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.
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.
Our Florida Trail Books & Guides
Disclosure: As authors and affiliates, we receive earnings when you buy these through our links. This helps us provide public information on this website.
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.
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. 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.
American Canoe Adventures in White Springs provides shuttle services. 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
Mileages
Important landmarks starting with mile 0 at Deep Creek trailhead in Osceola National Forest and ending at mile 78 at Winquepin Road.
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
**denotes potable water available nearby, not necessarily at trailhead.
Trail Segments
Details about all segments of the Florida Trail in this section are in The Florida Trail Guide and app. The hikes below are some of our favorites for this section.
Each is described from the perspective of a day hiker, noting landmarks, water, and campsites along the way. Not all are oriented from south to north, but this is the order they are in northbound.
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.
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.
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, 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 roller-coaster through river bluff forests and sandy beaches.
FT Suwannee Springs to Holton Creek Following tall river bluffs with geologic wonders, this scenic section of the Florida Trail provides stunning views of the limestone-bordered waters of the Suwannee.
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, 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. 
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.
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.Public Lands
Details on some of the public lands this section of the Florida Trail crosses.
Osceola National Forest The smallest of Florida's national forests, the Osceola National Forest carries the weight of history hidden in its dense stands of longleaf pine.
Big Shoals State Park Florida's largest series of rapids churn the Suwannee River into Class III whitewater along the stretch of river bounded by Big Shoals 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.
Suwannee River Wilderness Trail Showcasing springs, sandy beaches, waterfalls, and haunting swamp forests where manatees gather, the 170-mile Suwannee River Wilderness Trail is a paddling trip of a lifetime
Suwannee River State Park Perched on rugged limestone bluffs along one of Florida’s most iconic waterways, Suwannee River State Park preserves significant historical sites in stunning natural landscapes. Connections
These sections of the Florida Trail adjoin the Suwannee section to its north and south.
Florida Trail, Big Bend Crossing rural farms and forests, this 116 mile segment of the Florida Trail reveals the secrets of the Aucilla River before tracing the Gulf coastline at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge.
Florida Trail, Northeast Florida Connecting public lands on this 123 mile stretch, the Florida Trail walks into the past through farms and timberlands between Palatka and Osceola National Forest.Recent Articles
I Did A (Bit of) I Did-A-Hike (3/15/2019) 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.
Mountain Biking and the Florida Trail (3/3/2016) 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.
- Michael Crotty Bicentennial Park - November 3, 2026
- A.J. Henry Park - November 1, 2026
- Okeeheelee Nature Center Trails - October 22, 2026