Hightower Springs, Florida: A Quiet Winter Visit to a Beautiful Natural Spring

Florida has plenty of famous springs, but some of my favorite discoveries have been the smaller places that we almost could have missed. Hightower Springs, located near Vernon in the Florida Panhandle, was one of those stops.

We visited in January, so the trees were bare and the landscape didn't have the lush green look you might expect from Florida. But none of that mattered once we saw the water. It was incredibly clear, with beautiful shades of blue and green that stood out against the winter landscape.

The Spring and Its Bubbling Floor

One of the most interesting things about Hightower Springs wasn't just the clear water—it was what we could see happening beneath it.

Looking down through the water, we could see small areas all across the spring floor where water appeared to bubble up through the sand and limestone. I could have sat there for the longest time just watching it.

These are spring vents and sand boils, places where groundwater makes its way to the surface. Hightower Spring has been described as being fed by active sand boils on the bottom of the spring pool.

The clear water made it especially easy to see the limestone, sandy bottom and all those little areas of movement beneath the surface.

Hightower Springs and Holmes Creek

Hightower Spring sits beside Holmes Creek, one of the more fascinating spring-fed waterways in Northwest Florida. There are 57 documented springs along Holmes Creek, so Hightower is actually part of a much larger spring system.

A short spring run carries the water from Hightower into Holmes Creek. The area is also used for kayaking, canoeing, fishing and boating, making it a good stop if you're exploring the creek rather than simply driving in to see the spring.

Location & Directions to Hightower Springs

One thing that can be a little confusing when looking for Hightower Springs is that the public recreation area is called Hightower Landing.

It is approximately five miles south of Vernon, just off State Road 79. The official address is:

Hightower Landing
3107 Hightower Springs Road
Vernon, Florida 32462

The landing provides public access to Holmes Creek and Hightower Spring. There is a concrete boat ramp, parking for about 10 vehicles with trailers, a portable toilet and a short boardwalk overlooking the spring.

Because this isn't a large developed state park, I would put Hightower Landing into your GPS rather than simply searching for Hightower Springs.

What to Expect When You Visit

Hightower Springs is more of a natural stop than a full-day attraction. There isn't a visitor center, restaurant or large recreation complex. We came to see the spring, walk around, take photographs and enjoy the scenery.

If you're visiting during winter like we did, expect bare trees and a more muted landscape. During warmer months, I imagine the surrounding forest looks completely different, but January gave us an unobstructed view of that gorgeous water and the spring floor below.

For paddlers, Hightower Landing can also serve as an access point for exploring Holmes Creek. It's about nine miles downstream from Cotton Landing, so the section between the two can be used for a longer paddling trip.

 

Things to Know Before You Go

Location: Hightower Landing, 3107 Hightower Springs Road, Vernon, FL 32462
Setting: Natural spring and public landing on Holmes Creek
Facilities: Boat ramp, small parking area, portable toilet and boardwalk
Activities: Sightseeing, photography, fishing, kayaking, canoeing and boating
Best for: A short stop or as part of a Holmes Creek paddling trip
Good to know: This is a rustic recreation area rather than a developed Florida state park.