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Hike Bike Paddle Camp Florida with authors Sandra Friend and John Keatley as your guides

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No Name Creek

Florida Trail, Suwannee

74.8 miles. Along the Suwannee River, the Florida Trail clings to bluffs and scrambles through ravines for physical challenges and great scenery

Florida National Scenic Trail  |  Dowling Park, Ellaville, Lake City, Live Oak, Suwannee Springs, & White Springs
( 30.348810, -82.607674 )      74.8 miles

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Florida Trail, Suwannee

74.8 miles   Lake City, Live Oak, & Madison

Combining rugged terrain and beauty in one package, it’s no wonder that the Suwannee section of the Florida Trail is well-loved by backpackers, especially in early spring when fragrant wild azaleas are in bloom.

Experience challenging terrain as you clamber in and out of valleys cut deeply by floodwaters and tributaries feeding the Suwannee River.

Looking down Devil’s Mountain towards Crooked Branch

See some of the region’s geological wonders firsthand – deep sinkholes, hundreds of springs, stretches of rapids, and several serious-sized waterfalls.

The views are fabulous all along the river, and when water levels are low, white sand beaches invite a night’s stay.


<< Northeast Florida >> Big Bend
 


Resources

Florida Trail Hikes book cover The Florida Trail Guide book cover North Florida Panhandle Explorers Guide book cover Florida Trail history book

Disclosure: As authors and affiliates, we receive earnings when you buy these through our links. This helps us provide public information on this website.

 
Guthook GuidesGuthook Guides GPS-driven map-based guide to the Florida National Scenic Trail with thousands of waypoints from The Florida Trail Guide. Works offline. For iPhone and Android.


Trip Planning

CAMPING AND LODGING

The Suwannee section is one of the few places on the Florida Trail that you can stay in cabins and B&Bs along the entire route. There is a B&B right along the trail in White Springs.

Cabins are available at Stephen Foster Folk Culture State Park in White Springs, Suwannee River State Park near Live Oak, and Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Suwannee Springs.

porch at Stephen Foster cabin
Inside a cabin at Stephen Foster

All three locations also have developed campgrounds with nice amenities and easy access to the Florida Trail. Gibson Park is another very nice riverfront campground north of Holton Creek.

This section also has ample designated campsites, all with benches and a fire ring. Some, like Coopers Bluff in Twin Rivers State Forest, also offer a little bit of shelter from the weather.

Hikers enjoy access to the Holton Creek River Camp as well. This is one of five camps built for paddlers using the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail.

It has hot showers, flush toilets, screened shelters, and a friendly camp host. And it’s free. Call ahead for a reservation: 1-800-868-9914

Random camping is also permitted along the Suwannee section on Water Management District land. Many hikers camp on the beaches along the river. You must avoid camping at or close to trailheads.

DOGS

Dogs are welcome along this section of the trail. Although you wouldn’t expect it, there are alligators in the Suwannee River and its side channels, so keep your dog away from the water’s edge.

WILDLIFE

While the sounds of songbirds and woodpeckers echo through the forest, we haven’t seen a lot of wildlife on our hikes along the Suwannee. However, bears have been seen at Holton Creek. Protect your food by bear bagging.

WATER

Paralleling a river, you’d think that it would be easy to filter water. However, much of the time the trail is atop bluffs that are too steep or too sandy to get to river level for filtering.

You are better off filtering from tributaries running into the Suwannee River than the river itself.

Once you reach Twin Rivers State Forest, be cautious of river water. There are good clear springs at Suwannacoochee and Black Tract.

Upstream along the Withlacoochee River, the city of Valdosta is notorious for dumping sewage in the river, especially during hiking season.

HUNTING SEASON

Wear a bright orange shirt or vest during hunting seasons in Holton Creek WMA and Twin Rivers State Forest. Check the FWC website for hunting season dates.

