Description - Peacock Springs State Park offers superb examples of surface and subsurface karst limestone features. The park encompasses 288 acres lush with numerous sinks and depressions, a major spring run, and two major springs, Peacock and Bonnet. These are third magnitude springs and are tributaries of the Suwannee River via Peacock Slough. The park is well known statewide and throughout the nation for its natural significance.At water's edge visitors will find a mature forest with four major plant communities including xerotic hammock, upland hardwood, bottomland forest and floodplain swamp. The hammocks are lush with sand live oak, laurel oak, pignut hickory and southern magnolia. The upland hardwoods include maple, holly, and dogwood. Bottomland forest is a combination of second and old growth forest supporting sweet gum, loblolly pine and a Florida endangered species, cedar elm. The floodplain swamp includes pop ash, button ash, swamp privet, and bald cypress.
Attractions
- Visitors to Peacock Springs State Park don't arrive by chance. This beautiful 288-acre park is one of Florida's finest scuba diving sites. A self-pay booth paves the entrance for swimmers, snorkelers and scuba divers. Swimmers and snorkelers will find limited and unguarded recreation at Peacock Springs 2 and Orange Grove Sink. Several picnic areas and restrooms are provided. The park has one of the most diverse underwater karst systems in the nation. These pristine sinkholes and springs are extensive cave systems, totaling 33,000 feet of explored passages. Diving accidents, including deaths have occurred. The Florida State Park System prohibits open water divers from carrying lights or entering the cave system. Solo diving is also prohibited. Divers must be "cave" certified. Divers' steps, platform and benches have been installed expressly for divers. Divers are advised to avoid the three endangered or threatened species of cave crustaceans: cave crayfish, Florida cave amphipod and Hobb cave amphipod.
Recreation - Certified cave diving is the main recreation at Peacock Springs State Park. A small unguarded swimming area and picnic tables are available. The park provides two restrooms. Climate - Florida experiences mild, comfortable winters and warm to hot, humid summers. The area offers a great warm escape for outdoor recreation during the cold northern months. Summer temperatures average in the low 80's Fahrenheit and mid 20's Celsius. Winters are mild with temperatures averaging between the high 40's to the high 50's Fahrenheit. The average precipitation for the north central area is diverse. The central western area receives more than 60 inches per year while the central eastern tract receives about 50 inches. August and September are peak months of the hurricane season that lasts from June 1 through November 30. Location -
Peacock Springs State Park is located in the North Central Travel Region of the state approximately 17 miles southwest of Live Oak. The park is on Peacock Springs Road, two miles east of Luraville.
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