Join us for a leisurely Sunset and Full Moon Paddle on our mini-Okefenokee, Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge, just west of Lakeland, Georgia.
This Outing is honoring Farmers, who get free entry.
When: Gather 6 PM, launch 6:30 PM, moonrise 7 PM, sunset 6:50 PM, end 8 PM, Monday, October 26, 2026
Put In: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635, in Lanier County, on the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT).
![[Full Hunter's Moon Paddle, Banks Lake, 2026-10-26]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2026-10-26--full-hunters-moon-paddle/fbmany.jpg)
Full Hunter’s Moon Paddle, Banks Lake, 2026-10-26
The moon rose before the sun set over Banks Lake. Not just any moon: a supermoon. The moon’s orbit is not a circle, and it was the closest it ever comes, appearing 18% larger than some other times.
Thanks to Kimberly Godden Tanner for leading this paddle. A little drizzle didn’t stop us. The bats didn’t come out, but we heard them in their tree.
Video:
https://www.facebook.com/Wwalswatershed/videos/1480346073300582/
https://www.instagram.com/p/DPmBkixiHE6/
![[Full Hunters Moon Paddle, Banks Lake NWR, West of Lakeland, GA, 2025-10-06]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-10-06--banks-lake-full-hunters-moon-pictures/fbmany.jpg)
Full Hunters Moon Paddle, Banks Lake NWR, West of Lakeland, GA, 2025-10-06
There are more pictures below. Continue reading
Leisurely Sunset and Full Moon Paddle in Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge, our mini-Okefenokee just west of Lakeland, Georgia.
When: Gather 6:30 PM, launch 7 PM, moonrise 7:18 PM, sunset 7:24 PM, end 8:30 PM, Saturday, September 26, 2026
Put In: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635, in Lanier County, on the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT).
![[Full Harvest Moon Paddle on Banks Lake, Sunset and Moonrise, Maybe bats 2026-09-26]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2026-09-26--full-harvest-moon-paddle/fbmany.jpg)
Full Harvest Moon Paddle on Banks Lake, Sunset and Moonrise, Maybe bats 2026-09-26
A 6 mile paddle from Big Shoals State Park to Suwannee Wayside Park in White Springs, with some boat dragging, on August 1, 2026.
Shirley Kokidko led this expedition. See also her facebook post.
That’s James Malenfant dragging his boat.
![[Paddled Big Shoals to Suwannee Wayside Park, Suwannee River, 2026-08-01]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2026-08-01--big-little-shoals-suwannee-river-pictures/many.jpg)
Paddled Big Shoals to Suwannee Wayside Park, Suwannee River, 2026-08-01
For more outings and events by WWALS, see
Fannie Gibbs was a friend of WWALS since its beginning. Others will recall her life. Here we recall her water advocacy.
First, Fannie in a boat. This was at Juneteenth at Reed Bingham State Park, June 19, 2021.
Continue readingUpdate 2026-08-11: Pictures: Paddle Big Shoals to Suwannee Wayside Park, Suwannee River 2026-08-01.
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.
![[Paddle Big Shoals to Suwannee Wayside Park, Suwannee River, Saturday, August 1, 2026]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2026-08-01--big-little-shoals-suwannee-river/fbmany.jpg)
Paddle Big Shoals to Suwannee Wayside Park, Suwannee River, Saturday, August 1, 2026
Leisurely Sunset and Full Moon Paddle on Banks Lake, our mini-Okefenokee just west of Lakeland, Georgia.
When: Gather 7 PM, launch 7:30 PM, moonrise 8:20 PM, sunset 8 PM, end 9 PM, Friday, August 28, 2026
Put In: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635, in Lanier County, on the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT).
![[Full Sturgeon Moon Paddle, Banks Lake, West of Lakeland, Georgia, 7 PM, Friday, August 28, 2026]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2026-08-28--full-sturgeon-moon-paddle/fbmany.jpg)
Full Sturgeon Moon Paddle, Banks Lake, West of Lakeland, Georgia, 7 PM, Friday, August 28, 2026
Come see the beauty of a sunset and full moon rising across the lake. And there may be bats.
When: Gather 7:30 PM, launch 8 PM, moonrise 8:48 PM, sunset 8:29 PM, end 9:30 PM, Wednesday, July 29, 2026
Put In: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635, in Lanier County, on the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT).
![[Full Buck Moon Paddle, Banks Lake 2026-07-29, See the sun set and the moon rise]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2026-07-29--full-buck-moon-paddle/fbmany.jpg)
Full Buck Moon Paddle, Banks Lake 2026-07-29, See the sun set and the moon rise
Join us for an eight-mile paddle on the beautiful Suwannee River with a short detour upstream to the Alapaha River Rise, where that river reemerges after traveling underground for 10 miles. We will paddle by the confluence of the the Alapaha River, as well as several springs along the way to Suwannee River State Park (SRSP).
Gibson County Park entry is free but there is a $5 fee for the State Park, fees are collected via online payment or QR code. Check SRSP’s webpage if you need more information.
When: Gather 9 AM, launch 10 AM, end 2:30 PM, Saturday, June 27, 2026
Put In: Gibson County Park, 6844 SW CR 751, Jasper, FL 32052. Right bank, west side of the river. From Jasper, Hamilton County, FL, travel southwest on Right bank. SW CR 249 to SW CR 751; turn left and boat ramp is on the right in Gibson Park, in Hamilton County.
![[Gibson County Park to SRSP, Suwannee River 2026-06-27, Alapaha River Rise, Suwannee River State Park]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2026-06-27--gibson-park-srwsp-suwannee-river-paddle/fbmany.jpg)
Gibson County Park to SRSP, Suwannee River 2026-06-27, Alapaha River Rise, Suwannee River State Park
We’ll paddle through a couple of shoals, known as Jennings Defeat: have a tow rope on your boat. There are a few small waterfalls along this stretch from Georgia into Florida.
The takeout is near the confluence of the Alapahoochee & Alapaha Rivers so you have the opportunity to paddle up to Turkett Creek Waterfall before leaving. It’s a real treat!
This 10.36 mile paddle is not recommended for beginners due to deadfall in the river to weave through and lack of level ground to get out of your kayak; there are high banks along this section.
Beware that the last time we did this stretch as a WWALS outing, two people ended up getting married.
When: Gather 8:30 AM, launch 9:30 AM, end 2:30 PM, Saturday, June 13, 2026
Put In: Statenville Boat Ramp, 206 GA 94 West, Statenville, GA 31648, right bank, west of river, north of highway bridge, in Echols County.
GPS: 30.704437, -83.03468
Continue reading![[Fannie Marie Jackson Gibbs, August 6, 1953-July 19, 2026, Juneteenth, Reed Bingham SP, When Great Trees Fall]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2026-07-19--fannie-gibbs/fbmany.jpg)
![[Statenville to Sasser Landing, Alapaha River 2026-06-13, Jennings Defeat Shoals, Turket Creek Waterfall]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2026-06-13--alapaha-statenville-sasser/fbmany.jpg)