Edwards Spring Cave System

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Edwards and
Suwannacoochee Springs

Edwards Spring is located on the Suwannee River just a few feet downstream of the convergence of the Withlacoochee River and the Suwannee River. Edwards cave system is connected to the Suwannacoochee Springs cave system beneath the Suwannee River. Edwards is located off of Hwy 90 in the town of Ellaville. The spring is on private property next to the RR tracks behind the agriculture station at the bridge over the Suwannee River. The traverse from Edwards to Suwannacoochee goes beneath 2 rivers and under 3 counties. There is currently a survey team working on updating the old stick map of these 2 systems.
Edwards flows out of a vertical fissure that goes to a depth of 120 ft. This is considered an advanced cave dive and the visibility is normally less than 40ft. With the drought conditions, the vis has improved and is the best it has been in over a year. The flow has also dropped considerably and now is the best time to dive this site. With the water levels down, it is more difficult to get in and out of the spring.
Edwards is located next to the Suwannee River State Park. During the Civil War, the Confederate Army had an earthworks and lookout located next to Edwards. The Confederate troops were protecting the ferry landing, bridge and RR that crosses over the Suwannee River. Gov. Drew's mansion and sawmill stood across the Suwannee River from Edwards Spring. The sawmill was located at the Suwannacoochee Spring which is located on the Withlacoochee Spring about 100 yards upstream from the convergence of the 2 rivers. There are still parts of the sawmill structure standing around the spring basin. To dive the Suwannacoochee Spring, you will have to leave your car at the Desoto Park and take about a 6 min walk through the woods to the spring. The dive is certainly worth the extra effort. Please do not remove any survey line arrows! Many hours of work have been spent on this system and the data is very important to all cavers.

View of Edwards Spring

This photo was taken facing the Suwannee River.
The spring is to the left.

Edwards Spring basin

This is the entrance to the cave.
In order to get into Edwards, you have
to climb down a steep slope and then
climb down a rock wall.

Jeff's descent

During the survey, Jeff uses the
rope for safety since there are few
hand holds on the wall that would
support a caver with over a 100lbs of gear.

Bill's Descent

Bill is preparing to descend while
Harvey is below in the spring basin.

Bill & Harvey in the spring basin

Final check of stages and gear.

Fork of Suwannacoochee River and Suwannee River

Convergence of Withlacoochee
and Suwannee Rivers

The Withlacoochee River is on the left.
The Suwannee River is on the right. There
is more tannic in the Suwannee. The traverse
of Suwannacoochee to Edwards takes you beneath
both rivers.

The Well at Suwannacoochee Spring

Entering the cave system from
Suwannacoochee Spring, just inside
the cave passage is a vertical well.

Silted Walls

This is a very silty cave. The
percolation from the diver's regs
will keep a haze in the sytem for days.

Suwannacoochee Spring Cave System

There is an upstream passage that jumps
to the right near the entrance of the cave.
The downstream passage begins beneath
Madison County. Soon after the upstream
jump, the main line goes under the Withlacoochee
River and then into Hamilton County.