The boil at Helene Spring is basketball-sized and vigorous. There is no data available anywhere on this spring nor her magnitude but other springs in the area with less robust flow are rated magnitude 3, so it is possible Helene is a magnitude 2 spring. From the time I spent at Helene I would say she easily produces 10+ ft³/s which would make her a 2nd magnitude spring.
So why is this magnificent spring so forgotten? Several reasons. First, she is located in the gated and locked Seminole State Forest which requires a permit and fee to enter. Second, once in the forest she is arguably the most inaccessible of all the springs located within the State Forest. So little is known about the past at Helene Spring that no maps or marked trails exist to guide one to the spring. I found her using aerial photographs and an "X" marked on a Lake County Water Atlas map, showing her location.
Even with aerial photos and old maps it took me three tries to locate the spring. Finally, the area around the spring is only suitable for hiking by very experienced hikers. Even then it can be perilous. The nearest "trail" to the spring is populated by dense palmetto and neck-high grasses that are full of ticks and chiggers. Hiking through the tall grass there are many hidden seeps and muck pits that one can easily sink or slip in. If you're lucky enough to find the spring, you'll find that on three sides (east, south, and west) the spring is surrounded by thick muck that acts a lot like quicksand. Step in it at your own risk. I am an experienced native Floridian hiker and adventurer. At times I found myself mired in waist-deep muck, desperately digging in trying to retrieve my boots while simultaneously trying not to sink in.
But if you're willing to make the effort to get a permit, pay the fee, and spend a day hiking. It is an awe-inspiring look into what Florida was like 600 years ago before the first Europeans came to conquer this beautiful land.
From the spring boil the run spreads out to the south toward Sulphur Run. It is wide and steaming on a cool afternoon in December indicating that there are likely more boils located in the spring run. In places the spring run is as wide as a river but relative shallow. It was rough going hiking on either side of the spring run so I tried hiking down the middle. That was no better as the mucky bottom quickly swamped me. Centuries of fallen trees provide even more obstacles to forward progress down the spring run. Newer falls are the worst as they require scaling while older trees are hidden in the muck, better for one to trip over.
Then the run opens up in places and looks very much like a sub-tropical river.
I often found myself peaking through vegetation and wondering what I would find on the other side that no human had seen in many months to years. There was little to no evidence of human visitation, but I know from YouTube that there had been a visitor here in April of 2018 (Florida Trailblazer). It was because of Florida Trailblazer's 4/2018 video that I knew I could access Helene by hiking in rather than trying to cross Sulphur Run in the area of Boulder or Markee Springs (on the south side of Sulphur Run). I had made several attempts to cross from Boulder Spring to the north side of the run and found myself stuck in impassable muck.
Above: The magnificent Helene Spring Run. Unspoiled Florida. There are very few truly wild areas remaining in Central Florida.
Above: This was my first look at Helene Spring.
HOW TO GET TO HELENE SPRING
Helene Spring is located in the Seminole State Forest about 1.5 miles southwest of Cassia. Access to the forest is controlled by locked gates and permits.
Helene Spring is top of map marked with red arrows and stars
Once you've obtained a permit you will know how to open the gate. From the south entrance gate on SR 46 (about 0.4 mile west of the Wekiva River), turn north and stop at the yellow iron ranger pay station to pay the entrance fee. From there continue north and open the gate.
A skinny, young black bear Mom and cubs on Sand Road in the Seminole State Forest near Shark's Tooth Spring.
Follow the Sand Road for over a mile until you cross the concrete bridge over the Black Water Creek. From the creek bridge drive about 0.2 miles to the next intersecting road at Pine Road.
Turn right onto Pine Road.
Continue on Pine Road for about 1.3 miles until you come to the intersection of two equestrian trails and Palaka Road. It is forbidden to drive on equestrian trails. Follow Palaka Road about 0.3 miles across the Sulphur Run to the next intersection at Atula Road. Note that this road is very narrow and only one vehicle may cross at a time. If you encounter another vehicle someone has to back up.
Unspoiled Little Bear Run on the Sulphur Run Creek in Seminole State Forest
At the Atula Road intersection you'll see an information board to the right. Turn to the left and go less than 1/10th of mile to the blue equestrian trail on the left. You might be tempted to drive this trail. First, it is forbidden. Second, it is very soft sugar sands. Not advisable unless in 4-wheel drive vehicle. Park at the equestrian trailhead on the side of Atula Road.
I change clothes and apply lots of bug off before setting off on trails in Seminole State Forest. The forest is notorious for its bears and chiggers. The bears have never bothered me. The chiggers are a menace. On this day I carry 4 cameras, boots for hiking in muck, iced tea, and a change of clothes in case I get very wet or buggy.
From this point it is about a mile hike. Hike the equestrian trail for approximately 1/2 mile until you see a marked hiking trail on the left. You might miss the little hiking trail sign but you'll notice the three dead trees standing to the southwest of this spot (pictured below).
This is the trail to Helene Spring. Follow the trail to the southwest. At first there is a discernible trail but it quickly disappears. Depending on weather conditions sinks and seeps are active making for a wet, slippery slog through neck-high grasses and palmettos. I stopped frequently looking for animal trails and following those trails toward the Hammock Forest in the distance.
Along the trail you'll be tempted to stop and sample the many mushrooms. Don't. The concave pink-capped Russula emetica is also known as the "Vomiting Mushroom." Many of the mushrooms you'll encounter in the forest as similarly inedible.
At some point you'll begin to smell sulphur and a trail will reappear. Follow your nose and it will lead you to Helene Spring. . .about 1/2 mile from where you left the equestrian trail and started hiking through the palmettos and tall grasses.
As the trail goes from palmetto to hammock there are plenty of downed trees to climb over or hike around. The smell of sulphur becomes strong as soon as you enter the hammock sabal palm forest.
Even with aerial photos and old maps it took me three tries to locate the spring. Finally, the area around the spring is only suitable for hiking by very experienced hikers. Even then it can be perilous. The nearest "trail" to the spring is populated by dense palmetto and neck-high grasses that are full of ticks and chiggers. Hiking through the tall grass there are many hidden seeps and muck pits that one can easily sink or slip in. If you're lucky enough to find the spring, you'll find that on three sides (east, south, and west) the spring is surrounded by thick muck that acts a lot like quicksand. Step in it at your own risk. I am an experienced native Floridian hiker and adventurer. At times I found myself mired in waist-deep muck, desperately digging in trying to retrieve my boots while simultaneously trying not to sink in.
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