Gibson Park Ramp will not be closed for upcoming work, except possibly briefly.
Inquiring minds wanted to know, so I called Chuck Burnett, Director, Hamilton County Parks & Recreation.
The work is actually about the dock, not the ramp. Continue reading
Down at the designation of the new Jennings Bluff State Geological Site with Dead River Sink 2023-03-17 the Florida Geological Survey (FGS) was giving out links to a report on the Alapaha Swallets Dye Trace Project.
That’s where FGS, FDEP, and SRWMD put fluorescent green dye in the Dead River Sink, back on June 22, 2016, and watched for it to come back up.
As you can see by the graph, the dye came back up four days later in the ALapaha River Rise, and eight days later in Holton Creek Rise.
The report is available Continue reading
Update 2023-05-01: Alapaha Swallets Dye Trace Project 2016-10-01.
A congenial time was had by all on a balmy north Florida day at the Dead River Sink (or swallet) as the Florida Geological Survey incorporated it into the new Jennings Bluff Tract State Geological Site.
![[Jennings Bluff State Geological Site and Dead River Sink 2023-03-17]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/gretchen/2023-03-17--jennings-bluff-dead-river-pictures/many.jpg)
Jennings Bluff State Geological Site and Dead River Sink 2023-03-17
The Dead River Sink in the Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD) Jennings Bluff Tract is one of the most popular spots for WWALS outings on the Alapaha River Water Trail.
Here is a WWALS video playlist by Gretchen Quarterman, who also took the still pictures except where otherwise indicated:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKwQ5xfKf-QwFQi2rSRU59BUHPbSkTdVW
Update 2023-03-23: Pictures: Jennings Bluff Florida State Geological Site with Dead River Sink 2023-03-17.
Update 2023-03-16: Partly cloudy and 62 degrees at Jennings at 10 AM, is the current prediction for tomorrow. See you at Jennings Bluff.
One of the most popular WWALS destinations is becoming a Florida State Geological Site.
![[Dead River Sink 2022-10-02, Jennings Bluff Tract, Hamilton County, Florida]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-03-17--jennings-bluff-dead-river/many.jpg)
Dead River Sink 2022-10-02, Jennings Bluff Tract, Hamilton County, Florida
We last did a WWALS hike to the Dead River Sink on October 2, 2022, after paddling down the Alapaha River in the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT).
~Short walk to Dead River Swallet will follow ceremony~
Continue reading
Not many miles, but packed with sinks, a beach, two rivers, and the big one: the Dead River Sink, on October 2, 2022. Thanks, Dennis Price, for leading us, and for chainsawing our way in.
![[Sasser Landing, Alapaha River, Dead River Sink 2022-10-02]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2022-10-02--alapaha-dead-river-pictures/many.jpg)
Sasser Landing, Alapaha River, Dead River Sink 2022-10-02
Thanks to Randy Madison for the ropes that got the boats up the cliff at the Confluence.
Thanks to Phil Royce for helping haul a couple of boats up the Jennings Bluff stairs.
More pictures are below. They’re also in a facebook photoset.
See also facebook photosets by: Continue reading
Update 2022-10-31: Pictures: Alapaha, Dead Rivers, Sink 2022-10-02.
Expedition leader Dennis Price reported on access for this morning’s Sunday: Paddle Sasser Landing to Jennings Bluff, Hike to Dead River Sink, Alapaha River, 2022-10-02.
Getting to Sasser Landing to deposit boats is still simple. From Jennings, Continue reading
Update 2022-10-02: Directions: Sasser Landing and Jennings Bluff, Alapaha River 2022-10-02.
Rescheduled a day later, to Sunday, October 2, 2022. Yes, probably the fastest reschedule ever. Turns out that Saturday is the Hahira Honeybee Parade, and we don’t want to disappoint 25,000 of our closest friends. So Sunday, October 2nd it is for the Alapaha River paddle and Dead River Sink hike.
A two-hour paddle down the Alapaha River, and a two-hour hike roundtrip up the Dead River to the Dead River Sink and back, with Practicing Geologist Dennis Price. If the Alapaha is low enough, we will also see two sinks in that river just before the Dead River Confluence.
There is nothing else quite like this in Florida (or Georgia). Dennis Price for years has been recommending a state park here, at these jewels of the Alapaha River Water Trail. Hamilton County is making a county park nearby on land it owns.
The Dead River itself is a distributary: the Alapaha River runs into it, down into the Dead River Sink, and does not come back up for twenty miles and three days until the Alapaha River Rise on the Suwannee River.
