SUWANNEE RIVER
The Suwannee River is Florida’s contribution to the great rivers of the world. While it would not win any prizes for grandiose size, spectacular canyons, or mighty ports, it is one of the South’s last examples of “Old Man River.” The name, Suwannee, is an ancient Native American word that may have meant “echo.” Spelled a variety of ways, it appears in place names throughout the southeastern United States and has come to be synonymous with Dixie and the Old South. There are paddlers who have made the Suwannee their entire canoeing career—they need no other stream and never seek one.
The Suwannee drains out of the equally famous Okefenokee Swamp. A twisting river from its beginning just above Fargo, Georgia, it loops and curves across the Florida peninsula for more than 200 miles before it empties into the Gulf of Mexico. The upper stretches are characterized by sandy banks, rocky shoals, and a profusion of small waterfalls created by the entry of tiny streams. There are frequent swampy areas that provide overflow basins for floodwaters. Stately cypress and gnarled tupelos often grow in the river as well as along the banks. Access is limited, and the wildlife is abundant. Only the Withlacoochee River (north), the Alapaha River, and a few creeks feed the upper reaches of the Suwannee. As a result, the current tends to be slow and lazy except around the shoal areas. At low water, it is so undisturbed by current that it resembles a long, smooth lake mirroring white limestone banks and moss-draped trees.
A few miles above White Springs, a unique geological phenomenon produces Big Shoals, the largest white-water shoal in Florida; it can be a strenuous rapid. Immediately below Big Shoals are a couple of small springs, harbingers of the fantastic array of springs that will present themselves on the way to the Gulf. There are 22 major springs on the Suwannee and 27 on its tributary, the Santa Fe River. This accounts for the increasing size and volume of the river as it flows southward.
As in all rivers, the personality of the Suwannee undergoes a drastic change with any changes in water level. High water offers a faster current and easier paddling and makes Big Shoals a torrent of foaming, frothing turbulence. Low water is slower and more leisurely, but reveals white sandbars, gleaming castlelike limestone walls, and a treasure house of springs, caves, and grottoes. In general, the Suwannee is high during the late winter and spring and becomes lower during the summer and fall. Autumn has the advantage of low water, pleasant weather, fewer bugs, and the beautiful fall colors reflected in the clear water.
Almost every tree indigenous to north Florida can be seen at some point on the Suwannee. Stands of cypress and yellow pine, gum, magnolia, maple, holly, poplar, willow, and river birch are common. Wildlife includes deer, otters, and alligators, as well as beavers, raccoons, skunks, and armadillos.
Below Suwannee River State Park, the river broadens and becomes more accessible. This results in some motorboat traffic; the nearer the river gets to the Gulf, the larger and more powerful the boats you may encounter. However, the river passes along the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge. This public-land shoreline, along with the myriad tracts acquired by the Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD) throughout the Suwannee River Valley, keeps the river wild in appearance if not in fact. The SRWMD, which covers 15 counties, has acquired 47,000 acres on the Suwannee, including 70 percent of the river frontage in the upper river basin, and is developing the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail, which will become a series of cabins, chickees, and campsites along the river.
Camping is allowed on SRWMD lands, but is strictly prohibited on the wildlife refuge, making campsites scarce on the lowermost river near the town of Suwannee. SRWMD has an excellent handout listing all the boat ramps and canoe launches on the Suwannee that paddlers will find very helpful.
Among other adventures on the Suwannee, I have paddled this river from top to bottom in one trip and proclaim it as the finest touring river in the state and a first-rate adventure when paddling it in its entirety. Moreover, the Suwannee River is easy, leisurely paddling for even a novice canoeist. Big Shoals can be easily scouted and portaged if necessary, and none of the other shoals are sufficiently challenging to cause a problem. Boat ramps and canoe launches are frequent along the river, allowing trips of varied lengths. Campsites are not plentiful on the Suwannee, but every year hundreds of canoeists-campers manage to find a spot to pitch a tent. Start looking well before sundown and be willing to compromise; something will turn up, and once you have settled in, it will seem like home. Roads run within a few miles of the river from Fargo, Georgia, to the Gulf, and the countryside is dotted with crossroad communities and small towns. Limited supply runs can be made from the river at White Springs, Branford, and Fanning Springs and private and public campgrounds. For additional information, there is an excellent Web site, www.canoe-suwannee.com that is dedicated to paddling the Suwannee River.
