Three Sisters Springs - Wildlife refuge in Crystal River - 917 Three Sisters Springs Trail, USA

We had scheduled a boat trip to see the manatees, but came here first. In walking around the boardwalk and seeing so many, we canceled our boat trip. This preserve is beautiful. I love that the waters are roped off completely to keep people out of the waters to leave the manatees alone. It was really exciting to see some young calfs in there too.

Three Sisters Springs is a manatee wonderland! It's truly incredible – the only place where you can witness such a gathering of these gentle giants in one spot. The volunteers are passionate and knowledgeable, ready to answer any manatee-related questions. With about six viewing points, the experience is breathtaking as you observe hundreds of manatees. We visited in December and caught the perfect time to see them. The trail offers a super easy walk, but if you prefer, there's a convenient shuttle option. While the entrance fee is $20 per person, it's a small price to pay for the privilege of supporting these magnificent creatures. The money goes towards the well-being of the manatees, making the visit not only awe-inspiring but also a meaningful contribution to their conservation. 🌊🌿🐋💙

Worth the $20. I wanted to see manatees and this is the perfect place to see them. Nice walking trails and friendly, informative guides as well. Picnic area and restrooms with a shuttle for those who don't want to walk. You can also pay to snorkle, kayak or do a little boat tour. I think snorkeling would be worth it but not kayaking nor boat ride. Too crowded and too small of an area. You can see manatees better from the walking trails. Look at the pictures. You cannot come into roped off areas. Manatees are mostly in the roped off areas.

Very cool to see so many manatees so close. The park is very confusing to get into. You have to pay, drive down the road, park and walk back to the manatees. Terrible set up. They had clean restrooms. They had staff there to answer questions. It was very crowded so don't expect a peaceful stroll. Nice accessible pathways with ramps.

These waters are amazing, so clear it's unbelievable. Over all I felt the park as a whole was underwhelming. I don't care for the bus ride you have to take to the park either. The big attraction in winter is seeing all the manatees that gather here for the warm waters. To this day you are permitted to "swim" with them. This I feel is outdated and needs to stop. You can easily see them from around the pond. People are just simply not able to obey rules and I feel they disturb the manatees. Now that is not to say everyone, but a few is bad enough. You have kids as well as adults and if the adults don't monitor the kids, well guess what happens. Not to mention the amount of urine they are probably emitting. I just think it's time to stop the "swimming" and allow the manatees to rest in peace without the bother of humans. I have been to parks in other states where you can't even get close to a natural feature because of a fence or wall or something. Why you are allowed to crowd the waters around these animals is beyond me. I hope that someone ends this part of the attraction someday. With all the animal rights activists, which I am not, I can't believe you don't see protests about this. I'll say it again, this is not everyone, but a few or several people bothering the manatees or disturbing them at all is too much. IMHO

You can see manatees here in winter. The manatees at Three Sisters Springs offer a captivating experience, showcasing these gentle giants in their natural habitat. The crystal-clear waters provide a unique opportunity to observe these endangered creatures up close. The conservation efforts and strict guidelines ensure a respectful and responsible encounter, making it a must-visit destination for nature enthusiasts.

We had a lovely day walking around and seeing the manatees in this beautiful Crystal Springs. All of the staff was very nice and helpful. Just wish we would have gone there sooner so we could have more time

Perfect time to visit! Lots of manatee coming into the springs. Well maintained trails, beautiful boardwalk, and knowledgeable and passionate volunteers providing info about these amazing animals.