Suwannee Bicycle Association

Paddling Options

The Suwannee River flows out of the Okeefenokee Swamp in Fargo, Georgia, and flows unimpeded to the town of Suwannee on the Gulf of Mexico. The Suwannee River Water Management District maintains land along the river to preserve the natural environment along the watercourse.

Access points are measured by miles from the mouth of the river in the Gulf. The paddling distance from one point to another is the difference between their mileages. For example, a paddle from CR 6 (mile 196) to Cone Bridge Road (mile 187) is about 9 miles. (Of course, the boat ramps aren't at exact mileages; this page approximates within a mile.)

American Canoe is an outfitter in White Springs on Bridge Street on the other side of the blinking light from headquarters. They offer canoe rentals and shuttle services. The maps below show routes from HQ to the various boat ramps.

Some useful webpages for additional information:

Above White Springs

Fargo GA (mile 221) Map

Access: From White Springs, travel north on CR135 about 15 miles, turn right on County Road 6 to US 441, turn left and continue 16 miles to Fargo. Turn left on GA 94W, cross the river and turn right to the Stephen Foster Memorial Monument parking lot and boat ramp.

Roline tract (mile 202) Map

Access: From White Springs, travel north on CR135 about 15 miles, cross over County Road 6, continue north on Woodpecker Road 2 miles, then turn right on NE 38th Trail to the parking area and ramp.

Turner tract (mile 198) Map

Access: From White Springs, travel north on CR135 about 15 miles, cross over County Road 6, continue north on Woodpecker Road about a mile, then turn right on NE 25th Way to the parking area and ramp.

County Rd 6 (mile 196) Map

Access: From White Springs, travel north on CR135 about 15 miles, then turn right on County Road 6 for a mile, then follow the double track dirt path parallel to CR 6 as it approaches the river. The is space to park as you near the river.

Cone Bridge Rd (mile 187) Map

Access: From White Springs, travel south about 3 miles on US 41 to Lassie Black Road, then turn left on US 441 after about 5 miles, then turn left on Cone Bridge Road after 8 miles, to the parking area and ramp.

Big Shoals (mile 177) Map

Access: From White Springs, travel north on CR135 a few miles, turn right on SE 94th St, to the parking area in Big Shoals State Park.

Note: This take out is just above Big Shoals, the largest whitewater rapids in Florida. Unless the river is very high, or you are very experienced, missing this takeout can be dangerous. If you miss this takeout, there is portage takeout on the other side of the river, and then your only option will be to put back into the river below the shoals and continue to Wayside Park in White Springs.

Below White Springs

Wayside Park (mile 171) Map

Access: From White Springs, travel south about 2 miles on US 41 to Wayside Park. This is also one of the ends of the Bridge To Bridge mountain bike trail.

Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park (mile 168) Map

Access: From White Springs, travel north about on US 41 to the bottom of the hill, then follow the signs in the park to the boat ramp.

Blue Sink (mile 163) Map

Access: From White Springs, travel south about 3 miles on Hwy 136 to 27th Road, turn right and the access is about 3 miles down the road. Note that this take-out will be on the LEFT side of the river.

Swift Creek (mile 163) Map

Access: From White Springs, travel west about 3 miles on CR 25A to the Swift Creek Tract sign, turn left and follow the doubletrack to a dirt parking lot. Note that this take-out will be on the RIGHT side of the river, a little past Blue Sink on the other bank. Also note that there is not a boat ramp here, just a sandy bank. It is recommended that you make yourself familiar with this takeout point before getting on the river.

Rocky Creek (mile 162) Map

Access: From White Springs, travel south about 4 miles on Hwy 136 to Hwy 136A, turn right and continue less than a mile 53rd Road. Turn right and after almost 2 miles the road turns left and becomes 60th Place. Limited parking is available at the end of the road.

Woods Ferry (mile 158) Map

Access: From White Springs, travel south about 4 miles on Hwy 136 to Hwy 136A, turn right and after 3 miles turn right on 57th Drive. The entrance to the tract is about a mile down the road.

Around Suwannee River State Park

SBA holds Dog Days at Suwannee River SP, and enjoy paddling the rivers there along with the great cycing. Here are some start or end options day paddles is you're at the park. The boat ramp at the park is at mile 128 for paddling estimates.

Gibson Park (mile 136) Map

Access: Turn left coming out of the park on Stagecoach Rd. After about 6 and a half miles, turn left on CR 249 for another 4 miles. The park is on the other side of the river on the left.

Seven Sisters (mile 131) Map

Access: Turn right on US 90 out of the park across the river and turn right onto 277, and then left across the railroad tracks 3 miles, then turn right on FL 141 and go a mile, then turn right on SW 74th St and then SW 46th Ave to the boat ramp parking lot. A lot of this drive is on dirt roads that may be sandy and/or washboard. The parking lot is also one entrance to the Big Oak mountain bike trail. The Dog Days Saturday afternoon paddle has started here the past several years.

Anderson Springs (mile 124) Map

Access: Turn right on US 90 out of the park and turn left after a half mile onto River Road. The entrance to the Anderson Springs Tract is 2 miles, just past crossing I 10. This is also the trailhead for the mouontain bike trail. When the river is low, there may be some places on this paddle where some care may be needed to avoid rocks.

Withlacoochee River, Eagle Lake

These two paddles are alternatives to the Suwannee River.

Madison Blue Springs (mile 12) Map

Access: Turn right on US 90 and after 8 miles turn right on NE Old Blue Springs Rd, then right again to stay on it. After 4 miles turn right onto FL 6E, and Madison Blue Spring State Park will be on your right.

The Withlacoochee flows into the Suwannee about a hundred yards below the boat ramp at Suwannee River State Park, so this is a 12 mile paddle downstream, and then a hundred or so yards upstream on the Suwannee. There are sections that may require portaging depending on the state of the rapids, or carrying your boat if the river is lower. There is a longer route on slower back roads that is more conducive to bicycling back to Madison Blue Springs, though it includes a few miles of dirt road.

Eagle Lake Map

Access: Turn right (north) on US 41 at the blinking light for 3 miles, then turn right on SE CR 137. After about 3 and a half miles, turn left on SE 78th Place. After a half mile, turn right and cross the tracks and find a place to put in and park.

Eagle Lake is the result of phosphate mining. The lake is very deep, and there are a variety of birds, including eagles, in the trees around the lakes. There are also alligators and water moccasins, so stay alert.