Join WWALS for a 6 mile paddle from Big Shoals State Park to Suwannee Wayside Park in White Springs.

This paddle may not be appropriate for beginners due to the bumpy stretch of low, Little Shoals to navigate through. Be prepared to portage your kayak 400 feet around Big Shoals. If you have light wheels for your kayak, they will be handy for the portage. Wear shoes appropriate for slippery rocks.

Along the way are the remains of Old Godwin Bridge, the outflow of Bell Springs, a second magnitude spring in Columbia County, and Falling Creek, plus some other creeks.

When: Gather 9 AM, launch 10 AM, end 2 PM, Saturday, August 1, 2026

Put In: Big Shoals Tract Launch, From White Springs, travel north on CR 135 to SE 94 Street (Godwin Bridge Road); turn right and follow road to Big Shoals, in Hamilton County, Florida.

GPS: 30.3529705, -82.6879375

Paddle Big Shoals to Suwannee Wayside Park, Suwannee River, Saturday, August 1, 2026

Take Out: Suwannee Wayside Park

Boats: Bring your own kayak or canoe if you can.
If you do not have one, we may be able to provide one if you ask in advance.

Bring: 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.
Please follow Leave No Trace principles by packing out all trash, avoiding damage to vegetation, and respecting wildlife.

Safety: Be on time. If you miss the safety briefing, you cannot paddle with us.
Each person in a boat, no matter how young or old, must wear a PFD.

Free: This outing is free to WWALS members, and $10 (ten dollars) for non-members. Please prepay the $10 online:
https://wwals.net/outings
Or bring cash to the outing. Credit card payments may or may not be available.
Refunds are not generally given because they cost WWALS the fee in both directions.
The non-member outing fee may be used at a future outing.
If this is not acceptable, a refund can be made, but please know that it is taking money from our programs.

We recommend you support the work of WWALS by becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations

Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1709133866958388

meetup

Paddle: 6 miles and four hours.

Shuttle: 12 miles and 25 minutes round trip.

Host: Shirley Kokidko

Contact: Shirley Kokidko

Backup: in case of bad weather or high or low water is: Cancel

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

Walk to Suwannee River, Big Shoals Tract Launch 10:21:58, –jsq for WWALS 30.3532620, -82.6873510

Big Shoals Portage 2026-07-21 –Shirley Kokidko

Big Shoals 2026-07-21 –Shirley Kokidko

Little Shoals 2026-07-21 –Shirley Kokidko

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

You can help with clean, swimmable, fishable, drinkable, water in the 10,000-square-mile Suwannee River Basin in Florida and Georgia by becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations

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