Not far from where the Suwannee River flows out into the Gulf of Mexico, Chiefland is a major community along US 19 and Alt US 27 in Levy County with access to public lands along the river and in vast Goethe State Forest, a birding and equestrian destination.
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Trails and Parks in 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 State Park - Showcasing the topography of the lower Suwannee River, Manatee Springs State Park has trails leading around deep sinkholes, walks through ancient forests, and a spring run so clear you can see schools of fish racing down it to the river.
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. It is a Gilchrist County Park. 
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 - Along its 266-mile meandering route from the Okeefenokee Swamp to the Gulf of Mexico, the Suwannee River is home to countless springs, sandy beaches, and tributaries that drop into the river down steep slopes as waterfalls. The Suwannee River Wilderness Trail lets you explore it all.