Springs are minimal. Our Place Pizzeria & Ristorante in Branford is the closest reliable sit-down option, about 15 minutes away.

The town of Mayo has a handful of small local diners if you’re heading that direction instead, and my favorites are Mi Viojo for Mexican and the Mayo Café for diner food.

Sample Itinerary

You can spend 1-2 hours here easily. Here is how we would handle a quick stop:

• Arrive early to beat both the heat and the lot filling up
• Freedive or snorkel the basin
• Swim through the shallow limestone “cave”
• Explore the Madison shipwreck
• Walk the half-mile nature trail to dry off
• Head to your next stop

Here is how we structured a whole springsmaxxing day in the area:

• Morning: Two tubing runs at Ichetucknee’s South Entrance
• Midday: Little River Springs for photos and wading
• Early afternoon: Ruth Springs for a quiet, undeveloped swim
• Mid-afternoon: Troy Spring State Park: wait out the lot if needed, then freedive and explore the limestone swim-through and shipwreck
• Evening: Ichetucknee’s North Entrance for Headspring and Blue Hole

You could spend more time at Troy Spring State Park by picnicking or by kayaking or canoeing on the Suwannee River.

Our Experience at Troy Spring State Park

My wife and I pulled up to Troy Spring State Park in a July mid-afternoon after tubing the Ichetucknee and exploring Little River and Ruth Springs. There was a short line of around 2 cars, waiting for people to leave. This presented a nice opportunity to relax and read for a few minutes. It would have also been a great opportunity to eat snacks, but we had run out early.

Soon enough, a few cars left and the ranger let us in. We parked in the small lot, put the cash in the honor box for payment, and walked down to the swimming area. The jumping platform was roped off and in disrepair, but the rest of the spring was in great shape.

It was worth the wait. The basin here was deep, clear, and simultaneously intimidating and inviting. We tried to touch the bottom, but did not get anywhere close to the 70-foot floor. It was easy to see why this spring has such a strong reputation among freedivers. The depth, visibility, and accessibility make Troy Spring State Park a definite repeat. The vent area is wide open like a deep pond with no overhead environment and a strong outflow from the spring vent, so it was a lot of fun to swim down.

The unexpected highlight of our visit was a shallow limestone swim-through about 6-8 feet down near the edge of the swimming area. We almost missed it, but when we saw it snorkeling we just had to swim through. This was one of our favorite moments in the whole day.

There was not much left of the shipwreck, just some wooden planks in a row towards the end of the spring run/swimming area. This was still cool to see, but don’t expect an intact ship at the bottom of the springs.

We left Troy after around an hour and a half and headed back towards Ichetucknee’s North Entrance for more swimming at Headspring and Blue Hole.

What We Would Do Differently

We ran out of snacks on our spring-hopping day. I would definitely bring more beef jerky and apple chips to fuel our day, since nearby options to fill up are limited.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Troy Spring State Park worth visiting?

Yes, especially if you’re a confident swimmer, freediver, or certified diver. The depth and clarity here are special, and the history of the Madison adds something most springs don’t have. It’s less suited to families with young kids than Ichetucknee or Little River.

Can you swim year-round?

Yes, the water is a constant 72°F, and the park is open 365 days a year.

Are there alligators?

They’re possible, as with any spring along the Suwannee River, though this isn’t a spot known for frequent sightings the way some river-adjacent springs are.

Do you need reservations?

Not currently. Fees are paid at the gate, but be aware the lot is small, so expect a wait during peak summer weekend hours, as we did.

Are there bathrooms available?

Yes, restrooms are located near the parking area, along with a diver rinse station and outdoor shower.

Can you touch the bottom?

Not easily. The basin is around 70 feet deep, and reaching the bottom on a freedive is a real challenge even for strong swimmers — we weren’t able to on our visit.

Can you cave dive at Troy Spring?

No. This is open-water diving only, with no cave or cavern penetration permitted. For cave diving, head to Wes Skiles Peacock Springs State Park instead.

Can you snorkel at Troy Spring?

Absolutely. In fact, I think snorkeling is the best way for most visitors to experience the spring. The clear water makes it easy to see the basin, the Madison, and the swim-through near the edge.

Is Troy Spring good for freediving?

Yes, it’s arguably one of Florida’s best publicly accessible springs for recreational freediving because of the depth, visibility, and open-water layout.

Is the shipwreck fully intact?

No, only portions of the Madison remain visible today.

Is Troy Spring good for kids?

Not really, at least not for swimming. The depth and lack of a shallow area make it better suited to confident swimmers and divers. Little River Springs or Ichetucknee’s Headspring are better choices for young kids.

Final Thoughts

Troy Spring State Park is the place to go for depth. It is the deepest open spring I have swam in, and we will definitely return in future years. The Civil War shipwreck and swim-through cave added to the allure. Arrive early if you can, expect a possible wait on summer weekends, and make sure to thoroughly snorkel the pool to see all of the underwater sights.