MAPS: SUWANNEE RIVER WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT RIVER MAP, FARGO, NEEDMORE (GEORGIA), FARGO SW, BENTON, WHITE SPRINGS EAST, LIVE OAK EAST, HILLCOAT, FORT UNION, ELLAVILLE, FALMOUTH, MADISON SE, DOWLING PARK, DAY, MAYO, MAYO SE, O’BRIEN, BRANFORD, HATCHBEND, WANNEE, FANNING SPRINGS, MANATEE SPRINGS, VISTA, EAST PASS, SUWANNEE (FLORIDA) (USGS)
A Fargo, GA to CR 6
| Class | I (II) | |
| Length | 10 | |
| Time | Varies | |
| Gauge | Phone, Web | |
| Level | Spring fed | |
| Gradient | 1.2 | |
| Scenery | B- |
DESCRIPTION At Fargo, the Suwannee River has progressed 17 miles from Billy’s Lake in the Okefenokee Swamp and is 60 to 70 feet wide at low water. The state of Georgia has established an interpretive center with a boat ramp at the bridge crossing in Fargo. This makes an excellent access. However, determined paddlers can start in the Okefenokee or just outside its border at a private landing off GA 177. The banks are 2 to 5 feet high, sandy, and interspersed with large, swampy overflow areas. Campsites are scarce in high water, but some small sandbars are available when the river is low. The current is usually slow to nonexistent, so pace yourself accordingly. Cypress Creek enters from the east and Suwannacoochee Creek from the west a few miles below Fargo. Enter Florida at 12 miles. The boundary is roughly marked by Tom’s Creek. SRWMD lands border much of the river once you’re in Florida. Woodpecker Road, a graded and fairly well-maintained throughway, runs parallel to the river on the west. There is a small shoal just above the CR 6 bridge.
SHUTTLE To reach the uppermost put-in, head to Fargo, Georgia, located 5 miles north of the Florida–Georgia state line at the intersection of US 441 and GA 94. It is 38 miles due north of Lake City, Florida. The access is at Georgia’s Suwannee River interpretive center, which has a boat ramp. To reach the takeout from Lake City, drive north on US 441 to CR 6. Turn left on CR 6 and follow it to the bridge over the Suwannee River.
GAUGE Web. The USGS gauge is Suwannee River at White Springs, Florida. It should read between 51.6 and 65 feet for the best paddling.
B CR 6 to Stephen Foster State Park
| Class | I–I+ (III) | |
| Length | 26 | |
| Time | Varies | |
| Gauge | Web | |
| Level | 51.6–65 | |
| Gradient | 0.8 | |
| Scenery | A |
DESCRIPTION There are a few houses and trailers for the first 0.5 miles or so below CR 6, but the wilderness soon resumes. The banks have begun to be steeper since crossing the Florida state line, and this trend continues, making sandy campsites hard to spot from the water. Limestone outcroppings are more common and are frequently covered by bright green ferns, which reflect in the still water. Tupelo and cypress growing in the water often form a line down each side of the river with hardwoods and pines growing above them on the steep banks. The effect of this natural corridor is serenely beautiful. This is an area of abundant wildlife; otters and alligators are a frequent sight for the quiet canoeist.
The waters of the upper Suwannee are extremely dark due to the tannin from the swamp. This tends to reduce the amount of fish life in this section, but bass, catfish, and bream are caught. It is 10 miles from CR 6 to Cone Bridge Road.
