Williford Spring

Effective September 16, 2024, the trail to Pitt Spring from Strickland Road as well as the boardwalk to Sylvan Spring (from the Pitt Spring Parking Area) will be closed due to renovations. Access to Pitt Spring and the tube launch can still be accessed from the Highway 20 parking area until October 1, 2024. Starting October 1, 2024, Pitt Spring will be closed for renovations until further notice.

At Williford Spring, the current ADA accessible ramp will be temporarily closed for renovations effective September 16, 2024, until further notice. The existing boardwalk and facilities at Williford Spring will remain open.

For information regarding these temporary site closures, please visit: Recreation Site Closures – Northwest Florida Water Management District (nwfwater.com).

Overview

Located approximately 1.5 miles north of State Road 20 and accessed via Porter Pond Road, Williford Spring is one of the most popular recreations sites managed by the Northwest Water Management District.

Visitors to Williford Spring will turn north off State Road 20 on Porter Pond Road (also referred to on older maps as Strickland Road) approximately 7 miles west of U.S. Highway 231.

Once at Williford, visitors will have access to three picnic pavilions, two composting toilets, a boardwalk system that takes users around the spring and to Econfina Creek, and a nature trail that leads users to the nearby Pitt and Sylvan Springs recreation area.

Swimmers and snorkelers make frequent use of Williford Spring; their experience is enhanced with steps (with hand rails) into the spring to help protect the banks from erosion.

A canoe/kayak launch is located at the end of the boardwalk system and allows paddlers to tie up their vessels while they enjoy a dip in the spring. The District prohibits any vessels in the spring area.

Williford Spring is classified as a second magnitude spring. It is one of 11 springs or spring groups along Econfina Creek, which also features as many as 39 individual spring vents.

Flow from Williford Spring and the other springs along Econfina Creek ultimately discharge into Deer Point Lake, which is the primary source of drinking water for residents in Bay County.

To help protect Econfina Creek and its contribution zone, the Northwest Florida Water Management District manages 41,532.31 acres of public lands in the Econfina Creek Water Management Area. (This acreage total includes the Sand Hill Lakes Mitigation Bank, also known as the Fitzhugh Carter Tract.)

Recreation Opportunities

• Picnicking, restrooms, mobility, fishing, canoe launch, canoeing, hiking, wildlife viewing.

Restrictions

Open from 8 a.m. to sunset, seven days a week.

No ATV’s allowed.

Motorized vehicles allowed on designated roads only.

Alcoholic beverages prohibited.