Located in rural North Florida, Twin Rivers State Forest protects over 14,000 acres of land in Suwannee River watershed.
Ellaville Recreation Area is one of several public access points for the forest, offering opportunities for hiking, camping, and fishing.
Kiosk for the Ellaville TrailThe 5.3 mile Ellaville Trail starts near US 90. A shortcut near the halfway point lets you hike a shorter loop while enjoying many of the same natural landscapes seen on the full loop.
The shortcut leads to a crossover connecting to the Florida Trail at a low swale along the Suwannee where anglers often gather.
River frontage at the halfway crossoverResources
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Overview
Location: Lee
Length: 5.3 miles
Trailhead: 30.386571, -83.180429
Address: SR 90, Lee
Fees: $2 per person
Restrooms: None
Land manager: Florida Forest Service
Phone: 352-208-1460
Open sunrise to sunset. Leashed pets welcome.
Directions
From the exit for US 90 at Interstate 10 west of Live Oak, head west on US 90 for 6.6 miles to a dirt road marked with large forestry sign on the left side of the highway. Follow this access road for 300 feet before turning left at a fork. Continue for 0.3 mile. The road ends at the trailhead.
Hike
Our description and photos slightly pre-date damage to Twin Rivers State Forest from Hurricane Idalia in 2023
At the trailhead, a large covered kiosk provides a wealth of information about the property, Trailwalker program, and has paper maps.
From this point, yellow blazes lead in two directions. Head to the west, saving the most scenic parts of the hike for the second half.
Yellow blazesFollowing a mowed pathway alongside an open field of tall, fluffy grasses and dog fennel, the trail quickly curves to the left, entering a shaded forest.
Small trailside sinkholes and exposed limestone reveal underlying karst landscapes formed millions of years ago when most of the state was covered by oceans.
Karst topographyA pair of yellow blazes indicate a turn onto a sandy forest road at 0.6 mile. Continue along this wide pathway bordered by a canopy of mixed hardwoods.
Reach an intersection with the shortcut trail at the 1.5 mile mark. Turning left at this junction leads to the Suwannee River in a tenth of a mile, providing an option to hike a shorter loop.
Forest roadContinuing straight on the yellow blazed forest road, the trail bends southward as the distant sound of Interstate 10 traffic slowly increases.
Reaching the end of the loop at 2.6 miles, turn left, following the orange blazed Florida Trail upriver.
Orange blazeAs you trek across a seasonal floodplain landscape, the majestic Suwannee River comes into view through gaps in the trees.
Nearly three miles into the hike, a designated rest stop features a picnic table and fire ring atop a small bluff overlooking the water.
Rest areaOrange blazes parallel the river across undulating terrain another 0.8 mile before reaching a picturesque spot with access to the tannic waters and rocky shoreline of the Suwannee.
Cracks in the earth bring attention to unique surface karst where sinkholes have collapsed, and seasonal flooding has eroded the forest floor.
River viewIn the warmer months, colorful wildflowers bloom alongside the trail, attracting a variety of butterflies, bees, and other pollinators.
Approaching a powerline clearing at 4.5 miles, the sound of rushing water echoes through the forest where the river flows over a large shoal.
Swallowtail butterflyNearing the north end of the loop at five miles, an impressive camping area known as Cooper’s Bluff stands high above the river.
Complete with a pavilion, picnic tables, and a bench overlooking the water, this campsite is a popular stop for Florida Trail thru-hikers.
Yellow blazes head westward uphill along a forest road at this junction, completing the loop by emerging at the trailhead kiosk and gate in a quarter mile.
Coopers BluffTrail Map
Explore More!
Learn more about Twin Rivers State Forest
Video
Hiking the Ellaville Trail (before Hurricane Idalia damage)
Slideshow
See our photos of the Ellaville Trail (before Hurricane Idalia damage)
Nearby Adventures
Suwannee River State Park Perched on rugged limestone bluffs along one of Florida’s most iconic waterways, Suwannee River State Park preserves significant historical sites in stunning natural landscapes. 
Big Oak Trail The Big Oak Trail is one of the most scenic hikes in North Florida. Much of the hiking parallels the Suwannee and Withlacoochee Rivers, which meet here at a confluence.
Florida Trail, Alapaha 7.7 miles. Along the limestone-bordered waters of the Alapaha and Suwannee Rivers, the Alapaha section of the Florida Trail explores unique geography within a densely forested landscape. 
Madison Blue Spring State Park A long-time Old Florida swimming hole along SR 6 between the towns of Lee and Jasper, Madison Blue Spring is a sinkhole pouring out a first-magnitude spring into the Withlacoochee River.
- Michael Crotty Bicentennial Park - November 3, 2026
- A.J. Henry Park - November 1, 2026
- Okeeheelee Nature Center Trails - October 22, 2026