My daughters and grandson went today for the first time this year. It’s one of our favorite springs. We laugh when first timers jump in and and quickly realize the water is so cold but boy is it refreshing. Beautiful video. Thank you! Aren’t we blessed to live with such beautiful resources?
We certainly are blessed here! Gilchrist has some of the bluest water of any of the 15 springs we have filmed! Did you check out our "Top 10 Springs in Florida" episode by chance?
@@CampTravelExplore I did, it is very good. We love Ichetucknee Springs, too. It's great for tubing and the complete run is like 4 hours long. The blue hole is fun if you want to picnic and swim but bring a snorkel to see the beautiful underwater spring.
I remember this place when it was run as a personal business and it was falling apart. It's good to see how the state has fixed things up and made hiking trails. Can't wait till they update the rv sites and maybe add sewer.
@@CampTravelExplore I just camped at the end of June, 2022, and it was my first time so I don't know if anything has been changed. The rv sites appeared to be old and unkept, power and water on the wrong side on most camp sites and very unlevel. No sewer hookups and not even a dump station. Very nice swimming/tubing/kayaking though.
Glad it was helpful and Thank You for the kind feedback. We generally include individual campsites in each video so you have a flavor of what they look like! Thanks for watching, hope you subscribe, Ty if you have already!
They have some of the most blue waters I have seen in Florida! Hope you get to enjoy it soon! Also, you may want to check out our "Top 10 Springs in Florida" episode for some stops you will want to check out once you move down here! Welcome to Florida!!
I have been hearing that since we were there they have re configured the campsites! I will have to make a new trip up. Let me know your thoughts on it as they were just becoming a state park when we were there. Supposedly they made some nice upgrades, I would be curious if they put the dump station in!
@@CampTravelExplore On the website, it reads you have to go to nearby campground to dump. But we won’t be there until November. So you may get there first 😂 or hopefully dump station will be in by then 🙏 Alice
Great video! I was looking to see if you have insights on the camping area. You did and I love you for that. I’m glad I booked site 18. It looks like you’re surrounded by nature instead of the inner sites.
You will love site 18, it was the nicest site there. The state just took this park over a year and a half ago, so I look for them to make improvements to it! The water is beautiful!
Hi Terri, hope you will check out our New "Top 10 Springs in Florida" video! Also, leave us a comment on it and tell us what you thought of it! You can check it out right here..th-cam.com/video/xenBkPpv87Q/w-d-xo.html
You do such a good job on the park reviews thanks. That is pretty close to our house so we want to visit - we had been there before it was a state park - by canoe.
Thank You all so much!! Your feedback means a lot to us! Definitely worth going back there and I think in the next year you will see some improvements from what they shared with me!
Breaks my heart to find out that the elevated diving/jumping platform has been taken down. That's something that made this spring different than the others.
It says on their website that there are multiple springs. Did you see springs other than the head spring? Also fun fact, we discovered this place by accident kayaking upstream from ginnie springs. It's just down river from here!
Just purchased a Kayak that's Supposed to be 9ft 7inches, it's rotomolded with good design though. I've only taken out it in a lake so far, but enjoyed being out for a couple hours. What would your insights be for paddling upstream in such a Kayak for the beginner. Really want to spend quality time on the river
We found that paddling up stream was difficult there because the current was strong. Stay to the bank as much as possible when paddling against the current and that will help, coming back of course with the current is great!!
@@CampTravelExplore Understood, and thank you! Used to go to the springs all the time when I was a kid. My Mom even live where the ichetucknee and Santa Fe meet. Anyway had been a long time, and thought it might be fun to kayak.
@@CampTravelExplore I believe I have watched it before, maybe I could check it out again, was just curious on the duration of time you actually paddled
I spoke to a park ranger, she told me that their fiscal year starts again in August and they hope to have that in the new budget! If I hear updates on that I will pass them along!
Hey Paul, I am hearing that they reconfigured the campsites a bit, it too bad because site 18 was the best. Maybe go for site 17, I believe I showed that one in the video as the second best.
I just looked it up after your comment, I wonder if they are re configuring some of the camping sites there because it was by itself and not within a loop. Darn, it was definitely the best site previously. Site 17 is a nice alternative!
