Despite its short distance, this section of the Florida Trail north of White Springs is rugged.
It scrambles in and out of ravines and eroded bluffs created when the Suwannee River seasonally overflows its banks.
Hikers in the bottom of a former river channelStarting at the historic Spring House and ending at a neighborhood access point off CR 25A west of White Springs, it’s a scenic and sometimes surprising hike.
Three primitive campsites provide destinations for a overnighter or a round-trip exploration of Stephen Foster Folk Culture State Park.
A historic carillon tower sets the tone for a park celebrating music and folk artOur Florida Trail Books & Guides
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Overview
Location: White Springs
Length: 4.7 miles linear
Trailhead: 30.329918, -82.760361
Fees: $2 pedestrian, $4-5 per vehicle
Restroom: At Cousin Thelma’s inside the park
Land Manager: Suwannee River Water Management District, Florida State Parks
Phone: 386-362-1001
Open 8 AM to sunset unless a registered camper. Leashed dogs welcome. The trail is quite rugged in places. A hiking stick is recommended.
Ticks can be a serious problem on any hike along the Suwannee River. Protect yourself by using bug spray and wearing light clothing.
Always check river levels before hiking the Florida Trail along the Suwannee River. At flood stage, the river can flow over the trail and make hiking dangerous.
Directions
From Interstate 75, follow SR 136 for 3 miles east into downtown White Springs. Turn left at the blinker onto US 41. Make the next left into the parking area in front of the old tourism center. Day use parking only. Alternatively, continue around the curve and enter Stephen Foster Folk Culture State Park. Make the first left to drive down to the small parking area at the Spring House.
For overnight parking, pay your entrance fee and mention you want to leave your car overnight and for how long. You’ll need to follow the one-way loop road around the park to the Gazebo area, just past the turnoff for the cabins. This is a secure place to leave a car while backpacking.
Hike
Make your way down the staircase adjoining the former visitor center in White Springs. The beaten path ahead leads right up to historic White Sulphur Springs.
The prominent building around it was a spa in the late 1800s. A dozen or more hotels catered to guests coming to “take the waters” of this first-magnitude spring.
Walkway at the Spring HouseA side trip along the outer edge of the building on a concrete walkway leads to the banks of the Suwannee River.
Turn around to see the outflow of the spring. Depending on aquifer levels, the spring can also become a siphon, sucking water in from the river.
Outflow basin at the base of the spring houseCross a bridge. Walk through a shady grove of oaks past an outdoor kitchen used during the Florida Folk Festival each Memorial Day Weekend.
The blazes lead to the park road and along it, where giant mounds of planted azaleas bloom every spring.
Path towards the oak groveWatch for the curve off the road back towards the river. Cutting through a power line easement, reach the Gazebo trailhead at 0.6 mile.
This is the trailhead for overnight parking and also works well for round-trip and loop hikes through the park. It’s an easy walk to restrooms at the craft village up the hill.
Below the Gazebo trailheadOrange blazes lead you towards the gazebo and past it to the terraced river bluffs, with views across the Suwannee.
This short sample of easy walking ends with a steep drop through a deep ravine and a climb back out of it.
Beauty spot along the riverReach a split-rail fence along the canoe launch and follow it around to a crossing at the cabin area for the park.
Signage points out where the blazes continue along the bluffs on the other side, returning the trail to its river views.
Canoe launch crossingAt 1.1 miles, emerge into an open area called Cable Crossing. A trail to the right connects with Foster’s Hammock Loop as well as the campground.
As shown on the map, Foster’s Hammock provides an alternate route when the Suwannee River is high enough to flood the Florida Trail.
Foster’s Hammock Trail Weaving across rolling hills in the Suwannee River floodplain, this well-maintained path explores the forested woodlands of Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park.Walk past Cable Crossing campsite. A picnic table and flat spots for tents perch atop a high bluff with a furrowed walk to river level for filtering water.
Cable Crossing CampsiteContinue along the bluffs in deep shade under the large live oaks before an abrupt right turn takes the trail down a steep descent.
The Dip, as we call it, is a deep swale dropping to river level and is the first spot to flood within the park. Scramble up the opposite side beneath a massive live oak.
View of the Dip southboundEarly spring is the best time to walk these bluffs, enjoying the sweet scent of two species of azaleas native to Florida.
The pinxter azalea sports puffy pink blooms, while the flame azalea has a burst of blossoms in orange.
Azaleas in bloomThey are particularly showy in this section leading up to Catfish Hole, which is a major junction for the park’s array of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails at 2.6 miles.
It is home to another primitive campsite in a flat area with benches and a picnic table.
Catfish Hole campsite (Chris Stevens)Continuing atop the bluff, the Florida Trail eventually descends it. In a quarter mile, a large log provides a seat for a scenic view.
Follow the curve of the bluff, passing under a massive live oak leaning out over the river. The trail drops to river level beneath the forest canopy.
Riverside terraceClimbing again, rejoin the top of the bluff for views across the river. It narrows sharply, leading the trail across rocky overhangs and crevices.
An accumulation of pine needles provides a deep cushioned blanket for a short stretch. Then a deep ravine provides a challenge to climb in and out of.
Broadhead skink on a fallen pineHugging close to the river, this section of the trail is a wonderland of green giants. Catfaced pines are along the sides of the trail, showing off their deep gashes cut by axes.
Reach the upper junction with Foster’s Hammock Trail at 3.5 miles. A loop back to your start point by following it and the cross trail to Cable Crossing would be 7.3 miles.
Suwannee Overlook (Chris Stevens)Continuing north, cross a bridge and reach the Suwannee Overlook campsite at a scenic bend in the river where tiny shoals riffle the waters.
Reach the park boundary soon after, crossing into water management land at a grassy clearing where plum trees bloom each February.
Inside the ravineAt 4.2 miles, the trail plunges into the ravine carved by Sal Marie Branch and crosses it on a bridge at the very bottom.
A steep ascent up the hillside provides a rewarding view of the sinuous creek below if you pause along the climb.
View of Sal Marie Branch from aboveMeet a two-track road along a powerline within earshot of traffic on CR 25A. Turn left to follow it past homes in a small rural neighborhood.
Along the access road to these houses from CR 25A is a broad spot just wide enough to park a vehicle. This linear trail segment ends here after 4.7 miles.
The ending point is along the access road near CR 25ASouthbound
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.Trail Map
Explore More!
Learn more about the Suwannee section of the Florida Trail
Florida Trail, Suwannee For 78 miles along the Suwannee River, the Florida Trail clings to bluffs and scrambles through ravines for physical challenges and great scenery.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.Slideshow
See our photos from this hike
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