

Please read our disclosure and privacy policy for more information. Lastly, my love affair with boating started here, along with my appreciation for raw oysters! The main reason is I am always asked by people who don’t live in Florida – where do we all go that is off the beaten track? People want to know the real Florida returning visitors are over parks and beaches. So why am I writing this? There are a few reasons. Potentially, recommending the only beautiful place to stay will make reservations harder. I may increase traffic if I successfully tempt you to follow my lead to this oasis. People still live on the river in houses that need updating, and time does stand even here - a slice of paradise in my local backyard. It is a natural, old-fashioned watering hole where people tube the river, drink beer, connect tubes, and drag their stash behind them in a cooler and chill.
#Rainbow river full#
It is not full of tourists, nor is it full of city slickers. There is an interpretive room located in the visitor center displaying historical, natural, and cultural resources of the park.I am somewhat reluctant to write this article because the Rainbow River Florida is unlike anything you will ever experience. The relative peace and quiet of the winter season offers much for the nature enthusiast. Visitors are able to see a variety of wildflowers in season oak, longleaf pines, magnolia, dogwood, redbud, and hickory trees gray squirrels, red-shoulder hawks, swallowtail kites, barred owls, whitetail deer, and a wide variety of wading birds. In total, the park contains 11 distinct natural communities, including sandhills, flatwoods, upland mixed forests, and hydric hammocks. The river itself supports a wide variety of fish, wildlife, and plants, many within easy viewing by visitors. The looking-glass waters of the Rainbow River come from several vents, not one large bubbling spring. The most significant natural feature is the first-magnitude headspring basin which produces between 400 - 600 million gallons of fresh water per day, forming the Rainbow River. The state park is comprised of 1,459.07 acres of upland which includes around 100 acres of wetlands and 12.83 acres that are submerged. The Florida Park Service officially opened Rainbow Springs State Park on a full-time basis on March 9, 1995. Volunteers cleared the overgrown park and opened the park on weekends to the public. The state purchased the original area that was the Rainbow Springs attraction in 1990. The Rainbow River was designated as a Registered Natural Landmark in 1972, an Aquatic Preserve in 1986, and an "Outstanding Florida Waterway" in 1987. Highway 41, with many tourists heading to a new attraction called Walt Disney the attraction closed in 1974. Not faring well when traffic began using I- 75 instead of U.S. During that time activity greatly increased with glass-bottomed boat rides, riverboat rides, log raft rides, a gift shop and cafe, an aviary, a leaf- shaped gondola/monorail system, a horse rodeo, and submarine boat tours. Under new ownership, the real heyday for the attraction occurred in the 1960s. Sea walls, a lodge, gift shop, the waterfalls, and a reptile exhibit were developed. In the 1930s the spring was developed as a tourist attraction. A small community called Juliette flourished near the springs during this "boomtown" era. Rainbow Springs and the Rainbow River became popular in the late 1880s when hard rock phosphate was discovered in the area. The crystal clear water, abundant with fish, wildlife and vegetation along with the constant water temperature of 73 degrees, has attracted a number of modern day activities. Once named Wekiwa Creek, Blue Spring, and Blue Run, archaeological evidence indicates that the waters of the Rainbow River have attracted and sustained human inhabitants for over 10,000 years. Rainbow Springs State Park is a popular destination to swim, snorkel, canoe, picnic, or stroll on the walking paths to enjoy the many plants and animals that abound here. This first-magnitude spring is not one large vent but is numerous vents that spew about 400 - 600 million gallons of crystal clear water every day. The headwaters are at Rainbow Springs State Park.

The Rainbow River is a gently winding river that is 5.7 miles long and merges with the Withlacoochee River in Dunnellon, Florida. In addition to the springs located at the headwaters, there are many smaller springs that discharge from numerous caves, rock crevices, and sand boils the entire length of the river. It is formed by a first- magnitude spring that is ranked fourth in the state for volume of discharge. The Rainbow River in Florida is located in Dunnellon in the southwest corner of Marion County or about 20 miles southwest of Ocala Florida, 100 miles northwest of Orlando and 100 miles north of the Tampa-St Pete area.