Headed there in February...didn't get site 18 (it was booked)..but I got 17 :) How are the shower/bath facilities? Thanks for the video! It really gives us a good idea of what to expect
They may have updated the bath facilities by now, not sure. They were fine in our opinion, but they are scheduled to make several improvements overall. Glad the video helped you! Some seriously beautiful blue water there! Remember its a bumpy drive in on the dirt road, just take it slow. Let us know any improvements they have made after you go if you don't mind!
@@CampTravelExplore We had a great time at Gilchrist! They have removed the jumping platform at the springs and it looks like the tent camping area has had some upgrades (nice fencing). However, the shower facilities are still in need of a renovation. It wasn't bad, just could use some TLC. We'll be back! Thanks again for the video
I didn't find site 18 on the reservation website, the last number is 18 and then starts Tents A through G. Do you have an idea of which could be site 18?
should mention that many of these sites have the electric and water on the wrong side, and are very narrow, so either bring a very large extension cord (30 amp) or get creative on the placement of your RV or Pop Up. And bathrooms are very small and always dirty bc of the day use of people in and out with muddy feet. But the spring is literally 100 ft from the campsite.
Hey Marc, hope you will check out our New "Top 10 Springs in Florida" video! Also, leave us a comment on it and tell us what you think of it! You can check it out right here..th-cam.com/video/xenBkPpv87Q/w-d-xo.html
We have filmed over 15 springs now and our experience has been that gators stay up river where it is warmer. We have never seen one in the swimming area of any spring we have been to!
We have never seen a gator in the swimming areas of any spring! They tend to stay up river where its warmer. We have filmed fifteen different springs now and that has been our experience.
Our experience is that gators never hang around the spring area because they would rather be up river where its warmer. We've been to ten springs in the last year and have never seen a gator anywhere close to the spring head area!
Check out our New "Top 10 Springs in Florida" video right here...th-cam.com/video/xenBkPpv87Q/w-d-xo.html
My daughters and grandson went today for the first time this year. It’s one of our favorite springs. We laugh when first timers jump in and and quickly realize the water is so cold but boy is it refreshing. Beautiful video. Thank you! Aren’t we blessed to live with such beautiful resources?
We certainly are blessed here! Gilchrist has some of the bluest water of any of the 15 springs we have filmed! Did you check out our "Top 10 Springs in Florida" episode by chance?
@@CampTravelExplore I did, it is very good. We love Ichetucknee Springs, too. It's great for tubing and the complete run is like 4 hours long. The blue hole is fun if you want to picnic and swim but bring a snorkel to see the beautiful underwater spring.
I love how you respond to the people that leave comments. Rarely seen on other channels.
We try to for sure! TY for watching and we hope you subscribe! TY so much!
Place is amazing, fun for the entire family.
We intend to get back up there this year!
I remember this place when it was run as a personal business and it was falling apart. It's good to see how the state has fixed things up and made hiking trails. Can't wait till they update the rv sites and maybe add sewer.
I heard they have re configured the RV sites but I haven't been able to get up there and confirm it! Great Spring, excellent kayaking!!
@@CampTravelExplore I just camped at the end of June, 2022, and it was my first time so I don't know if anything has been changed. The rv sites appeared to be old and unkept, power and water on the wrong side on most camp sites and very unlevel. No sewer hookups and not even a dump station. Very nice swimming/tubing/kayaking though.
This is just the channel I was was looking for. Great video 👍🏾
So glad it was helpful to you!!
Loved it will add to list, just went to Kelly last week thanks to you. Thanks for the work you do, showing us the wonderful places.
Get that site 18 I believe it was in the video, it has the best environment for camping there! We loved it! Great kayaking there!
The water is unreal!!!! What a beautiful park.
Ghilchrist has some of the most beautiful water you will see!
Love that great blue clear water! Gotta check it out this FALL!
Yes some of the bluest water we have seen! Enjoy!
Thanks for the camp site reviews, they’re always so hard to pick online without prior knowledge. Loved the whole video though as well.
Glad it was helpful and Thank You for the kind feedback. We generally include individual campsites in each video so you have a flavor of what they look like! Thanks for watching, hope you subscribe, Ty if you have already!
I love your chanel, I didn't know that beautiful 😍 spring waters were in Florida. Thank you
Thank You so much Vivian! Keep commenting as you watch and let us know how we are doing!! We put up 2 to 3 new episodes monthly!
