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Mingling waters

Madison

Nestled against the Georgia border, the easternmost corner of Northwest Florida is Madison County, with its county line defined on one side by the Suwannee River.


Contents

  • 1 Resources
  • 2 Exploring Madison
    • 2.1 Madison Blue Spring State Park
    • 2.2 Florida Trail, Big Bend
  • 3 Featured Trails and Parks near Madison
    • 3.1 Lafayette Blue Springs State Park
    • 3.2 Suwannee River Wilderness Trail
    • 3.3 Suwannee River State Park
    • 3.4 Florida Trail, Suwannee
    • 3.5 Big Oak Trail
    • 3.6 Ladell Brothers Outdoor Environmental Center
  • 4 Articles
    • 4.1 Spring Hopping Around Tallahassee
    • 4.2 Permanent closure of the Florida Trail between Suwannee and Aucilla Rivers

Resources

Florida Trail Hikes book cover The Florida Trail Guide book cover North Florida Panhandle Explorers Guide book cover Hikers Guide to the Sunshine State book cover 50 Hikes in North Florida book cover

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


Exploring Madison

Nestled against the Georgia border, the easternmost corner of Northwest Florida is Madison County, with its county line defined by the Suwannee River. 

Surrounding state parks and state forests along with local parks provide interesting hikes not far from Interstate 10.

One of the top destinations has little hiking, but plenty of beauty for swimmers and divers: Madison Blue Spring.

Madison Blue Springs

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.

On the roadwalk route of the Florida Trail between the Suwannee and Aucilla Rivers, hikers pass right through services immediately south of the interstate.

Florida Trail Big Bend view

Florida Trail, Big Bend

116.2 miles. After crossing rural farms and forests in the Big Bend, the Florida Trail reveals the secrets of the Aucilla River before tracing the Gulf coastline at St. Marks NWR

Better hiking, however, is along the nearby Suwannee River, following the Florida Trail through Twin Rivers State Forest, where backpacking campsites and a shelter front the river.


Featured Trails and Parks near Madison

Lafayette Blue Springs

Lafayette Blue Springs State Park

Lafayette Blue Springs State Park
Holton River Camp beach

Suwannee River Wilderness Trail

Suwannee River Wilderness Trail
Limestone formation along the Suwannee River

Suwannee River State Park

Suwannee River State Park
No Name Creek

Florida Trail, Suwannee

Florida Trail, Suwannee
View of railroad bridge and rivers from peninsula

Big Oak Trail

Big Oak Trail
Ladell Brothers Preserve

Ladell Brothers Outdoor Environmental Center

Ladell Brothers Outdoor Environmental Center
 
More Trails More Parks


Articles

Madison Blue Springs

Spring Hopping Around Tallahassee

July 1, 2019//  by Sandra Friend

Between Madison and Marianna and across Wakulla County, explore a colorful collection of natural springs for swimming and snorkeling, all within an hour of Tallahassee.

Kelly 28 Rd

Permanent closure of the Florida Trail between Suwannee and Aucilla Rivers

July 30, 2015//  by Sandra Friend

A permanent closure of 55 miles of the Florida Trail between the Suwannee and Aucilla Rivers leaves thru-hikers no alternative but a very lengthy roadwalk


NEARBY: Dowling Park, Live Oak, Mayo, Monticello, Perry, Tallahassee | PART OF: Northwest Florida

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