// Discover // Worth the Detour // Mint Springs
WORTH THE DETOUR
Mint Springs in Land Between The Lakes
Mint Springs feels earned. Reaching it takes more effort than most off-the-beaten-path stops in Land Between the Lakes, and that effort is part of what keeps it quiet. Access begins by parking at a gate along a FS 235 (just off Fort Henry Road), then following an abandoned gravel road that slowly fades back into the woods. The old road sets the tone right away, hinting that you’re heading somewhere long forgotten rather than a marked destination.
The walk is longer than many detours in LBL (about a mile round-trip), but it’s steady and easy to follow. As the road disappears into leaf litter and moss, the forest closes in and the sound of moving water becomes more noticeable. Mint Springs flows naturally out of the hillside with no structure or containment, spilling into the surrounding low ground. It’s likely the largest spring in LBL, and the volume of clear water emerging directly from the earth is striking once you arrive.
Quick Facts
- Natural Springs
- Open to Foot Traffic Only
- Best Access in Winter Months
- Approximately One Mile Round Trip
- Park at the Gate on FS 235
- Leave No Trace
This area feels active and alive. Beavers are known to frequent the site, and signs of their work often appear along the edges of the spring and nearby water. Mint Springs is best visited in winter or early spring, when the woods are more open and conditions are easier to manage. Summer brings heavy vegetation and a high number of ticks, which can quickly change the experience.
There are no signs and no formal trailhead. Move carefully, leave everything as you find it, and practice Leave No Trace so this quiet place remains worth the detour.