Below the Cone Bridge Road access, the high banks and slow water continue. The lack of access makes this one of the most beautiful and remote sections of the river. Roaring Creek enters the river from the west just below Cone Bridge Road.
Deep Creek, a canoeable stream, flows in from the east about 3 miles above Big Shoals. The creek drains 25 percent of the Osceola National Forest and is one of the two areas in the forest where creek swamps are present. It is important to several endangered species because it has extensive mature hardwood stands and very little evidence of human disturbance.
Warning signs begin to appear on trees 0.75 miles above the rapids. Big Shoals can be scouted from the left bank, and there is a clearly marked trail to follow. At very low water it may be necessary to line the canoe through on the extreme left side. At low to normal water levels it can be run against the west bank. The rapids become more aggressive with increased water levels and at high water may have standing waves 2 to 3 feet high.
The rapid consists of a double drop, with the upper drop having a curl coming in from each side so that it has to be run exactly in the middle to keep the boat dry. Thirty yards below the upper drop is another drop of 4 feet with a standing wave at the bottom. Just below the final drop is a rock, strategically located at just the point that paddlers have started congratulating themselves on having successfully run the rapids.
Big Shoals is rated a moderate to strenuous rapid depending on the volume of water flowing through it. It should always be scouted before it is run. If in doubt about your skill or the turbulence of the water, carry around. In any event, it is probably wise to unload your canoe and carry all but your essentials to the bottom of the rapid. Wear your personal flotation device. There are large, sharp, limestone boulders in this rapid, and even good swimmers can bump their heads if a canoe capsizes.
Big Shoals Public Land has a canoe access, picnic area, and hiking and mountain-biking trails. Those wishing to paddle Big Shoals use the old Godwin Bridge access, then head down to the US 41 bridge access. Robinson Creek enters just below Big Shoals on the east bank. Paddle into it for a very short distance to see an interesting waterfall. Like Deep Creek, it drains from the Osceola National Forest. Bell Springs, the most northern named spring on the Suwannee, is located on the east bank. It is on private property and has been developed for use as a fish pond and swimming pool. Its drainage into the river is not identifiable as a spring run.
Downriver from the shoals, the river returns to its snail pace. Little Shoals, a series of rocky ledges, will be encountered a mile or so upstream from White Springs and serves to liven up the trip. Falling Creek enters from the east at Little Shoals. It is 14 miles from Cone Bridge Road to the US 41 bridge.
For 1 mile below US 41, the river flows around the town of White Springs. Just below FL 136 is the relic of the old springhouse for what used to be called White Sulphur Springs. Records indicate that the first springhouse was built in 1835. The Colonial Hotel and Springhouse, built in the early 1900s, served as a spa and health sanatorium until the 1960s. The spring is enclosed by the concrete foundations of the former bathhouse. Just north of the spring is the entrance to the Stephen Foster State Folk Culture Center. An annual Folk Festival is held on Memorial Day weekend. There is a museum, carillon tower, picnic tables, restrooms, and shaded walking trails, but no camping facilities. It is a little over 2 miles from the US 41 bridge down to the canoe launch at Stephen Foster State Park.
SHUTTLE To reach the put-in from White Springs, Florida, head north on CR 135 to CR 6. Turn right on CR 6 and follow it to the bridge over the Suwannee River. The lowermost takeout is just west of White Springs, off US 41, at Stephen Foster State Park.
GAUGE Web. The USGS gauge is Suwannee River at White Springs, Florida. It should read between 51.6 and 65 feet for the best paddling.
