Shangri-La Springs is situated between a large boulder and a 20 ft (6.1 m) high vertical limestone bluff on the west side of Merritts Mill Pond and forms a 40 ft (12.2ft) diameter spring cove with native aquatic vegetation and little algae. Shangri-La Springs vent is 7 ft (2.1 m) deep and sand-bottomed with exposed limestone. Another vent is situated in a limestone fissure 50 ft (15.2 m) to the east. The water is light blue and clear. A prominent boil is seen over the vent near the bluff. A lone scraggly cypress tree stands in the open waters of the mill pond, 100 ft (30.5 m) southeast of the main vent. The bluff face, boulder, and surrounding area are lush with ferns and other vegetation. Merritts Mill Pond is a 5 mile (8 km) long impounded spring run. Several springs feed into the pond along the edges or directly from the pond bottom. Jackson Blue Spring forms the headwaters of Merritt’s Mill Pond.
Shangri-La Springs is located near the west bank of Merritts Mill Pond, 5 miles (8 km) east of Marianna. The spring is accessible by canoe or small boat from the public boat ramp on Hunter Fish Camp Road. From Marianna head east on US 90 to the intersection with SR 71, approximately 1.4 miles (2.3 km). Turn north (left) onto SR 71 and travel 1.2 miles (1.9 km) to the intersection with CR 164. Turn east (right) onto CR 164 and travel approximately 1.7 miles (2.7 km) to the intersection with Hunter Fish Camp Road. Turn south (right) on Hunter Fish Camp Road and travel approximately 0.6 mile (1 km) to the public boat landing. The spring vent is approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) upstream. Just after passing the recreation area buoys, look to the left. The spring is in a cove adjacent to a vegetated, car-sized boulder. There are a few dozen metal poles that stick out of the water near the vent. Alternatively, the spring is 2,100 ft (640 m) downstream from Jackson Blue Spring and can be accessed using Blue Springs Recreation Area boat launch.
