Tag Archives: Stephen C. Foster State Park

What parks are closed? 2024-10-03

Many national, state, and local parks and related facilities are closed due to damage from Hurricane Helene. Some were already closed due to Hurricane Debby.

Assume it’s closed unless you have other information.

[What parks are closed after Hurricane Helene? Many of them. 2024-10-03 Assume closed unless other information.]
What parks are closed after Hurricane Helene? Many of them. 2024-10-03 Assume closed unless other information.
Pictured: damage at Stephen Foster Culture Center State Park in White Springs, Florida. Photo: SFCSSP

Georgia

Many parks are closed all over Georgia. Here we list only the ones in or near the Suwannee River Basin.

Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge

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Floyd’s Island Campout, Suwannee River, Okefenokee Swamp 2024-11-10-11

Update 2024-09-13: Brack Barker got a Floyds Island camping permit for Sunday, November 10. Since Monday, November 11, is a federal holiday, Veterans Day, that should work.

Join us to paddle 9 miles upstream on the Suwannee River for primitive camping on Floyd’s Island in the Okefenokee Swamp.

You must RSVP on meetup to get a spot.

This is the farthest you can get from any road in Georgia, with very dark sky.

You can camp inside the century-old Hebard Cabin, or in your tent or hammock outside.

Yes, you will see gators, and probably other wildlife.

When: Gather 9 AM, launch 10 AM, end All Day, Sunday, November 10, 2024
Launch 9 AM, end 1 PM, Monday, November 11, 2024

Put In: 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 Stephen C. Foster State Park in Charlton County.

GPS: 30.826833, -82.361333

[Floyds Island Campout, Okefenokee Swamp 2024-11-02-03, Suwannee River, Fargo, GA, Stephen C. Foster State Park]
Floyds Island Campout, Okefenokee Swamp 2024-11-02-03, Suwannee River, Fargo, GA, Stephen C. Foster State Park

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Campfire Cooking at Griffis Fish Camp and Suwannee River paddle 2024-12-13-15

Join us for a weekend of paddling the Okefenokee Swamp and the Suwannee River, rustic camping, and campfire cooking at Griffis Fish Camp.

Saturday morning we’ll leave camp at 8:30 and drive to Stephen C. Foster State park to launch.

We’ll paddle down Billy’s Lake, pass by Mixon’s Hammock and on through the Narrows and the Sill. If water levels are good we plan to paddle a mile up the Sill and wind our way back down to our lunch stop at the boat ramp by the Sill parking area. Then back on the trail to Griffis for a total of approximately 10 miles. Be prepared to portage your kayak over low spots and deadfall if the water is low.

Back at camp we’ll get the fire going and start cooking! Cooking is always optional but the more the merrier. There is no menu, absolutely anything goes. It’s all for campfire fun. Come sit around the fire and show us what you can do with your old cast iron, or roast hot dogs on a stick. Bring your own plates/bowls/utensils/drinks to help reduce waste.

Sunday morning will be a leisurely packing up, drinking coffee and eating cinnamon rolls cooked by the fire.

[Campfire Cooking, Griffis Fish Camp 2024-12-13-15, Suwannee River paddle in the Okefenokee Swamp]
Campfire Cooking, Griffis Fish Camp 2024-12-13-15, Suwannee River paddle in the Okefenokee Swamp

When: Gather 4 PM, sunset 5:28 PM, Friday, December 13, 2024. Set up camp
Gather 8:45 AM, launch 9:30 AM, Sunset 5:38 PM, Saturday, December 14, 2024. Sunrise is 7:20 AM. Paddle 9.5 miles from SCFSP to Griffis. Build campfire and start cooking.
Sunday, December 15, 2024. Leisurely breakfast and pack up to go home.

Campsite: 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.

Campsite GPS: 30.78246, -82.443594

Put In: 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 Stephen C. Foster State Park, in Charlton County. Continue reading →

Okefenokee Floyd’s Island Campout, Suwannee River, Okefenokee Swamp 2024-11-09-10

Update 2024-09-13: Got a permit for Sunday, November 10. Okefenokee Floyd’s Island Campout, Suwannee River, Okefenokee Swamp 2024-11-02.

Update 2024-09-04: Didn’t get a permit for November 2, so trying for November 9.

Pending a permit, join us to paddle 9 miles upstream on the Suwannee River for primitive camping on Floyd’s Island in the Okefenokee Swamp.

This is the farthest you can get from any road in Georgia, with very dark sky.

You can camp inside the century-old Hebard Cabin, or in your tent or hammock outside.

Yes, you will see gators, and probably other wildlife.

When: Gather 9 AM, launch 10 AM, end All Day, Saturday, November 9, 2024
Launch 9 AM, end 1 PM, Sunday, November 10, 2024

Put In: 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 Stephen C. Foster State Park in Charlton County.

