Three Sisters Springs – Temporarily Closed

Last Updated on April 27, 2023

Three Sisters Springs in Florida is the natural place to watch manatees gather. If you stop at the Crystal River Kayak Company in Citrus County, you might see manatees up close.

However, the Three Sisters Springs is currently closed to restore habitat and prevent erosion from the spring. Land access and water closure are from April 1, 2023, until November 15, 2023.

Crystal River Kayak Company is where you begin your adventure, a journey to Three Sisters Springs and one of the most popular locations for viewing manatees.

Winter is considered manatee season in Florida. During the winter, manatees gather here, seeking temperate water near Florida’s freshwater springs.

See Manatees at Three Sisters Springs

North of Tampa and west of Orlando, Citrus County is known for its waterways, especially the abundance of freshwater springs.

Three Sisters is part of the Crystal River system that originates in Kings Bay, a first-magnitude spring flowing into the Gulf of Mexico.

The area is the world’s largest natural winter refuge for West Indian manatees. This is also one of the few locations in Florida where swimming with manatees is allowed.

Florida’s gentle giant, also known as the “sea cow,” can be spotted in large groups during winter and early spring. When water temperatures dip below 68 degrees manatees gravitate towards warmer waters.

They congregate around bubbly springs where 72-degree freshwater provides an ideal respite for warm-blooded mammals. The added benefit is that people can easily observe them in crystal clear water during winter.

Grayish brown in color, up to 10 feet in length, and weighing an average of 1,000 pounds, the manatee is related to the elephant, as evidenced by their thick, leathery wrinkled skin.

Propelled by huge powerful tails they lumber along Florida’s waterways, grazing on aquatic vegetation. Each day manatees consume 10-15% of their body weight.

Three Sisters Springs

As the name implies, Crystal River’s Three Sisters Springs is a collection of three spring vents feeding into Kings Bay.

Many consider this one of Florida’s most visually-stunning springs, with its translucent blue hues casting almost surreal magic upon those who behold it.

It may feel other-worldly, but the area is actually more like a secluded swimming hole, and not far from a neighborhood of residential waterfront homes.

It is the only spring of the Crystal River system that is accessible by land. A boardwalk with viewing platforms allows visitors the opportunity to see the beautiful creatures without going by boat.

See Manatees by Boat, Kayak, or Snorkeling

If you want to get closer or view underwater, local outfitters will transport visitors by boat to just outside the enclosed spring area where you can swim, snorkel (or kayak) to the roped-off area or into the tree-lined setting for a closer view.

Crystal River Kayak Company will take you out to the kayak and say, “Three Sisters Spring is not far away, just a short ten-minute paddle.” At the dock, you’ll receive a paddle, a safety vest, and a map with easy directions.

Once you settle into your kayak, you will follow the directions and head out to see manatees.

At first, you might hear the low rumbling thunder of cars on Hwy. 19, but as you paddle, it gets quieter. You will pass homes, most with kayaks in backyards, as this is truly a “water lover’s paradise” with 70 springs and a 600-acre bay.

Riding along the shady canal, you may notice some water movement that catches your eye. A wide flat swirling motion is circling on the water’s surface.

You will then realize you have just met our first manatee, swimming just below the water, a large shadow of body mass, silently, slowly, and deliberately moving along in stealth mode.

How do you spot a Florida manatee?

Unlike dolphins with a recognizable dorsal fin that signals their approach, manatees swim with little detection – until they need a breath of fresh air.

Then, a whiskered snout with a pair of nostrils will break the surface, sometimes accompanied by a snort as they come up for air.

No doubt, it’s a manatee, the most beloved Florida mammal.

Off in the distance, you’ll spot a roped area marking the entrance to the Three Sisters Springs. Signs remind visitors to be cautious when viewing these lovable, slow-moving creatures vulnerable to motorized boats and sharp propellers.

Near the spring entrance, several pontoon boats are anchored outside the rope with swimmers clad in wetsuits, facemasks, and snorkels bobbing in the water nearby. They are completing their underwater viewing and are climbing onto the boat.

People settle into the boat, chatting about the experience, as they remove their gear. With all aboard, the boat quickly exits the area, ready to pick up the next shift.

You will float outside the ropes and observe their beauty. They look like they are in suspended animation or even asleep. The movement is minimal and it is obvious that they are enjoying the warmth of the bubbling spring.

Sadly, you may also notice that many have old scars from hazardous boat propellers.

What else can you see in Crystal River?

You can also decide to go into the enclosed spring through the narrow opening inaccessible to larger boats and barely wide enough for a kayak.

You may enter, and we feel like you are in nature’s cathedral; the sun has risen higher in the sky, and shafts of light are streaming through the surrounding foliage radiating and reflecting the white sandy bottom, creating a mosaic of emerald blues, and every shade of green.

You may notice other animals in the area, such as beautiful butterflies, as they stop for a moment before flying on their way.

If you are paying attention, you may even have the chance to see a mother and her calf swim through the Three Sisters Springs area.

Which experiences can you enjoy at Crystal Springs?

To enjoy this authentic Florida experience yourself, there are several options:

• Contact River Ventures Manatee Tours. Daily tours take you by bus to the Three Sisters Wildlife Refuge. From there you can walk the boardwalk surrounding the springs.
• If you prefer to go by boat, River Adventures will reserve a spot on the boat and you can either view from the vessel or get in the water and swim near the manatees.
• The other option is to bring your own or rent a kayak at Crystal River Kayak Company for the short paddle to the Three Sisters.

This is an unforgettable adventure that will stay with you for a long time. And nothing can be more authentic than to spend time in nature, visiting one of Florida’s “crown jewels” while viewing Florida’s most lovable wildlife. 

Where to Eat in Crystal River

If you want great seafood, stop by The Crab Plant. You can dine inside or outside at picnic tables or get it to go.

The food is great and so is the service. We enjoyed the conch fritters and clam chowder.

Where to Stay in Crystal River

If you’re looking for a place to stay, make a reservation at The Plantation at Crystal River.

Be sure to take a selfie in front of their amazing manatee fountain.

Check out our other Florida Manatee stories:

• Celebrate Manatee Awareness Month with Save the Manatee Club
• Discover New Adventures in the Manatee Capital of the World
• Swim with a Manatee and Experience Authentic Crystal River, the Soul of Florida
• Where to Observe Manatees in the Wild
• Five Ways to Befriend a Manatee: Start with a Visit to Crystal River, Florida
• Great Places To See Florida Manatees
• Where to Observe Manatees in the Wild