Join us as we camp two nights and paddle the Upper Suwannee River, between the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Fargo, Georgia, around Griffis Fish Camp, on the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail.

When: 4:00 PM, Friday, February 15, 2019, Camping, Griffis Fish Camp

Put In: Gather 8AM, launch 9AM, Saturday, February 16, 2019, Griffis Fish Camp to Fargo Boat Ramp
Gather 8AM, launch 9AM, Sunday, February 17, 2019, Suwannee River Sill to Griffis Camp

GPS: for Griffis Fish Camp: 30.782505, -82.4436

Take Out: Friday camping,
Saturday take out at Fargo,
Sunday take out at Griffis Camp.

Bring: a tow rope and the usual personal flotation device, boat paddles, food, drinking water, warm clothes, and first aid kit. Also trash pickers and trash bags: every WWALS outing is also a cleanup.

Free: This outing is free to WWALS members, and $10 (ten dollars) per day for non-members. We recommend you support the work of WWALS by becoming a WWALS member today!

Event: facebook, meetup

Join us for a weekend of camping and paddling from Griffis Fish Camp on the beautiful upper Suwannee River in Georgia.

Camping at Griffis Fish Camp:

Camping cost is $5.00 per person per night, which Mr. Griffis will collect from you after you have set up camp, so you might want to bring some cash. You do not need to call for reservations. Water & electricity will be accessible, hot showers and toilets available. You may want to bring your drinking water for the weekend, water at the camp has sulfur. This campground is just before you get to the gate for Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge & Stephen C. Foster State Park.

Even if you don’t want to camp, we still want you to come and paddle with us! Meet us at the campground and be ready to begin the shuttle at 8a.

While you are in the vicinity, you can also explore the Okefenokee Swamp by launching from Stephen C. Foster State Park a couple of miles away.

Saturday long paddle from Griffis Camp to Fargo:

Saturday morning we will leave from the camp ground at 8 a.m. to shuttle vehicles to the take out in Fargo. We will launch our kayaks from Griffis Camp and paddle 14 miles down river to the ramp in Fargo at the bridge , where our vehicles will be waiting. Bring PFD, a tow rope, plenty of drinks/snacks/lunch and we will look for some high ground along the way to get out for breaks. This will be a long paddle so be prepared for all day on the river. It can be cold in February.

Duration: 8 hours

Shuttle distance: 11.3 miles one way

Shuttle duration: 40 minutes

Paddle distance: 14 miles

Paddle duration: 7 hours

Saturday evening we’ll relax around the campfire and share a potluck meal together. So bring a comfortable chair, firewood and maybe something to share, if you want. I’ll find out what the grill situation is at the campsites and we can decide on a simple menu.

Sunday short paddle from Suwannee River Sill to Griffis Camp:

Sunday morning we will have an optional short paddle, before breaking camp, from the Suwannee Sill boat ramp back to Griffis Camp.

Duration: 2 hours

Shuttle distance: 3.5 miles one way

Shuttle duration: 15 minutes

Paddle distance: 3 miles

Paddle duration: 1.5 hours

Relevant to both paddles:

Gauge: Fargo, Georgia. High water is generally good in these upper river stretches, but that also makes getting lost in the woods easy.

Host: Shirley Kokidko, who would live on the Suwannee River if she could.

Contact: Shirley Kokidko

Backup: in case of high or low water is: none, because we have another outing in February: the Hike to Dead River Sink, Alapaha River, Jennings Bluff Launch, 2019-01-19.

More: For more WWALS outings and events as they are posted, see the WWALS calendar or the WWALS outings and events web page. WWALS members also get an upcoming list in the Tannin Times newsletter.

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

You can join this fun and work by becoming a WWALS member today!

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