Chiefland & Manatee Springs State Park in Florida

Places Visited:

Florida: Chiefland & Manatee Springs State Park.

Saturday, December 3: Manatee Springs State Park; Chiefland, Florida. $17 compacted sand interior roads and sites, 30amps with water and central dump station. N29° 29.372' W82° 58.429'

A pileated woodpecker greeted us from the top of a big oak tree on our site as we checked in. That is what we like, plenty of wildlife.

Boardwalk to Suwanee River in Manatee Springs State Park: Chiefland, Florida

We made it to Manatee Springs State Park by mid-afternoon giving us time to walk around the springs and down a long boardwalk to a nice dock along the Suwannee River.

Spring Run in Manatee Springs State Park: Chiefland, Florida

Note the cypress trees on the far side of the spring. To the right is the board walk that crosses over the flood plane on the way to the dock on the Suwannee River.

Joyce posing with baby manatee in Manatee Springs State Park: Chiefland, Florida

Manatees were not congregated in the spring like they will be later in the winter. During cold weather manatee migrate from the gulf and gather in the outflow of these springs where the water is warmer. We had to settle for this pic of Joyce with the parks cement manatee.

Cypress knees in Manatee Springs State Park: Chiefland, Florida

For those of you that have heard of cypress knees but never seen them Joyce took this picture of cypress knees protruding from the flood plane. Experts are not sure what the function of these knees are but they do not form into cypress trees. They do come from the root system.

Vultures roosting in Manatee Springs State Park: Chiefland, Florida

For some reason vultures, both black and turkey, roost in Manatee Springs State Park along the bank of the Suwannee River, at the confluence of the spring run. Around dusk hundreds of vultures descend on the huge cypress trees in an impressive display that can be enjoyed from the dock.

Cypress tree in Manatee Springs State Park: Chiefland, Florida

The flood plane along the Suwannee River is a mixture of gum trees and cypress. The gum trees have dropped their leaves while bald cypress trees have turned a rusty brown. It has been dry in this area as evidenced by the bone dry flood plane. The picture of the small cypress tree on the right helps to better showcase the color of these bald cypress trees as they prepare to drop their needles for the winter.

Flood level marker in Manatee Springs State Park: Chiefland, Florida

I took this picture of Joyce on a spot of "high ground" in the Manatee Springs State Park that shows some major flood levels. That is so hard to comprehend.

Manatee Springs State Park: Chiefland, Florida

Joyce took the picture to the right as we walked back to the campground in Manatee Springs State Park.

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Until next time remember how good life is.

Mike & Joyce Hendrix

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