Known as the home of the Florida Folk Festival held each May, Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park hosts cultural gatherings in the quaint town of White Springs.
The famous Suwannee River runs along the southern border of the park, offering opportunities for paddling, swimming, and fishing.
Several trails crisscross the property, including a scenic segment of the Florida National Scenic Trail.
Beauty spot along the Suwannee near the Gazebo trailheadFoster’s Hammock Trail was originally developed by the Suwannee Bicycle Association. Its trailhead is a short walk from the main campground.
Backpackers are welcome to use campsites along the trail for an overnight stay. Check with the rangers at the entrance station regards doing so and leaving your car overnight.
The historic carillon tower is near the trailheadResources
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Overview
Location: White Springs
Length: 6.8 mile round-trip or loop
Trailhead: 30.329918, -82.760361
Fees: $4-5 per vehicle
Restroom: At the campground
Land Manager: Florida State Parks
Phone: 386-397-4331
Open 8 AM to sunset unless a registered camper. Leashed dogs welcome.
Ticks can be a serious problem on any hike along the Suwannee River. Protect yourself by using bug spray and wearing light clothing.
Directions
From Interstate 75, follow SR 136 for 3 miles east into downtown White Springs. Turn left onto US 41. In 0.1 mile, turn left into the park entrance at Lilian Saunders Dr. Follow the main park road for 0.8 mile, turning left immediately before the campground into an unmarked parking area off the main drive.
Hike
The trailhead is minimally marked with a marble plaque at ground level and a pair of clearly visible corridors leading into the forest from an open area under the trees.
To begin Foster’s Hammock Trail, take the path on the left, following the narrow passageway for 0.1 mile to a sandy forest road.
Dedication markerTurning to the left, the trail joins forest roads for a quarter mile before cutting into the woods, marked by a metal pole with an arrow marker.
Blue blazes indicate the route along a winding pathway through dense upland hardwood forest.
Blue blazesAt 0.7 mile, the trail crosses a grassy road leading to the Cable Crossing primitive campsite along the Florida Trail on the river bluffs.
Stay with the blue blazes as the trail curves southward, climbing sloped terrain on a long switchback before emerging at an open mesic flatwoods habitat.
Pine flatwoodsBending back towards the river, the path leads from stands of pine onto a ridge high above a bottomland forest.
Carved out by countless years of fluctuating water levels, this deep valley parallels the river, separating Foster’s Hammock Trail from the tall river bluffs that host the Florida Trail.
On the ridgeDropping into a floodplain forest while approaching a bend in the river, follow the well-marked path as it crosses seasonally flooded contoured landscapes.
Reaching a junction with the equestrian loop at 2.6 miles, the trail climbs away from the river, entering pine flatwoods.
Floodplain forestA nearby primitive campsite along the Florida Trail at Catfish Hole can be accessed from this intersection by following the equestrian loop to the west for 0.1 mile.
Staying on the blue blazed path, Foster’s Hammock Trail turns north with a sharp bend in the river.
Catfish Hole campsiteIt skirts along the edge of an old pine farm before ending at a junction with the Florida Trail. This is your decision point for your return trip.
But first, follow the orange blazes to the right for a tenth of a mile, crossing Beavor Crossing bridge to a primitive camping area designated as the Suwannee Overlook.
The overlook at the campsiteReturn to the trail junction. A trip back the way you came along Foster’s Hammock Trail makes for a 6.8 mile hike.
Alternatively, follow the orange blazes of the Florida Trail upriver to make a loop back to Foster’s Hammock Trail at either Catfish Hole or Cable Crossing campsites.
The Dip along the Florida TrailAs shown on the map, the trails aren’t far apart but have wildly different views, since the Florida Trail is along the bluffs above the Suwannee River.
A loop following the Florida Trail to the Cable Crossing connector to return to the Foster’s Hammock trailhead also makes for a 6.8 mile hike but is more scenic and rugged.
Turn off on the grassy road past Cable Crossing campsite to rejoin Foster’s Hammock Trail
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.Trail Map
Explore More!
Learn more about Stephen Foster Folk Culture State Park
Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park At Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park, Florida pioneer crafts and Florida folk music are as important as the lovely setting on the Suwannee River.Video
Hiking Foster’s Hammock Trail
Nearby Adventures
Falling Creek Falls A gentle walk along a boardwalk in a bluff forest surprises with its ending: a spectacular Florida waterfall in a deeply wooded setting.
Florida Trail, Big Shoals 4.6 miles. Showcasing Florida's only Class III whitewater, the hike from Bell Springs to Big Shoals is one of the most scenic segments of the Florida Trail along the Suwannee River.
Big Shoals Long Branch Trail Traversing seasonally flooded forests on contoured landscapes, the Long Branch Trail provides hikers and cyclists unique sights along the Suwannee River.
Disappearing Creek Loop Explore a geologic wonderland of karst topography and white sand beaches on this rugged 3.6 mile hike to a chasm where the rapids of Camp Branch are swallowed by a sinkhole.
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