Category Archives: Outing

Hike to Dead River Sink 2026-11-07

Camp and Paddle Suwannee River, Griffis Fish Camp, 2026-10-09

Update 2026-10-07: This outing is cancelled due to tropical storm Isaias. It’s too risky to be on the river for 14 miles with the predicted weekend weather of rain, gusty wind, and scattered thunderstorms. We’ll cancel this one and offer it again at another date. –Shirley Kokidko

Come out for two nights of camping at Griffis Fish Camp along the banks of the Suwannee River. You can arrive anytime Friday afternoon.

Saturday at 9 a.m. we’ll shuttle vehicles to the takeout in Fargo. The river is low so this 14 mile wilderness paddle will be an all day paddle with plenty of rest stops along the way. Cell service is not reliable after you leave Fargo. Bring some firewood if you can so we can enjoy our first campfire of the season and discuss more fun outings.

When: Gather 5 PM, launch none, Friday, October 9, 2026
Gather 9 AM, launch 9:30 AM, Saturday, October 10, 2026
Pack up whenever, Sunday, October 11, 2026

Put In: Griffis Fish Camp, 10333 Ga Highway 177 Fargo, Georgia 31631. From Fargo, travel south on US 441 to CR 177; turn left and travel 10 miles northeast; Griffis Fish Camp is on left, in Clinch County.

GPS: 30.78246, -82.443594

Camp and Paddle, Suwannee River, Griffis Camp to Fargo, Friday to Sunday, 2026-10-09-11

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Okefenokee Paddle to Minnie’s Lake, Suwannee River 2026-09-07

This is an 8 mile round trip wilderness paddle on one of the most scenic canoe trails in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.

We’ll be paddling 4 miles against the current to get to the platform at Minnie’s Lake. Have a rope for your boat to tie off at the platform. We’ll take a lunch break and then paddle back with the current. There will be plenty of birds and alligators to see.

When: Gather 9 AM, launch 9:30 AM, end 2:30 PM, Monday, September 7, 2026

Put In: Okefenokee State Park Ramp, formerly known as Stephen C. Foster State Park Ramp, 17515 GA-177, Fargo, GA 31631. From Fargo, travel south on US 441 to CR 177; turn left and travel to Okefenokee State Park, in Charlton County.
Paddlers usually put in down the access road from the ramp, at the west entrance to the one-of-a-kind Okefenokee Swamp.

GPS: 30.826833, -82.361333

Okefenokee Paddle, to Minnies Lake, Suwannee River, 2026-09-07

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Full Hunter’s Moon Paddle, Banks Lake 2026-10-26

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).

GPS: 31.034824, -83.096725

Full Hunter’s Moon Paddle, Banks Lake, 2026-10-26

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Videos: Full Hunters Moon Paddle, Banks Lake 2025-10-06

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://youtu.be/0ba4Qj6Y1Ds

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

There are more pictures below. Continue reading →

Full Harvest Moon Paddle, Banks Lake 2026-09-26

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).

GPS: 31.034824, -83.096725

Full Harvest Moon Paddle on Banks Lake, Sunset and Moonrise, Maybe bats 2026-09-26

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Pictures: Paddle Big Shoals to Suwannee Wayside Park, Suwannee River 2026-08-01

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

For more outings and events by WWALS, see

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Fannie Marie Jackson Gibbs, August 6, 1953-July 19, 2026

Fannie Gibbs was a friend of WWALS since its beginning. Others will recall her life. Here we recall her water advocacy.

Fannie Marie Jackson Gibbs, August 6, 1953-July 19, 2026, Juneteenth, Reed Bingham SP, When Great Trees Fall

First, Fannie in a boat. This was at Juneteenth at Reed Bingham State Park, June 19, 2021.

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Paddle Big Shoals to Suwannee Wayside Park, Suwannee River 2026-08-01

Update 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.

GPS: 30.3529705, -82.6879375

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