Update 2022-09-01: Videos: Intentional swimming, Suwannee River, Echols County, GA, 2022-03-05.
Swimming, tree climbing, lunching, and paddling on the first day of a Suwannee River camping trip.
Thanks to Shirley Kokidko for organizing, and to the landowners for permission to camp. Continue reading
Update 2022-07-29: Good Water Quality, Withlacoochee, Little, Alapaha Rivers 2022-07-28.
Well, I missed this one. FDEP says it was reported on July 7th, but it wasn’t in their 30-day map last time I looked, so I’m not sure when it showed up.
![[FDEP report, aerial, WWALS map]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2022-07-07--high-springs-spill/many.jpg)
FDEP report, aerial, WWALS map
At only 500 gallons, 200 of that recovered, it probably didn’t have much effect on the Santa Fe River or its springs.
The address given seems to be a typo. The real address appears to be Continue reading
Update 2022-09-12: The ranger said the launch remains closed until it falls below 62 at White Springs. We are watching that gauge and you can, too.
A brief paddle downstream to the biggest rapids in Florida, portage around, and paddle through the next rapids, with Practicing Geologist Dennis Price.
When: Gather 9 AM, launch 10 AM, end 3 PM, Saturday, September 17, 2022
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.
![[White water, 14:19:25, 30.3381380, -82.6834810]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2021-05-14--big-shoals-scouting/20210514_141925.jpg)
White water, 14:19:25, 30.3381380, -82.6834810 2021-05-14
A summer saunter on the iconic Suwannee River, with swimming in viewing the connected sinks and springs of Five Holes.
According to the Park, Five Holes is closed for renovation, but we have permission from Park Manager Matt Phifer to swim in view Five Holes on this outing.
There may or may not be swimming through some of the holes if you know what you’re doing.
If the water is low like now, you can see through and it will be a walk through.
But there are no dark spots; the main danger with swimming is banging your head.
When: Gather 9 AM, launch 10 AM, end 2 PM, Saturday, August 13, 2022
Put In: Gibson Park Ramp, 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.
Take Out: Suwannee River State Park Ramp
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. Mosquitoes can be bad at dusk so come prepared.
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
![[Five Holes, Alapaha River Rise, Suwanacoochee Spring, Suwannee River swing]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2022-08-13--gibson-park-five-holes-suwannee-river/many.jpg)
Five Holes, Alapaha River Rise, Suwanacoochee Spring, Suwannee River swing
That was a fun cleanup, down at Five Holes, a chain of linked swallets on the Suwannee River. We walked up from Suwannee River Campsites.
Five Holes is in Suwannee River State Park. Back then we needed permission and got it (thanks, Craig Liney). We hear it’s now public access. Update 2022-05-28: Actually, Five Holes is closed for renovation. However, we have permission from the Park Manager for an outing there in August; stay tuned. Continue reading
DB Marsh stayed several days at Peacock Springs River Camp waiting out thunderstorms, then paddled down past Hal W. Adams Bridge, and slept on a picnick table at Yellow Jacket. He has now has made it to the town of Suwannee near the mouth of the Suwannee River.
![[bridge, fungus, hammock, Hart Springs, River]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2022-03-28--d-b-marsh-peacock-suwannee/many.jpg)
bridge, fungus, Hart Springs, River
Along the way he got enough cell signal to put up some more stories and pictures. Continue reading
Update 2022-03-28: Peacock Springs to Suwannee, FL, Suwannee River 2022-03-28.
He’s made it to Dowling Park River Camp on the Suwannee River: Danny “DB” Marsh on his thousand mile loop from Fernandina Beach and back. When he gets cell service, he updates his website.
![[Big Shoals, Woods Ferry, Eddies, Holton Creek River Camp]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2022-03-23--db-marsh/many.jpg)
Big Shoals, Woods Ferry, Eddies, Holton Creek River Camp
He’s having the usual kind of river misadventures. This is an example of why it’s usually not a good idea to boat alone.
About 1 AM it was about time to make camp. I pulled up to a steep bank next to the I-75 Bridge. I stepped off the kayak onto what I thought was a white sand bank. It was not sand at all, but very slippery white clay. My feet went out from under me and in the next instant I was swimming.
Continue reading
Update 2022-03-23: Holton Creek to Dowling Park River Camp, Suwannee River –DB Marsh 2022-03-23.
Danny “DB” Marsh is paddling a thousand mile loop from Fernandina Beach and back. He is currently at Woods Ferry River Camp on the Suwannee River, where I just talked to him on the telephone.
He bypassed the Okefenokee Swamp because he didn’t realize how far in advance you have to reserve sleeping platforms. So he put in on the Suwannee at Fargo. Like many of us, he hopes that nice welcome center reopens some time soon.
He is from Montana, and is still amazed by alligators.
“To this Montana boy, seeing them up close and free is a mixture of amazement, joy and terror at the same time. They however wanted nothing to do with me, and would dive from their riverbanks into the water with huge splashes to watch me pass from their safety of the water. I counted 13 that day, I’m sure many more were unseen.”
He has solar panels to recharge his electronics, but it’s nice to get to a River Camp with electricity, so he appreciates the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail. Continue reading
Due to high water, we have rescheduled the Saturday paddle to become a 2-hour easy hike from Bell Springs to Big Shoals on the Suwannee River, led by Practicing Geologist Dennis J. Price of Hamilton County, Florida. Here’s a way to see Florida’s only Class III rapids with no need for a boat.
When: Gather 8 AM, caravan 9 AM, hike 9:30 AM, end 12 PM, Saturday, March 19, 2022
Put In: Nature & Heritage Tourism Center, 10499 Spring St, White Springs, FL 32096, at the corner of Bridge and Spring Street.
GPS: 30.32947, -82.759426
Take Out: Meet at the Tourism Center, sign in, and Dennis will lead a caravan to Bell Springs, where the hike begins and ends.
Bring: hiking boots and clothes, drinking water, 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) 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/#join
![[Map: Bell-Springs to Big Shoals]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2022-03-19--hike-bell-springs-big-shoals/map-bell-springs-big-shoals.jpg)
Map: Bell-Springs to Big Shoals
A very congenial festival next to the Suwannee River in White Springs, Florida.
When: 10 AM – 4 PM, Saturday, March 19, 2022
Put In: Nature & Heritage Tourism Center, 10499 Spring St, White Springs, FL 32096, at the corner of Bridge and Spring Street.
Take Out: Same as Put In.
Free: No charge.
We recommend you support the work of WWALS by
becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations/#join
Volunteer: WWALS members, we could use you at the WWALS booth.
What: according to the Town of White Springs:
The Town of White Springs and the Stephen Foster State Folk Culture Center are pleased to present the 🌺 20th Annual Wild Azalea Festival on Saturday, 10 am – 4 pm, at the Nature & Heritage Tourism Center in historic White Springs, Florida. Come out and enjoy live entertainment, craft and food vendors, raffles, duck race, cornhole tournament, kids’ area, and more! 😍
![[Wild Azalea Festival, WWALS Booth]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2022-03-19--wild-azalea-festival/many.jpg)
Wild Azalea Festival, WWALS Booth (2019)
![[Paddling, Swimming, Camping]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2022-03-05--fargo-downstream-suwannee-river/many.jpg)
![[Swallets, Suwannee River]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2018-02-10--five-holes/many.jpg)
![[Paddling the Suwannee]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2022-03-17--db-marsh/many.jpg)
![[Fargo Welcome Center vacant]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2022-03-17--db-marsh/fargo.jpg)