Resources
Resources for exploring the area
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Exploring Chiefland
Established in 1929 along a rail line built down the Gulf Coast to facilitate logging its old-growth cypress forests, Chiefland is a small city which regional residents visit for shopping and dining.
It is the southern terminus of the Nature Coast Trail, a bike path extending into two neighboring counties, terminating at Trenton and Cross City.
While Chiefland has long been known for timbering and farming, public lands define its western edge along the Suwannee River basin.
It is a gateway to many major springs, with Manatee Springs being the nearest and most popular destination.
Some of Florida’s largest trees are along the river basin in Andrews Wildlife Management Area. Between Chiefland and Cedar Key, Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge has both trails and camping.
As it is along the lightly populated Nature Coast, dark skies draw stargazers and astronomers to the privately-owned Chiefland Astronomy Village for clear views after dark.
Parks and Trails around Chiefland
Dennis Creek Trail At the Shell Mound Unit of Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge, the Dennis Creek Trail immerses you in classic habitats of the Gulf Coast along a 1-mile loop
Dixie Mainline Trail Constructed in the 1920s for a narrow-gauge railroad, the Dixie Mainline Trail is one of the most remote scenic trails in Florida, showcasing the swampy Big Bend.
Fanning Springs State Park One of the Suwannee River's largest swimming holes is the clear, cool reflecting pool of Fanning Springs, located along the edge of its namesake town
Hart Springs A beauty spot along the Suwannee River north of Fanning Springs, Hart Springs offers swimming, hiking, camping, and cave diving in a rural setting near Trenton.
Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge One of Florida's more remote National Wildlife Refuges, the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge spans two counties, protecting a sweep of more than 53,000 acres and 30 miles of coastline along the Big Bend
Manatee Springs Scenic Trail In a shady forest above the floodplain, the Scenic Trail at Manatee Springs lives up to its name while interpreting what life was like for early settlers along the Suwannee River.
Manatee Springs State Park Showcasing the lower Suwannee River, Manatee Springs State Park centers around a clear blue spring, one of Florida's largest and most picturesque
Nature Coast Trail Connecting three rural counties, the Nature Coast Trail offers several different ways to ride between towns along 31.5 miles of paved bike path
Otter Springs West of Trenton along the Suwannee River, Otter Springs is a second magnitude spring surrounded by clusters of ancient oaks and towering cypress. 
River Trail Immerse in the massive floodplain forest surrounding the Suwannee River as it nears the Gulf of Mexico, on the the River Trail at Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge, a boardwalk to the river's edge
Suwannee River Wilderness Trail Showcasing springs, sandy beaches, waterfalls, and haunting swamp forests where manatees gather, the 170-mile Suwannee River Wilderness Trail is a paddling trip of a lifetimeArticles
Three Days of Lower Suwannee Springs (10/14/2014) Not so busy thanks to their locations on the lower Suwannee River, this series of four major springs provide another 3-day weekend getaway option for active outdoor recreation in Florida
Springs of the Lower Suwannee (7/20/2014) Visits to four springs along the lower Suwannee River enlightens us as to the changes occurring in Florida's springs, even in rural areas.