C Stephen Foster S.P. to Suwannee River S.P.
| Class | I | |
| Length | 40 | |
| Time | Varies | |
| Gauge | Web | |
| Level | 51.6–65 | |
| Gradient | 0.7 | |
| Scenery | A |
DESCRIPTION Varied access points make this section either a great overnight camping endeavor or several day paddles. At White Springs, the river turns and flows to the west. The Florida Trail begins to follow the north bank of the Suwannee from White Springs and will continue to do so to Suwannee River State Park. Below White Springs, the high limestone banks continue with only an occasional small sandbar. Five miles downriver and within sight of Interstate 75, Swift Creek enters from the north. It is well named, as it rushes through a rocky canyon into the river. I-75, 8 miles downriver, offers no access to the river. It marks the beginning of an area of lower banks and beautiful sandbars.
SRWMD public lands continue on much of the river between US 41 and US 129. The high limestone walls are still present, but now the tendency is to have low banks on one side of the river and high banks on the other. At other times, vertical limestone banks on both sides will present graceful corridors that resemble the walls of castles. Caves and grottoes have been worn into the rock, and the water makes hollow musical sounds as the wake of the canoe moves along the crevices. Occasionally water can be heard dripping far up inside unseen caves inside the walls.
Within 3 miles of Suwannee Springs there is a small waterfall and a residential community in the woods on the north bank. Fishermen in small boats begin to appear and in the summertime, swimmers and sunbathers frequent the sandbars on the south bank. Despite its popularity, this section is one of the most beautiful and pristine on the entire river.
It is 18 miles from Stephen Foster State Park to Suwannee Springs and the US 129 bridge. Suwannee Springs is a town that progress has left behind. There was a post office in the town in 1834; in the early 1880s a resort hotel was built that was said to be one of the finest hostelries in the southeast. A railroad that ran to the front door of the hotel ferried guests back and forth to the town of New Branford, where they boarded a paddleboat for the journey to the Gulf. All that is left of this grandeur is the rock retaining wall that separated the springs from the Suwannee River, a few houses, and an abandoned bridge. At least six springs compose the Suwannee Springs, four of them outside the wall that confines the main spring. In warm weather, this spot is well populated with swimmers and sunbathers.
There is a railroad trestle just below US 129 and intermittent pastureland for perhaps another mile. A house on the north bank is the only sign of development until you reach the Florida Sheriffs’ Boys Ranch. The north bank beyond the Boys Ranch is SRWMD land for some distance. The high limestone banks continue for several miles but begin to be less noticeable as the river straightens and the banks become sandy and heavily wooded. Sandbars are found only on the inside of sharp bends, which are now less common. Campsites are infrequent and would involve carrying gear up high banks into the woods.
Holton Creek enters the Suwannee on the north bank about 2.5 miles upstream from the junction with the Alapaha River. Its source is Holton Spring, a first-magnitude spring located 1 mile up the spring run from the Suwannee River. There is also a small spring on the south bank of the river just below the entrance of the creek. Irrigation pipes and other signs of development are evident as well. One-half mile above the confluence of the Alapaha River, another first-magnitude spring, Alapaha Rise, enters the river from the north side. This spring appears to consist of a single vent at the head of a depression about 150 feet in diameter. It is at the foot of steep, limestone walls, which persist down the 300-foot run to the river. The spring water is a very dark tannin color.
There is some controversy about the location of the actual confluence of the Alapaha River into the Suwannee. A healthy, vigorous river for more than 100 miles through south Georgia, only in times of above-normal rainfall does it actually flow into the Suwannee. Evidently at some point between Statenville, Georgia, and south of the Florida line, the Alapaha, or some portion of it, goes underground. The result is a clearly defined riverbed leading into Florida and down to the Suwannee that is frequently either a series of potholes or is completely dry. Local people in this area believe that Alapaha Rise spring is the true resurrection of the Alapaha River.
In any event, the confluence with the riverbed of the Alapaha is 0.5 miles downstream from the spring. A Hamilton County recreation area, Gibson Park, is located here, and a boat ramp, grassy picnic site, and camping area are provided. It is 15 miles from US 129 to the Alapaha.
