Descending the narrow concrete stairs into the underground cavern of Devil’s Den is like stepping back in time. Vines dangle from an opening in the cavern ceiling and light filters through, illuminating the turquoise waters of an ancient spring where fossils of extinct mastodons and giant sloths have been found. Located in Williston, Florida, just thirty minutes outside of Gainesville, Devil’s Den Spring and Campground is a must-visit for nature lovers, divers, and adventurers.
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WHAT IS DEVIL'S DEN?
Devil’s Den is an underground spring inside a cavern. It is a karst window because part of the ceiling over the spring has collapsed, forming a sinkhole-like opening that allows sunlight to filter into the cavern below.
This prehistoric spring has an extensive geological history. In the 1960’s, paleontologists discovered a variety of fossils in Devil’s Den, including those belonging to saber-toothed tigers and mastodons, suggesting that this area dates back at least to the Pleistocene era. Scientists have also recovered human remains and artifacts. The sinister name apparently stems from the fact that on cold mornings, steam rises through the opening in the limestone and early settlers thought this looked like smoke rising from Hell.
The current owners purchased the land in 1993 and the spring now serves as a popular scuba and snorkel site.
ACTIVITIES AT DEVIL'S DEN
Scuba diving is one of the most popular activities at Devil’s Den, and the cave functions as a scuba diving training center. Scuba diving is offered seven days a week. Reservations are not required and the price starts at $48.
Snorkeling is another favorite activity here. This is what we did, and it was such a memorable and unique experience! The water–which remains a constant 72-degrees year-round–felt chilly at first, but it didn’t take long to adjust. There are fish and primordial rocks to discover under the water, but our favorite part of snorkeling was the way the sun rays from above would stream through the water and illuminate the spring floor–it was the most beautiful aquamarine color!
You do need reservations to snorkel, which can be made here. You will also need to fill out a waiver before arriving. The cost to snorkel is $25. Snorkel reservations are for 90 minutes, which is more than enough time. Our reservations were for 12:30pm, and we arrived an hour early to check in and have a picnic lunch before our snorkel time.
If you do not want to scuba or snorkel, the site also offers camping, picnic areas, a heated pool, and a general above ground swimming area. Entry to enjoy the grounds is $7 but does not include entrance to the cavern.
WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Devil’s Den is open 9:00-4:30 Monday-Thursday and 8:00-5:00 Friday-Sunday.
It is important to note that general swimming is not allowed in the spring. You must either snorkel or scuba to have access to the cavern. Scuba divers must have an open water certification and a dive buddy. Snorkelers must be strong swimmers as flotation devices are not allowed. Children must be at least six years old to snorkel.
Scuba and snorkel equipment are available to rent on site, but you are also allowed to bring your own, which is what we did. If you are snorkeling, I highly recommend bringing an underwater camera to capture the stunning submerged world. We love our Go Pro Hero 13 because of its video stabilization and high-quality photos and videos. The video below is one of many we captured at Devil’s Den with the Go Pro. For kids, we recommend Ourlife Kids Camera. Our girls have used it on several occasions and really like it.
Additional amenities on site include restrooms, changing areas, picnic tables, grills, a heated swimming pool, a gift shop, and lawn games.
LODGING AND OTHER ATTRACTIONS NEARBY
There are many options for lodging if you would like to stay overnight. Devil’s Den has four cabins available for rent that sleep up to four people and cost $160/night (with a discounted price for multiple nights). You must be 21 or older to book and stay on the property. They also have a primitive campground for tents and 32 RV sites available for rent.
If you do not want to camp, nearby hotels include SpringHill Suites, Country Inn and Suites, and Doubletree by Hilton.
Looking for other activities to do near Williston when you are done exploring Devil’s Den? Check out Cedar Lakes Woods and Gardens, a stunning botanical garden built within a century-old limestone quarry. If you want to venture a little north, Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park in Micanopy is the only place in Florida where you can see wild horses and bison in addition to alligators, deer, and nearly 300 bird species.
Overall, we really enjoyed our time snorkeling at Devil’s Den and exploring this unique underground spring. We are already planning another trip and highly recommend you check it out if you are in North Florida–it is truly one of Florida’s hidden gems!
Looking for other things to do nearby? Check out our North Florida page here!
Sarah
I am the main writer and website designer for Florida Unveiled. I love the parts of Florida visitors don’t often see: the tea-colored water that flows in cypress-laden rivers; the chorus of frogs after a hard rain; the rustle of palmetto as an unseen creature scampers by. Some of my favorite places in Florida are the Everglades, the Keys, Smyrna Dunes Park, Bok Tower Gardens, Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, and St. Augustine’s Historic District.
