Main Page - De Leon Springs State Park

Photo of springs waterfalls and sugarmill.

Manager's Message

On December 1, the park will have a new water system tank installed. Restrooms will not be available and the Sugarmill will be closed

A new boat ramp has opened recently, with additional trailer parking. There is no launch fee, only the park entrance fee.

Take an Eco/History Boat Tour on the M/V Acuera--a 50 minute trip on Spring Garden Run at 10:00, 11:00, 12:00 and 1:00. Look for alligators, bald eagles and many species of wading birds. Call 386.837.5537 for tour reservations.

Enjoy swimming in the 72 degree spring and have pancakes or lunch at the Old Spanish Sugar Mill Restaurant, open 9-5 on weekdays and 8-5 on weekends, serving until 4. Call 386.985.5644 for further information.

Come on out and hike the four mile Wild Persimmon Trail, which meanders through oak hammock, flood plain forest and abandoned agricultural fields. Deer and turkey can often be seen, and Florida black bears have been spotted occasionally. Please register at the ranger station.

Birding is excellent in and around the spring run. Bring your binoculars and bird book. The park is a Great Florida Birding Trail site.

An all-terrain wheelchair and a standard wheelchair are available for visitors who need assistance getting around the park, including the paved nature trail.

The Visitor Center features exhibits on the park's 6,000 year history and DVD presentations on Florida's Springs, the St. Johns River, and the Everglades.

- Brian Polk, Park Manager

Welcome to De Leon Springs State Park

Native Americans visited and used these springs as long as 6,000 years ago. In the early 1800s, settlers built sugar and cotton plantations that were sacked by Seminole Indians during the Second Seminole War. By the 1880s the springs had become a winter resort, and tourists were promised "a fountain of youth impregnated with a deliciously healthy combination of soda and sulphur." The swimming area is adjacent to a beautiful, shady picnic ground. Canoe, kayak and paddleboat rentals are available for a paddling tour of the spring and spring run. De Leon Springs flows into the Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge where canoeists and kayakers can explore 18,000 acres of lakes, creeks, and marshes. At The Old Spanish Sugar Mill Restaurant, guests can make their own pancakes at the table. Located at the corner of Ponce de Leon and Burt Parks Road, west of U.S. 17.

Contact the Florida Park Service Information Center for general inquiries.
For Information about De Leon Springs State Park, please call 386-985-4212.

Hours of Operation

Florida state parks are open from 8 a.m. until sundown 365 days a year.

Sugarmill Restaurant hours are Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., serving until 4:00 p.m,, closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Driving Directions

Take US Hwy 17 North from Deland for approximately six miles, following the State Park signs. Turn left onto Ponce DeLeon Blvd and you will travel approximately one mile to the entrance to DeLeon Springs State Park.