GPS: 30.826833, -82.361333

[Floyds Island Campout, Okefenokee Swamp 2024-11-02-03, Suwannee River, Fargo, GA, Stephen C. Foster State Park]
Floyds Island Campout, Okefenokee Swamp 2024-11-02-03, Suwannee River, Fargo, GA, Stephen C. Foster State Park

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Videos: Food at Griffis Fish Camp on the Suwannee River with Seminole Pumpkin 2023-12-09

Part four is videos of the food at Campfire Cookout at Griffis Fish Camp and Suwannee River Paddle including what happened to the Seminole pumpkin C.B. “Turtleman” Adams gave us back in part zero.

[Food and Seminole Pumpkin at Griffis Fish Camp, Suwannee River 2023-12-09]
Food and Seminole Pumpkin at Griffis Fish Camp, Suwannee River 2023-12-09

Spoiler: it got cooked and eaten, after the seeds were saved by several people for planting.

Here’s the video:
https://youtu.be/hh1lEWsC9VE Continue reading →

Videos: Suwannee River Sill Ramp to Griffis Fish Camp 2023-12-09

Update 2023-12-19: Videos: Food at Griffis Fish Camp on the Suwannee River with Seminole Pumpkin 2023-12-09

Part three is video highlights of Campfire Cookout at Griffis Fish Camp and Suwannee River Paddle from Suwannee River Sill Ramp through the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge to Griffis Fish Camp.

[From Suwannee River Sill Ramp to Griffis Fish Camp 2023-12-09]
From Suwannee River Sill Ramp to Griffis Fish Camp 2023-12-09

Here’s the video:
https://youtu.be/Jxg6dZ5pn2Y


Videos: SCFSP to Suwannee River Sill 2023-12-09
Videos by John S. Quarterman for WWALS Watershed Coalition (WWALS).

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.

 -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

Videos: Suwannee River Sill to Lunch, Suwannee River 2023-12-09

Update 2023-12-14: Videos: Suwannee River Sill Ramp to Griffis Fish Camp 2023-12-09

Here’s the second part of the Paddle on Campfire Cookout at Griffis Fisth Camp and Suwannee River Paddle: through the Suwannee River Sill to lunch at the Sill Ramp, all in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.

[From Suwannee River Sill to Lunch 2023-12-09]
From Suwannee River Sill to Lunch 2023-12-09

Here’s the video:
https://youtu.be/oEJJLBMJhA4?si=bT1I2Ho5tMVT4qQ2

Continue reading →

Videos: SCFSP to Suwannee River Sill 2023-12-09

Update 2023-12-13: Videos: Suwannee River Sill to Lunch, Suwannee River 2023-12-09

Here are some video highlights of the first part of the Paddle on Campfire Cookout at Griffis Fisth Camp and Suwannee River Paddle: Stephen C. Foster State Park through the Narrows to the Suwannee River Sill, all in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.

[From Stephen C. Foster State Park to the Suwannee River Sill 2023-12-09]
From Stephen C. Foster State Park to the Suwannee River Sill 2023-12-09

Here’s the video:


Videos: SCFSP to Suwannee River Sill 2023-12-09
Videos by John S. Quarterman for WWALS Watershed Coalition (WWALS).

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.

 -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

Logging Railroads in the Okefenokee Swamp 1889-1942

Here are maps of logging railroads in the Okefenokee Swamp, and detailed maps of railroads and the town on Billys Island.

[Logging Railroads and Billys Island, Okefenokee Swamp]
Logging Railroads and Billys Island, Okefenokee Swamp

The Billys Island maps are by Chris Trowell or revised from his maps. As the redrawn map says, Billys Island is 1.8 miles from Stephen C. Foster State Park, upstream on the Suwannee River and its East Fork. As you can see by the map, it was quite a bustling place. Until the trees ran out.

I don’t know who drew the map of all the railroads in the Swamp, but I would guess Chris Trowell may have had something to do with it. This is presumably the same C.T. Trowell frequently cited in the documents for Floyds Island in the National Register of Historic Places, and his paper included, “Seeking a Sanctuary: A Chronicle of Efforts to Preserve the Okefenokee,” C.T. Trowell, 1998.

These railroads did not all exist at the same time, since they pulled up tracks from one place to go another place.

These maps came from a ranger at Stephen C. Foster State Park, back in 2021. Naturally, right now I cannot find the email he sent with the maps. Continue reading →

Hurricane Idalia: State Parks Closed, Georgia and Florida 2023-09-02

Stir crazy from staying in due to Hurricane Idalia and want to go to a state park?

Many of them are open, but some remain closed, in the Suwannee River Basin in Georgia and Florida.

Or come to the WWALS Banks Lake Morning Paddle 2023-09-04.

[Georgia and Florida State Parks Closed 2023-09-02]
Georgia and Florida State Parks Closed 2023-09-02

According to Georgia State Parks Weather Alerts – Hurricane Idalia:

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