RESUPPLY

Walking right down the middle of White Springs, it’s easy to grab resupply either at the Dollar General or any of several convenience stores. There is also a post office right along the trail.

It’s less than a mile off-trail to convenience stores at Suwannee Springs and Ellaville, as well.

PARKING & SHUTTLE

Fees apply if you leave a car at Suwannee River State Park and Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park.

These are the safest places to leave a car during a backpacking trip, inside the park gates at the trailhead parking areas. Check at the ranger station for fees.

Shuttle services are available from American Canoe Adventures in White Springs.

You may also be able to book a shuttle through Suwannee Canoe Outpost at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park.

Using shuttle services makes it easy to place a car at one end of your hike and be shuttled to a far point to hike back to it.

It’s also possible to hike north along the river to White Springs, then rent a canoe and do a paddling trip south to Dowling Park to make a hike/paddle loop.

SAFETY

The trail has several short roadwalk sections that lead you through riverfront subdivisions. It also passes behind a handful of backyards west of White Springs.

If you get into an uncomfortable situation, move on and/or call law enforcement.


Trail Map

Florida Trail Suwannee section map


Mileages

Important landmarks starting with mile 0 at Deep Creek trailhead in Osceola National Forest and ending at mile 74.8 at Winquepin Road. ** denotes potable water available nearby, not necessarily at trailhead.

0.0 – Deep Creek trailhead
8.0 – Bell Springs trailhead 0.1W
11.4 – Little Shoals trailhad
12.9 – US 41 Wayside / White Springs Tract trailhead
15.4 – Adams Memorial Circle trailhead
16.4 – White Springs** (former visitor center)
17.0 – Stephen Foster Gazebo trailhead** ($$)
22.8 – Swift Creek trailhead
29.8 – Camp Branch trailhead
36.2 – Suwannee Springs** 0.8W
45.9 – Holton River Camp**
50.0 – Holton Creek trailhead
51.4 – Gibson Park ** 0.2W
63.5 – Suwannee River State Park Annex, Ellaville **
70.0 – Black Tract trailhead


Guthook GuidesGuthook Guides Comprehensive logistics and offline maps for the Florida National Scenic Trail.


Trail Segments

We have not written up all of the segments of the Florida Trail along the Suwannee River for our website yet, although details about all of them can be found in our guidebook and app.

Each of the segments below are described from the perspective of a day hiker, noting landmarks, water, and campsites along the way. Not all are aligned in a S > N perspective, but this is the order they are in northbound.

Paddlers attempting Big Shoals

Florida Trail, Bell Springs to Big Shoals

4.6 miles. Showcasing Florida’s only Class III whitewater and other spectacular geologic features, this is one of the most scenic segments of the Florida Trail along the Suwannee River.

White Springs Tract

Florida Trail, White Springs

3.6 miles. Spanning from one end of White Springs to the other along a bend in the Suwannee River, this Florida Trail segment is an easy day hike through a historic community.

FT Stephen Foster

Florida Trail, Stephen Foster to CR 25A

4.7 miles. Roly-poly and rugged, the Florida Trail across Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park showcases the beauty of the Suwannee River from its bluffs.

Florida Trail Suwannee

Florida Trail, Camp Branch to Suwannee Springs

7.8 miles. Rugged climbs through abandoned river channels and along the highest elevations along the Suwannee River make this hike a serious roller-coaster through river bluff forests and sandy beaches.

Tannic colored river with sand banks

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.

View of railroad bridge and rivers from peninsula

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.

Side Trails

These trails connect to the Florida Trail along the Suwannee River but are not a part of the thru-trail mileage.

Swallet on Camp Branch

Disappearing Creek at Camp Branch

On the Disappearing Creek Loop off the Florida Trail along the Suwannee River, watch Camp Branch burble through rapids and cascade into a giant sinkhole


Recent Articles

2019 I-Did-A-Hike

I Did A (Bit of) I Did-A-Hike

March 15, 2019//  by Sandra Friend

Despite pouring rain and thunderstorms, nearly 240 people showed up to tackle the Florida Trail along the Suwannee River for the annual I-Did-A-Hike, and it made for a memorable experience.