Below the confluence of the Alapaha, the Suwannee widens even more, and houses can be observed on both banks for the next few miles. The boundaries of the state park begin on the west side of the river less than 4 miles downstream. On the east bank, Lime Spring flows into the river. This run is also called Dry Branch or Dry Run. This is a pleasant spot for one last dip before reaching the Suwannee River State Park.
Just below this spring on the west bank is a privately owned camp store and boat ramp. Hiking trails, campsites, picnicking, water, and electricity are available in the state park. Like all Florida state parks, it closes at sundown. If you leave your car parked there, it will be protected, but be sure that you check with the ranger to get the combination to the gate in case you arrive after dark. It is 8 miles from the Alapaha to Suwannee River State Park.
SHUTTLE To reach the lowermost takeout in this section from Live Oak, head west on US 90 to Suwannee River State Park. The uppermost put-in is just west of White Springs, Florida off US 41, at Stephen F. Foster State Park.
GAUGE Web. The USGS gauge is Suwannee River at White Springs, Florida. It should read between 51.6 and 65 feet for the best paddling.
D Suwannee River State Park to FL 51
| Class | I | |
| Length | 31 | |
| Time | Varies | |
| Gauge | Web | |
| Level | 51.6–65 | |
| Gradient | 0.6 | |
| Scenery | B |
DESCRIPTION Below the confluence with the Withlacoochee, the Suwannee widens to 150 feet before narrowing again. Occasional shoals cross the river, depending on water levels. Pass under I-10 at 3 miles. Anderson Spring, just below I-10 on the east bank of the river, is a shallow pool about 50 feet in diameter with a 150-foot run to the Suwannee that is usually dry. Live oaks line the Suwannee’s sandy banks, occasionally broken by limestone walls where nameless springs boil up. Cypress trees decline in number, and sandbars are fewer, often covered with grasses. Reach the town of Dowling Park after 14 miles.
Houses border the river, save for occasional SRWMD lands, which are marked. Reach Charles Spring at 21 miles. Here, translucent, sky-blue pools are divided by a small limestone bridge. Charles Spring flows down a short run into the Suwannee River. Allen Mill Pond, at 22 miles on the west side of the river, is a 150-foot-long pond with at least three spring vents. It flows about 0.5 miles to the river. Thomas Spring is slightly more than a mile south of Charles Spring on the east bank of the Suwannee.
Reach Blue Spring at 25 miles. Perry Spring, less than 2 miles north of FL 51 on the west bank, is a small spring pool with a short run emptying into the Suwannee.
SHUTTLE To reach the put-in from Live Oak, head west on US 90 to Suwannee River State Park. To reach the takeout from Live Oak, head south on FL 51 toward Mayo. Just after the Adams Bridge over the Suwannee River, turn left into a park and boat launch, on the southeast side of the bridge.
GAUGE Web. The USGS gauge is Suwannee River at White Springs, Florida. It should read between 51.6 and 65 feet for the best paddling.
E FL 51 to Branford
| Class | I | |
| Length | 22 | |
| Time | Varies | |
| Gauge | Web | |
| Level | 51.6–65 | |
| Gradient | 0.4 | |
| Scenery | A– |
DESCRIPTION The land is lower here, resulting in more pressure on the underlying limestone, making the aquifer more likely to break through, creating springs. Telford Spring, 1 mile east of FL 51 on the east bank, is a small, clear pool with a run of 100 feet to the Suwannee. There are houses directly across the river. Irvine Slough is a swampy area on the east bank of the Suwannee extending from Luraville Springs, due north of Telford Spring, for about a mile downriver to the vicinity of Peacock Slough. Peacock Slough empties into the Suwannee from the east bank 1.5 miles downstream from FL 51. Bonnet Spring and Peacock Spring are its source, 1.5 miles north.
