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Suwannee River view through trees

Florida Trail Suwannee Springs to Holton Creek

Following tall river bluffs with geologic wonders, the Suwannee Springs to Holton Creek section of the Florida Trail provides stunning views of the limestone-bordered waters of the Suwannee.

Florida Trail, Suwannee  |  Live Oak
( 30.395555, -82.935508 )      10.3 miles

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Thanks to its geology and rugged terrain, the Suwannee River is one of the most fantastic destinations for hikers along the incredibly diverse Florida Trail.

Within the Suwannee section, the section of trail between historic Suwannee Springs and the forests of Holton Creek Conservation Area provides some of its most immersive landscapes.

Trail atop flat path along river Hiking along the Suwannee River


Rolling hills, cascades, deep ravines, and limestone formations provide challenges as the path crosses numerous creeks within a dense riverside forest.

Starting from an abandoned highway bridge north of Live Oak, this Florida Trail segment winds westward, ending at a popular river camp with covered shelters and facilities.

River curve past a beach Curve in the Suwannee River near Holton Creek River Camp


Resources

Resources for exploring the area

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

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


Overview

Location: Live Oak
Length: 10.3 miles linear
Trailhead: 30.395555, -82.935508
Address: Old US 129 Bridge
Fees: Free
Restrooms: Yes, at Holton Creek River Camp
Land manager: Suwannee Water Management District
Phone: 386-362-1001

Open 24 hours. Leashed dogs permitted. Hikers should research seasonal hunting seasons in Holton Creek WMA in advance and wear bright orange clothing if planning to hike during hunts.

While Holton Creek River Camp was previously free to use, reservations and a payment are now necessary. Use the link below to save a space or a shelter. Random camping is free.

Be cautious of loose / aggressive dogs along the short roadwalk that follows SW 79nd Ter.

Oaks along river


Directions

 
For the starting point, follow US 129 south from Interstate 75 at Jasper or north from Interstate 10 at Live Oak to reach the Suwannee River. Across from Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park is an agricultural inspection station at US 129. If you want to leave a car overnight do so there. Otherwise follow 93rd Drive east at the turnoff to Suwannee Springs to the riverside park itself for day use parking. A blue-blazed trail leads from the spring to the old US 129 bridge to access the Florida Trail on the north side of the river.
 
The ending point is inside Holton Creek WMA. Follow US 129 north 2.8 miles from the river, turn west on CR 158, and take it 5.8 miles to CR 249. Turn left and continue 5.7 miles to the entrance road to Holton Creek WMA. Turn left and follow that road into the main gate. Beyond the hunt check station, the road narrows and becomes one lane in spots, but it eventually ends at Holton River Camp. Parking there is day use only. Backpackers should park either at Holton Spring, the hunt check station, or at Gibson Park within sight of where CR 249 meets CR 751 a mile past the Holton Creek WMA entrance.

Hike

Accessing the Florida Trail beneath the old US 129 bridge via a blue blazed descent on the north side of the river, follow the orange blazes north (compass west) into a hardwood hammock alongside the river.

Crossing Sugar Creek in a quarter mile, the trail opens to a picturesque valley of waterfalls and cypress knees as this small waterway snakes through sandy riverside slopes.

Creek with cascades Hikers must wade across Sugar Creek


Shortly after crossing under the US 129 bridge, the trail joins a dirt road as it passes several properties situated on the river bluffs.

Orange blazes used to trace along this riverbank, but since have been rerouted to utility poles along the road based on the preferences of private landowners.

Curve in dirt road Backwoods road walk


After a mile, a wide pathway leaves the road, quickly narrowing as it approaches the water’s edge. Gaps in thick shrubs lining the bank allow for panoramic views of the slow moving, tannic river below.

On the opposite bank, oak trees cling to exposed limestone as tall pines tower overhead, their branches covered in Spanish moss.