I'm relocating to Jacksonville soon from south Carolina, I'm definitely gonna book a stay here 😊🙌 beautiful sire and water...
They have some of the most blue waters I have seen in Florida! Hope you get to enjoy it soon! Also, you may want to check out our "Top 10 Springs in Florida" episode for some stops you will want to check out once you move down here! Welcome to Florida!!
Thank you for the way you show us each area. Really appreciate it.
Gilchrist just had the bluest water, it was fantastic!
We just booked there. I haven’t heard great things about the campground, but the springs look amazing. Thanks.
Alice
I have been hearing that since we were there they have re configured the campsites! I will have to make a new trip up. Let me know your thoughts on it as they were just becoming a state park when we were there. Supposedly they made some nice upgrades, I would be curious if they put the dump station in!
@@CampTravelExplore On the website, it reads you have to go to nearby campground to dump. But we won’t be there until November. So you may get there first 😂 or hopefully dump station will be in by then 🙏
Alice
Great video! I was looking to see if you have insights on the camping area. You did and I love you for that. I’m glad I booked site 18. It looks like you’re surrounded by nature instead of the inner sites.
You will love site 18, it was the nicest site there. The state just took this park over a year and a half ago, so I look for them to make improvements to it! The water is beautiful!
Looks great ! And only will get better as the state makes improvements.
Fireman Dave Dave they told me they hope to have the funds next year to add the dump station!
Literally the opposite places is terrible now no areas to sit kayaking is 2x the cost no bridge or diving area
Looks beautiful!
It really is! Not crowded during the week either!
My wife works during the week so we need some quiet! We will be adding this to our Florida list!
Let us know your thoughts when you visit there! Thanks for stopping by!
Great review!
Just beautiful!
Some of the bluest water I've seen!!
Hi Terri, hope you will check out our New "Top 10 Springs in Florida" video! Also, leave us a comment on it and tell us what you thought of it! You can check it out right here..th-cam.com/video/xenBkPpv87Q/w-d-xo.html
Awesome.
Great Spring! Hope you get to check it out!
Thank you for your videos!
TY so much!
You do such a good job on the park reviews thanks. That is pretty close to our house so we want to visit - we had been there before it was a state park - by canoe.
Thank You all so much!! Your feedback means a lot to us! Definitely worth going back there and I think in the next year you will see some improvements from what they shared with me!
Breaks my heart to find out that the elevated diving/jumping platform has been taken down. That's something that made this spring different than the others.
Yes we are sad as well!
heard it was damaged in a hurricane. donate money for them to rebuild
Are there any sites on the river?
None on the river, they have reconfigured the campsites since we were there, so just check their website also!!
It says on their website that there are multiple springs. Did you see springs other than the head spring? Also fun fact, we discovered this place by accident kayaking upstream from ginnie springs. It's just down river from here!
There was a smaller spring a couple of hundred yards from the head spring, it was small though. You could swim in it too!
Just purchased a Kayak that's Supposed to be 9ft 7inches, it's rotomolded with good design though. I've only taken out it in a lake so far, but enjoyed being out for a couple hours. What would your insights be for paddling upstream in such a Kayak for the beginner. Really want to spend quality time on the river
We found that paddling up stream was difficult there because the current was strong. Stay to the bank as much as possible when paddling against the current and that will help, coming back of course with the current is great!!
@@CampTravelExplore Understood, and thank you! Used to go to the springs all the time when I was a kid. My Mom even live where the ichetucknee and Santa Fe meet. Anyway had been a long time, and thought it might be fun to kayak.
@@CampTravelExplore oh and how long did you paddle upstream? Just curious
We paddled up stream maybe a mile. Also, did you check out our "Top 10 Springs in Florida" episode? It may be helpful to you to!
@@CampTravelExplore I believe I have watched it before, maybe I could check it out again, was just curious on the duration of time you actually paddled
Omg gorgeous!! Are there gators out here? I've seen them in Ginnie Springs. Thank you for this lovely video❤
Gators tend to only be out on the river! Ive never seen one near the spring head itself!
Do you know if they are adding a dump station soon? Or are they never planning on adding one?
