Paddle the Suwannee River, Georgia & Florida, USA
WHAT MAKES THIS AREA UNIQUE?
Equally rich in history and natural beauty, the Suwannee River delights visitors with crystal-clear springs, abundant wildlife and long, lazy sections of tea-colored river trail. Jump off a rope swing, explore a waterfall, navigate the roaring shoals, bask on a sunny beach or set up camp on a sparkling sandbar. The stars shine bright above the silhouette of the pines, and the owls will lull you to sleep each night. If you’re hankering to get cleaned up or need a place to wait out a storm, stop by one of the Suwannee’s River Camps, where you can sleep inside a screened shelter and get a hot shower in a climate-controlled bath house.
WHAT YOU’LL SEE: blackwater swamp, springs, karst topography, limestone formations, deciduous and evergreen forest, waterfowl, alligators, turtles, armadillos, lizards.
WATER FEATURES: Swamp, river, class I-III rapids.
BEST TIME TO PADDLE: September-November for fewer mosquitoes and less traffic at the springs.
ROUTE OPTIONS:
Y Day Trip
Y Weekend Trip
Y 4 to 7 day trip
Y 7 to 14 day trip
N Loop trip
Y Shuttle service nearby
POTENTIAL HAZARDS: Flooding; alligators; snakes; mosquitos.
PERMITS REQUIRED? No.
PETS ALLOWED? Yes. Rules apply.
SUWANNEE RIVER 6-DAY ITINERARY: 75 MILES TOTAL
DAY 1
Put on the river at the Stephen Foster Memorial Monument Ramp, 43 Riverside Ave, Fargo, GA 31631 . Paddle about 1 mile to camp RR on a big sand bar.
DAY 2
Paddle 8 miles to camp RL, on a long high sandbar 0.5 mile after Route 6.
DAY 3
Paddle 20 miles to camp RL at Big Shoals. CAUTION: Portage around Big Shoals. Portage trail access is RL in a little cove just a few dozen yards before the first rapids. Stay RL when you hear the rapids.
DAY 4
Paddle 15 miles to camp at Woods Ferry River Camp. Resupply with water here.
DAY 5
Stop to see Suwannee Springs at mm 151. Paddle 14.5 to camp RL on a sandbar.
DAY 6
Paddle 16.5 miles to take out at Suwannee River State Park Ramp, 201st Path, Live Oak, FL 32060
INFORMATION
Suwannee River State Park: (386) 362-2746
OTHER ACTIVITIES IN THIS AREA
Fishing, birding, scuba diving in the springs, many hiking and interpretive trails.