Palmetto above river Suwannee River view


Nearby, a blaze is painted on concrete remains of a long-abandoned bridge situated on the bank, adjacent to a set of pilings in the middle of the river.

Beyond Ratcliff Creek in another half mile, shade is plentiful as the well-defined pathway passes under a canopy of oak, ash and tupelo trees.

Winding creek in deep ravine Ratcliff Creek


In 1.4 miles, a picnic bench provides a resting spot within spectacular scenery of a white sand beach.

Huge oak branches arch overhead, and tall, near-vertical craggy limestone walls rise from the opposite side of the river.

Picnic bench on river beach Beach bench


Head westward from the beach. The sound of Mills Creek can be heard immediately before you round a corner and see the crystal clear waters cascading over tiers of limestone.

A few exposed stones can be used to hop across the creek before climbing a little hill and passing through a clearing behind a house on the river.

Waterfall over limestone Mills Creek Falls


Sections of the trail traverse a small ridge formed by hundreds of years of fluctuating water levels.

A steep slope drops off to the river on the left, while a more gradual slope descends into valleys to the right.

Low spot full of saw palmetto Palmetto valley


Some of the depressions are barren, likely holding water most of the year, while others are a bit drier and filled with seas of palmettos.

At the six-mile mark, a tall wooden bridge spans a significant water crossing. Wider than many of the other tributaries nearby, Mitchell Creek’s clear run rushes quickly along hilly terrain towards the river.

Narrow high footbridge over ravine Mitchell Creek


Majestic live oaks extend into the upper canopy or lay across the forest floor among holly and sparkleberry shrubs lining grassy banks of the river.

The bluffs are in a constant state of change from flooding, and in some spots the trail has been routed away from large chunks that have fallen in.

Trail atop bluffs Riverside oak


After passing a gate designating that you have entered Holton Creek Conservation Area, a small spring emerges the side of a bluff.

Cool, clear waters consistently rush forth from a deep hole within the earth, running across the sandy bank for a short distance to the murky waters of the Suwannee.

Clear spring flowing to tannic river Riverside spring


Less than a mile past this spring, Holton River Camp comes into view.

One of several designated River Camps along the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail, Holton Creek is the only one directly adjacent to the Florida Trail.

Shelters at River Camp Holton Creek River Camp


This location is an excellent spot to spend the evening, providing tent campsites alongside five reservable covered shelters nestled in a dense riverside forest.

The River Camp is also home to a side trail leading to the Guardian Cypress, a pair of cypress that are the Florida co-champions for their incredible girth and height.

NORTHBOUND: Holton Creek
SOUTHBOUND: Camp Branch to Suwannee Springs

Massive base of cypress with hikers
Two hikers (for size) near the base of the more approachable of the two Florida co-champion cypress at Holton Creek Conservation Area

Trail Map

Florida Trail Suwannee Springs Holton River Camp Trail Map


Explore More!

Learn more about the Florida Trail Suwannee section

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

Video


Slideshow

See our photos from this Florida Trail section


Nearby Adventures

More worth exploring in this area.

Orange blaze on large tree next to creek

Florida Trail, Holton Creek

Crossing scenic karst landscapes alongside sinkholes and around its namesake spring, the Holton Creek section of the Florida Trail provides botanical and geologic immersion.

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.

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.

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.

Trail Map (PDF) Hunt Dates Reserve Shelter/Campsite Official Website

Category: Access by water, Backpacking, Day Hikes, Florida Trail, Hikes, North Florida, Paddling, Trails, Water Management Areas, Wildlife Management AreasTag: Big Trees, Dog-friendly, Florida Trail, FT Suwannee, Geology, Jasper, Jennings, Live Oak, Primitive Camping, Scenic Hikes, Suwannee River, Suwannee River Wilderness Trail, Suwannee Springs, Waterfalls

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

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Florida Trail, Apalachicola

Florida Trail, Apalachicola
Florida Trail Big Bend view

Florida Trail, Big Bend

Florida Trail, Big Bend
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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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