I spoke to a park ranger, she told me that their fiscal year starts again in August and they hope to have that in the new budget! If I hear updates on that I will pass them along!
I love your review, but I wish you would mention if the campsites are pet friendly or not!
State Parks are usually pet friendly, I haven't heard of one that is not. Ty for the feedback!!
Campsites are pet friendly on a leash. Not welcomed in the springs though.
I went to there web site and it don't show site 18 ?
Hey Paul, I am hearing that they reconfigured the campsites a bit, it too bad because site 18 was the best. Maybe go for site 17, I believe I showed that one in the video as the second best.
Strange, there is no site 18 on reserve America
I just looked it up after your comment, I wonder if they are re configuring some of the camping sites there because it was by itself and not within a loop. Darn, it was definitely the best site previously. Site 17 is a nice alternative!
CampTravelExplore even the Fl State Park site list 17 RV sites,,,,, dang it,,,, hoading the best one, lol
lol probably they are
Headed there in February...didn't get site 18 (it was booked)..but I got 17 :) How are the shower/bath facilities? Thanks for the video! It really gives us a good idea of what to expect
They may have updated the bath facilities by now, not sure. They were fine in our opinion, but they are scheduled to make several improvements overall. Glad the video helped you! Some seriously beautiful blue water there! Remember its a bumpy drive in on the dirt road, just take it slow. Let us know any improvements they have made after you go if you don't mind!
@@CampTravelExplore Will do. Thanks again!
@@CampTravelExplore We had a great time at Gilchrist! They have removed the jumping platform at the springs and it looks like the tent camping area has had some upgrades (nice fencing). However, the shower facilities are still in need of a renovation. It wasn't bad, just could use some TLC. We'll be back! Thanks again for the video
TY for the updates and so glad you had a good time!
I didn't find site 18 on the reservation website, the last number is 18 and then starts Tents A through G. Do you have an idea of which could be site 18?
should mention that many of these sites have the electric and water on the wrong side, and are very narrow, so either bring a very large extension cord (30 amp) or get creative on the placement of your RV or Pop Up. And bathrooms are very small and always dirty bc of the day use of people in and out with muddy feet. But the spring is literally 100 ft from the campsite.
TY for the updates, we understand it has changes a lot since we were there, we may go back up and do an updated episode from there!
Is there any place to fish nearby? We want to camp here but we are also big anglers and plan on fishing a good amount. What are your recommendations?
You are right there at the Suanee river so I would say yes, but I am not as versed on fishing as you probably are :0
What is the water temperature in late May?
Spring water stays around 72 degrees year round!
See yall in 3 weeks head to Like Okeechobee first and then make my ways but up that way come from pascagoula ms
Enjoy! Safe Travels!
Hey Marc, hope you will check out our New "Top 10 Springs in Florida" video! Also, leave us a comment on it and tell us what you think of it! You can check it out right here..th-cam.com/video/xenBkPpv87Q/w-d-xo.html
can you launch your personal kayaks from the area
New Beginnings with Budhi and Cyndi ....I saw plenty of people launching their kayaks from the same entry, so I would say yes 😀
I was just wondering the same thing
Do they shuttle you upstream?
When we rented our kayaks, they told us that they do offer a service of taking you upstream so you can paddle with the current!
Can u go in the water, because some places u can't because of the virus.
I haven't heard of any issues about that at all
it's beautiful but what about the alligators
We have filmed over 15 springs now and our experience has been that gators stay up river where it is warmer. We have never seen one in the swimming area of any spring we have been to!
would like to know the prices
Hey Randy did you get to check out our Brand New "Top 10 Springs in Florida" episode yet? Leave us some feedback when you do!
What about the gators . they swim everywhere down there
We have never seen a gator in the swimming areas of any spring! They tend to stay up river where its warmer. We have filmed fifteen different springs now and that has been our experience.
Alligators?
Gators stay way up river where its warmer. I have never seen one near the spring head area of any spring!
Beautiful place but... In Florida everywhere exist Alligators.... In this place too.??
We find that the gators stay out of the spring-head areas because its cold, usually they stay up river where its warmer!
gators?
Our experience is that gators never hang around the spring area because they would rather be up river where its warmer. We've been to ten springs in the last year and have never seen a gator anywhere close to the spring head area!
Snakes are not my friends
mine either lol