Photo: State of Florida, photo by T. Scott (Public domain) (opens in a new tab)
Spring · County park
Cypress Spring
Status
Letting visitors in right now.
Why we say this
- Weekend: parks fill faster
- No forecast available: estimate uses the calendar only
Status updated Our estimate
Sourced from the county park office · USGS ·
How busy today?
Busier than usual today
Why?
- Weekend: parks fill faster
- No forecast available: estimate uses the calendar only
Official notices
- Weather alertSeverity: Severe
Flood Watch issued October 3 at 2:24PM EDT until October 5 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL. * WHAT...Flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible. * WHERE...Portions of Big Bend and Panhandle Florida, including the following areas, in Big Bend Florida, Coastal Bay. In Panhandle Florida, Central Walton, Coastal Gulf, Holmes, Inland Bay, Inland Gulf, North Walton, Sou
Since Sat, Oct 3 · Until Mon, Oct 5
Seen National Weather Service
Read the official notice(opens in a new tab) - NoticeSeverity: Minor
Northwest Florida Water Management District, 8 January 2026: contractors have begun the Cypress Spring shoreline restoration and protection project, adding shoreline stabilisation, boardwalks and steps at the entry and exit points. While the work continues, access to the shoreline may be restricted; the spring itself remains accessible by watercraft. The District said the work was expected to last several months and has not posted a completion notice.
Since Wed, Jan 7 · No end date announced
Seen Entered manually · last checked 13 days agoMay be out of date
Read the official notice(opens in a new tab)
Safety
- No lifeguard
- Cave diving kills
- Cold water, about 72 °F
- Alcoholic beverages are prohibited on Holmes Creek (Northwest Florida Water Management District rule).
- No published restriction, but this is a creek paddle - Florida law requires a wearable life jacket aboard for every person and children under 6 must wear one on a vessel under 26 feet.
- No pet rule is published for this site; dogs are generally allowed on District lands under control.
From the rangers: No lifeguards, no staff and no phone signal to speak of - this is a remote, water-access spring. The boil is about 72 F and deep, with a cavern vent that divers enter; snorkellers and untrained divers must stay out of it. Holmes Creek has current and boat traffic, and when the Choctawhatchee system rises the creek floods the spring with dark water and the swimming is over until it drops - check the Holmes Creek gauge at Vernon first. Alligators and water snakes use the creek.
A first-magnitude spring on Holmes Creek in Washington County, protected by the Northwest Florida Water Management District with Washington County (the District is a regional public land-management agency, not a county - LakeLens files public non-state sites like this under 'county'). Note the spring is on Holmes Creek, not Econfina Creek. There is no road-side public park: the usual approach is a paddle from Cypress Springs Road or a Holmes Creek landing such as Cotton Landing. The District began a shoreline restoration project here on 8 January 2026 - shoreline access may still be restricted, but the spring stays reachable by watercraft.
Tap a numbered pin for that lot's details and directions. Official site(opens in a new tab)
What's there
- Boat ramp
From OpenStreetMap. Things that are not mapped are not listed, so this is what we know is there rather than everything that is.
Accessibility
Accessibility details below
- Water access for wheelchair users
- No
- How you get in
- Other
- ADA parking
- No
- Accessible restroom
- No
- Path surface
- Natural (dirt, grass or roots)
- Shade near the water
- Yes
Conditions today
National Weather Service · EPA · USGS · as of 1:27 PM
83°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
Sat
86°
72°
85%
Sun
78°
70°
98%
Mon
81°
68°
82%
Tue
79°
63°
51%
Wed
76°
61°
41%
Thu
80°
62°
29%
Fri
80°
64°
47%
UV through the day · peaks at 4 around 10 AM
Rules, hours and reservations
Open now
- Free to reach by your own boat. Private outfitters on Cypress Springs Road and at Holmes Creek landings charge for kayak, canoe and paddleboard rental and shuttles.
- Alcohol: Alcoholic beverages are prohibited on Holmes Creek (Northwest Florida Water Management District rule).
- Tubing: People float and paddle the Holmes Creek run past the spring; there is no formal tube launch at the spring itself.
- Pets: No pet rule is published for this site; dogs are generally allowed on District lands under control.
- Life jackets: No published restriction, but this is a creek paddle - Florida law requires a wearable life jacket aboard for every person and children under 6 must wear one on a vessel under 26 feet.
- No ATVs; motorized vehicles on designated roads only.
- No facilities at the spring - no restrooms, no drinking water, no trash service. Pack it out.
- Watch for the federally protected Gulf sturgeon, which congregate in the lower Choctawhatchee near the Holmes Creek confluence.
A first-magnitude spring on Holmes Creek in Washington County, protected by the Northwest Florida Water Management District with Washington County (the District is a regional public land-management agency, not a county - LakeLens files public non-state sites like this under 'county'). Note the spring is on Holmes Creek, not Econfina Creek. There is no road-side public park: the usual approach is a paddle from Cypress Springs Road or a Holmes Creek landing such as Cotton Landing. The District began a shoreline restoration project here on 8 January 2026 - shoreline access may still be restricted, but the spring stays reachable by watercraft.
Recent reports
No reports in the last two hours
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Reviews
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Informational only. Conditions change quickly and estimates can be wrong. Follow posted rules and park staff. LakeLens is not affiliated with any park operator.