Running Springs is privately owned and fenced. An old iron bridge appears just below Running Springs. This former railroad bridge has a large cylindrical pylon in the center. Between the pylon and the metal span are wheels. Back when the bridge was functional, these wheels would allow the entire span to pivot from its usual location crossing the river to run parallel with the watercourse, allowing paddlewheelers with tall smokestacks to pass. Cattle ranches and houses border the river here. Convict Springs, at 6 miles, has a privately owned campground nearby. The spring vent is in the northern end of a 20-by-50-foot teardrop-shaped pool that has been enclosed with a concrete wall.
Pass a few narrow wooded islands abutted by mild but perceptible shoals that save a few strokes of the paddle. Mearson Spring, at 11 miles, is a 25-by-50-foot pool surrounded by high banks. It discharges about 75 feet into the Suwannee. SRWMD lands are generally on the last half of this section. Troy Spring is at 17 miles. It is a first-magnitude spring pumping 66 million gallons of water daily. Visible in its depths is the Madison, a Confederate supply ship that was intentionally run aground to keep it from falling into Union hands. The hull of this steamboat points toward the head of the spring. This is part of Troy Spring State Park.
Little River Springs, at 19 miles, is clear and blue. The vent is the entrance to a cave system more than 1,200 feet long and 100 feet deep. It has a short run over a sandy bottom. Branford Springs is southeast of the junction of US 27 and US 129 at the town of Branford. It is part of Ivey Memorial Park. Branford Springs is said to pump 6.8 million gallons daily.
SHUTTLE To reach the put-in from Branford, head north on US 27 to Mayo and FL 51. Turn right on FL 51 and head north to Adams Bridge over the Suwannee River. A boat launch and park are on the southeast side of the bridge. To reach the takeout from Live Oak, drive south on US 129 to Branford and US 27. Turn right on US 27 and reach Ivey Memorial Park, on the east side of the river.
GAUGE Web. The USGS gauge is Suwannee River at White Springs, Florida. It should read between 51.6 and 65 feet for the best paddling.
F Branford to Fanning Springs
| Class | I | |
| Length | 42.75 | |
| Time | Varies | |
| Gauge | Web | |
| Level | 51.6–65 | |
| Gradient | 0.6 | |
| Scenery | B |
DESCRIPTION Branford Springs is a popular cave-diving area. Below Branford Springs, pass along some SRWMD lands, where there are campsites aplenty, interspersed with houses. Limestone banks become more sporadic below Branford. On higher ground are live oaks and pine. Low-slung humps of willow, river birch, and cypress line the river. Behind many of these humps are extensive swamps that fill when summer’s thunderstorms drift over the Suwannee River valley.
Come to the confluence of the Santa Fe River at 10 miles. There was a Spanish mission here in the 1600s, near the confluence. The river widens to 200 feet below the Santa Fe, making a fairway for winds. A segment of the west bank below the confluence is SRWMD lands. Turtle Springs, at 12 miles, is a keyhole-shaped pool that makes a short run to the Suwannee. More houses appear along the river. The width of the river brings a corresponding increase in boat size. Manatees may be seen here.
Rock Bluff Springs is on the left bank. Cypress trees with huge buttresses flank the spring run. It has a large pool near the site of an old ferry crossing. Now privately owned, it pumps 27 million gallons daily. The FL 340 bridge just below Rock Bluff Springs is reached at 19.5 miles. Gornto Springs, at 21 miles, is abutted by a little county park with a boat ramp, a few campsites, and a nice dock. Below Log Landing, at 24 miles, SRWMD lands abut both sides of the river. Hart Springs, at 33 miles, is on the east side of the Suwannee. Hart Springs has a campground and camp store.
Reach the town of Old Town at 38 miles, and the start of the longest continuous populated stretch of river. The houses are all low-rises up on pilings. The banks remain populated until Fanning Springs and the US 98 bridge, the last span over the Suwannee.
