Florida's Best Kept Secret, Fresh Water Spring Fed Creeks - Ecofina Creek

Keeping cool in the heat and humidity of a Florida summer makes most think of indoors and air conditioning, but there is an alternative! Florida is chock full of spring fed fresh water creeks. Near a spring vent the water stays at a relative even temperature, and in the heat of summer that cool water is a blessing.

Ecofina creek is found in northern Florida, it feeds into Deer Point Lake and provides the watershed for Panama City and the surrounding area. Located between Highways 77 and Highway 231 it courses through two counties on its way to the Gulf of Mexico, Washington and Bay counties.

There are developed camping areas as well as primitive campgrounds; the developed areas have restroom facilities (read porta- potties) and picnic tables.

Canoe rental is available; though we did not check it out... we were there to swim.

Florida is a great place to get stuck... do not try to drive through loose sand unless you are in a four wheel drive, and have friends along to come to your rescue. I have been towed to solid ground after finding that out the hard way. The main roads are unpaved into the creek areas, but pretty stable most of the time.

Ecofina creek is also a haven for wildlife, deer, raccoon, snakes, and even larger reptiles are present. Alligators and poisonous snakes are always a possibility in Florida, so be aware of your surroundings. I ran into a man and his daughter riding horses on the trails that had recently lost a horse to a rattlesnake bite, it pays to be wary when walking the trails.

The area we frequent is fairly primitive. Few people travel deeper into the watershed, which means no crowds... very unlike the beach on the weekends. The water is clear and cold near a spring, a true blessing when the temperature is veering near triple digits followed closely by the humidity.

The surrounding woods are beautiful, as well as providing shade for the weary, work worn individual seeking to cool off after a long week of fighting the traffic, crowds, and stress found in today's world. Quiet is also found there, very little noise invades the area from air traffic and with no close by highways Ecofina creek becomes much more than a cooling off spot for the weary.

The creek is too small for speed boats, canoes with trolling motors can invade, but they are slow moving since the water is shallow and many are the portages they have to make.

All in all, Ecofina creek is the perfect retreat with cool fresh water springs granting the needy with a great place to relax.

Based on personal experience.