Ichetucknee Springs — Local services in Lake City

The river is divine, the park beautiful, no doubt. However, when my dolly for my yak kept falling over on the trail at the end point, I moved to the tram road. We were stopped by the tram driver ordered off of the paved tram road. Ok, I understand that. Can you give us an alternate route that is paved, any suggestions, anything? No. I also asked the lady is there any way you can help us get back? I will pay to take the tram on my own and get my car to pick up my yak. No you need to buy that before you put in. You should have checked with the person at the float rental area when you got here. I informed her there was no one there, the sign said closed for repairs. She insisted a person was standing out front. There were other visitors but no one with a sign saying info here. That is all. She opened a gate and we were back on the trail. No help at all!! So, back on the trail, the tram passed by us again…we were in the same place moved a few feet only. Did not stop to make sure we were ok, we weren’t. We were stuck. Several attempts to get the kayak to stay on the dolly all failed. Not a clue on how we were going to manage this. Finally, another tram passed with a different driver. He stopped. I explained our situation. I was rather desperate. He offered to help. He put the kayak on the tram and we walked merrily back to the parking lot with our other yak that did not fall off of its dolly. A simple fix that we fretted over for an hour or so. We would still be there if it hadn’t been for that nice young man. Just a kind human gesture. Not a...

I last went tubing here 30 years ago; not much has changed and that is not a good thing. There are no (zero) changing rooms; 100's cram into two small men n woman bathrooms to change (or go commando in the parking lot). It started to rain and what do you know? Not a single picnic table (of the dozens) were covered; not a one. And the ones that were there were strewn around; there was no neat, clean arranged area for families to have a picnic meal...not usual for FL State Parks. The facilities overall are worn and this is not typical of FL State Parks; usually they are truly hidden gems! I got the feeling that not much has been systematically been invested in this park during the last 30 years...on the good side...

The river is spectacular as always; great float. The 1 1/2 hours from mid point to south pick up...no way; its more like 3 hours if you take your time and do take our time. The tubes that are rented are great and the web site to check in is one of the best I have seen from a standpoint of ease of use, efficiency and clarity. Staff is friendly and courteous...all this was good!

So please. Someone, somewhere find even a small portion of the amazing cash flow this park is generating and put some money into the facilities. This FL State Park is not on par and not even close to matching the standards I see elsewhere in the State Park...

Wow. Amazing. However, We lost our lanyard that had our phone and rental car keys. I mean that was our fault, but the little water tight bags you can buy at the tube rental were our downfall. The clip from the bag to the lanyard was so weak. It popped right off when I jumped off the tube and was climbing back in. Either wear a backpack and put the bag in there or rent a locker. It wasn’t busy when we went.. but like a miracle.. after we eventually stopped trying to find the bag in the water.. (it was very cloudy out that day and the current was very strong and lots of vegetation in the water made it impossible to see down there).. so anyway we make it back to the end of the river run.. and this snorkeler walks up to the shore and he truly rescued us… said it was a 1 and a million chance .. he found the keys and the phone. We didn’t really get to enjoy our time floating.. as we were in a state of shock and concern about what we were going to do in the middle of nowhere, no keys to our vehicle, didn’t know anyone..on a late Sunday afternoon.. so I can’t wait to go back and try again. We are from Maine and I’m not sure when that will be but I hope it’s soon!!! P.s. there was a 6 foot snake by the water as we got into our tubes. Real talk. This isn’t for...