SHUTTLE To reach the put-in at Branford from Fanning Springs, take US 98 north to Old Town. Turn right on FL 349 and follow it north to US 27. Turn right on US 27 and follow it to the bridge over the Suwannee River. On the east side of the bridge is Ivey Memorial Park and a boat ramp. The takeout is at the Joe H. Anderson Sr. boat ramp, on the Dixie County side of the river, opposite Fanning Springs. From the bridge over US 98, head west, toward Perry, then turn south on 989 Street, then turn left on 155 Avenue to reach the boat ramp. There is also a canoe launch on the opposite bank at Fanning Springs State Recreation Area. If you’re leaving a car overnight, consider leaving it at one of the local adjacent campgrounds for a small fee.
GAUGE Web. The USGS gauge is Suwannee River at White Springs, Florida. It should read between 51.6 and 65 feet for the best paddling.
G Fanning Springs to Gulf of Mexico
| Class | I | |
| Length | 42.75 | |
| Time | Varies | |
| Gauge | Web | |
| Level | 51.6–65 | |
| Gradient | 0.6 | |
| Scenery | B |
DESCRIPTION The US 98 bridge at Fanning Springs is the lowermost bridge over the river. The town of Fanning Springs is a product of the Seminole Wars, starting out as Fort Fanning in 1836. The fort was later occupied by Confederate troops during the Civil War. From here, they successfully sank a 90-foot Union gunboat with cannon fire near the mouth of the springs. Divers can still see the gunboat. Beyond Fanning Springs, on the east bank, is Andrews Wildlife Management Area. This 4,000-acre parcel, home to the largest remaining tract of hardwood forest in the Suwannee Valley, was acquired in 1985 through the Save Our Rivers program. Four Florida State Champion trees grow here: Florida maple, persimmon, river birch, and bluff oak. Cattails and sawgrass appear occasionally on the banks.
Manatee Springs State Park is reached after 9 miles. Paddlers access the park by heading directly up the gorgeous spring run alongside a boardwalk. It boils up over 80,000 gallons of clear water per minute where lots of fish, turtles, and other aquatic life thrive.
The river remains very wide from here on out. Paddlers should pick a bank to hang alongside for wind protection and better scenery. Yellow Jacket Landing, at 12 miles, is the last landing on the west bank. From here on down, the land is mostly part of the Lower Suwannee Wildlife Refuge with no camping allowed. This refuge protects most of the lower Suwannee River basin and also fronts 26 miles of the Gulf Coast, making this one of the largest undeveloped river deltas in the United States. A few houses will indicate Fowlers Bluff, on the east bank at 18 miles. Tidal influence becomes significant below Fowlers Bluff, with small tidal creeks spurring off the Suwannee. When nearing the town of Suwannee, hug the west bank. When you see houses, look for the sign to Suwannee Marina, up Demory Creek. This access is actually 4 miles above the mouth of the Suwannee River, which becomes even wider with salt marsh grasses and palm islands.
SHUTTLE To reach the lowermost takeout from Fanning Springs, take US 98 north to the intersection with FL 349. Turn left (south), and then follow Dixie CR 349 to the town of Suwannee. Turn left at Southeast 885th Avenue, then make a quick right on Southeast 228th Street and follow it to the Suwannee Marina ([352] 542-9159; www.suwanneemarinainc.150m.com). Make sure to notify the staff if you wish to leave a car overnight and leave them your name and tag number. Offer to pay a parking fee when you arrive. The put-in is at the Joe H. Anderson Sr. boat ramp, on the Dixie County side of the river, opposite Fanning Springs. From the US 98 bridge in Fanning Springs, head west toward Perry, turn south on 989th Street, then turn left on 155th Avenue to reach the boat ramp. There is also a canoe launch on the opposite bank at Fanning Springs State Recreation Area. If you’ll be leaving a car overnight, consider parking it at one of the local adjacent campgrounds for a small fee.
GAUGE Web. The USGS gauge is Suwannee River at White Springs, Florida. To ensure the best paddling, check for a reading of between 51.6 and 65 feet.