Trail junction with bike

Mountain Biking and the Florida Trail

March 3, 2016//  by John Keatley

It’s Florida Biking Month! Which makes it a good time to talk about bikes and the Florida Trail, and how to ride your bike to, but not on, our statewide National Scenic Trail when it’s in the woods.


All Articles & Hikes Interactive Map

Category: Backpacking, Day Hikes, Florida Trail, Hikes, North Florida, Trails, Water Management AreasTag: Best Florida Trail Backpacking, Dowling Park, Florida Trail, Lake City, Live Oak, Locations, Madison, Suwannee River, Upper Withlacoochee, White Springs

Have an update? Contact us.

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Our Florida Trail Books

The Florida Trail Guide

The Florida Trail GuideThe comprehensive mile-by-mile guidebook to planning section and thru-hikes along the entire length of the Florida Trail. 356 pages, $19.95 + tax and shipping.

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Florida Trail Hikes

Florida Trail HikesFifty of the best day hikes, overnights, and weekend trips on the Florida Trail, plus nine of the best section hikes. Full hike descriptions and maps, full color. 376 pages. $24.95 + tax and shipping.

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Discovering the Florida Trail

Florida Trail mini coffee table book cover of trail into palm hammock
Our virtual walk along the length of the Florida Trail, covering more than 1,500 miles from the Everglades to Pensacola Beach. Hardcover, 196 pages. $24.95 + tax and shipping.

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The Florida Trail

Florida Trail large coffee table book cover of trail down swamp causeway under ancient pines

Our history of the first 50 years of the Florida Trail, from its founding in 1966 to becoming a National Scenic Trail to volunteer efforts today.

Learn More

The Florida Trail App

Comprehensive logistics and offline maps all in one: The Florida Trail Guide is now also an interactive map-based mile-by-mile app by Guthook Guides.

Get the App!

Florida Trail Updates


Get periodic recaps of changes to the Florida Trail, which we accumulate between editions of our guidebook. Find all official Trail Closures & Notices here.

Hiking the Florida Trail

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Florida Trail by Section

Porter Lake, Apalachicola National Forest

Florida Trail, Apalachicola

Florida Trail, Apalachicola
Florida Trail Big Bend view

Florida Trail, Big Bend

Florida Trail, Big Bend
Florida Trail Big Cypress

Florida Trail, Big Cypress

Florida Trail, Big Cypress

Florida Trail, Blackwater

Florida Trail, Blackwater
Florida Trail Nokuse

Florida Trail, Central Panhandle

Florida Trail, Central Panhandle
Eglin Weaver Creek

Florida Trail, Eglin

Florida Trail, Eglin
Florida Trail Kissimmee

Florida Trail, Kissimmee

Florida Trail, Kissimmee
Florida Trail at Rice Creek

Florida Trail, Northeast Florida

Florida Trail, Northeast Florida
Juniper Prairie Wilderness

Florida Trail, Ocala

Florida Trail, Ocala
Ocean to Lake Hiking Trail

Ocean to Lake Hiking Trail

Ocean to Lake Hiking Trail
Florida Trail, Okeechobee

Florida Trail, Okeechobee

Florida Trail, Okeechobee
Florida Trail at Forever Florida

Florida Trail, Orlando

Florida Trail, Orlando
Florida Trail Seashore Dunes

Florida Trail, Seashore

Florida Trail, Seashore
Florida Trail along a canal south of Clewiston

Florida Trail, Seminole

Florida Trail, Seminole
No Name Creek

Florida Trail, Suwannee

Florida Trail, Suwannee
Cypress Lakes Preserve

Florida Trail, Western Corridor

Florida Trail, Western Corridor

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