![[Say karst, 13:11:30, 30.5837121, -83.0531756]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2018-01-27--hike-dead-river-sink/20180127_131130.jpg)
Say karst, 13:11:30, 30.5837121, -83.0531756, 2018-01-27.
Update 2022-06-20: Rescheduled a day later, to Sunday, October 2, 2022. Yes, probably the fastest reschedule ever. Turns out that Saturday is the Hahira Honeybee Parade, and we don’t want to disappoint 25,000 of our closest friends. So Sunday, October 2nd it is for the Alapaha River paddle and Dead River Sink hike.
A two-hour paddle down the Alapaha River, and a two-hour hike roundtrip up the Dead River to the Dead River Sink and back, with Practicing Geologist Dennis Price. If the Alapaha is low enough, we will also see two sinks in that river just before the Dead River Confluence.
There is nothing else quite like this in Florida (or Georgia). Dennis Price for years has been recommending a state park here, at these jewels of the Alapaha River Water Trail. Hamilton County is making a county park nearby on land it owns.
The Dead River itself is a distributary: the Alapaha River runs into it, down into the Dead River Sink, and does not come back up for twenty miles and three days until the Alapaha River Rise on the Suwannee River.
You can also paddle to the Rise on August 13, 2022.
When: Gather 9 AM, launch 10 AM, end 2 PM, Saturday, October 1, Sunday, October 2, 2022
Put In: Sasser Landing. Left bank, east of river, north of CR 150. From Jennings, Hamilton County, FL, travel east on CR 150; cross the Alapaha River; turn left onto NW 72 Court and follow to river.
Take Out: Jennings Bluff Landing. From Jennings, Hamilton County, FL, travel south on US 41 to NW 25 Lane; turn left; travel east to NW 82 Court and the entrance into the SRWMD Jennings Bluff tract; turn left and follow road to canoe launch.
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. For the hike, boots and long pants: stickers and ticks.
Free: This outing is free to WWALS members, and $10 (ten dollars) for non-members.
You can pay the $10 at the outing, or online:
https://wwals.net/outings
We recommend you support the work of WWALS by
becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations
Say karst, 13:11:30, 30.5837121, -83.0531756, 2018-01-27.
Thrice rescheduled because of water levels and weather, the Dead River Sink Hike drew a small but attentive crowd to listen to Practicing Geologist Dennis Price and see the Dead River Confluence, the Dead River, and the Dead River Sink, with cypress, tupelo, oaks, pines, and beautyberry along the way, on a warm November day.
![[Jennings Bluff Landing, Dead River Confluence, Dead River Sink, Banners]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2021-11-07--dead-river-sink-pictures/many.jpg)
Jennings Bluff Landing, Dead River Confluence, Dead River Sink, Banners
Update 2022-01-09: Pictures: Dead River Sink 2021-11-07.
Saturday is rain all day and cold, so we’re going for 2PM this Sunday, November 7, 2021, when it should be 60 degrees with zero percent chance of rain.
Join us for an approximately three-mile hike down the Dead River to the Dead River Sink, where the Alapaha River goes underground much of the year. We will be led by Practicing Geologist Dennis J. Price of Hamilton County, Florida. He will explain the geology, and how unusual this place is: there’s nothing like it in Florida (or Georgia).
This is a hike: no boat is needed. (Also, SRWMD has made a road right to the Sink, if you don’t want to hike.)
Also, time permitting, on the way out we will park at Jennings Bluff Cemetery and look at the nearby Jennings Bluff Spring.
![[Karst limestone cracks by the Alapaha River, Dead River, Sink, Dennis J. Price]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2021-07-10--hike-dead-river-sink/many.jpg)
Karst limestone cracks by the Alapaha River, Dead River, Sink, Dennis J. Price
When: Gather 2:00 PM, launch 2:15 PM, end 5:15 PM, Sunday, November 7, 2021
Put In: Jennings Bluff Launch. From Jennings, Hamilton County, FL, travel south on US 41 to NW 25 Lane; turn left; travel east to NW 82 Court and the entrance into the Suwannee River Water Management District’s Jennings Bluff tract; turn left and follow road to canoe launch.
GPS:
30.567183, -83.038911
You’re aiming for the Jennings Bluff Tract entrance. Continue reading
![[Square Gibson Park Ramp 2022-02-05]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-05-25--gibson-park-ramp-work/big/gprampsquare.jpg)
![[Before and After]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2016-10-01--alapaha-swallets-dye-trace-project/many.jpg)
![[Signs to Alapaha River]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2022-10-02--sasser-jennings-dead-alapaha/many.jpg)