Morrison Springs | Ponce de Leon, FL | Florida Panhandle Family Fun

Morrison Springs - Ponce de Leon, FL

Continuing with our “Family Day” series…
Last week we loaded up the kiddos and headed to Morrison Springs in Ponce de Leon, FL. In the past we’d always gone to Ponce de Leon Springs which is part of the Florida State Park system, but this time we decided to check out something new.

"Morrison Spring discharges an average of 48 million gallons of crystal-clear water each day to create a 250-foot-diameter spring pool and a spring run that flows into the Choctawhatchee River. There are 3 cavities reported at the bottom of the spring pool, 1 of which is 300 feet deep. The spring is popular not only for scuba diving but also for swimming and snorkeling."

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If you’ve never been to a spring in Florida, I feel I should warn you – they’re COLD! Between 68° & 70° year round! It’ll take your breath away if you’re not mentally prepared, but it felt fantastic on this HOT July afternoon. The springs are also super clear – like pool water clear.

One thing we loved about Morrison Springs was the small man-made beach. Something we’d felt Ponce de Leon Springs lacked was the option to work your way into the water. Morrison Springs is also MUCH larger spring, so although there were more people around, it didn’t feel as crowded.
Thanks to Walton county, Morrison Springs now has bathroom facilities with outdoor showers, a large pavilion with grills, a wheelchair accessible boardwalk overlooking the springs, a couple of floating, diving platforms, and a boat ramp.

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The springs are great for swimming and jumping in the water as well as scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking, and stand up paddle boarding.

If you’ve never checked out any of northwest Florida’s beautiful springs, you’re really missing out! “Florida is home to more springs than any other state due to its geology, weather, and subsurface water flow.

"Because limestone formations in Florida are more porous than in many other areas, they can hold and transport more water, making the regional Floridan aquifer system one of the most productive freshwater aquifer systems in the world.
Florida receives between 30 and 100 inches of rain per year.  Joints and fractures left behind in the limestone can eventually enlarge into water-filled caverns and tunnels. Springs occur when subsurface pressures force water up through an opening to land surface. The combination of highly porous limestones that can hold vast quantities of water, combined with relatively high rainfall amounts and subsurface water flow, are responsible for the occurrence of so many springs in Florida."

More information about Florida’s Springs can be found here: http://www.floridasprings.org/