“We paddled, we camped, and we cooked! Thank you to everyone for making this a fun weekend,” wrote Shirley Kokidko.
That was at Griffis Fish Camp, where they camped two nights and paddled the Suwannee River from the Okefenokee Swamp.
![[Campfire Cooking, Griffis Fish Camp 2022-12-02, Suwannee River, Okefenokee Swamp]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2022-12-02--camp-paddle-griffis-pictures/fbmany.jpg)
Campfire Cooking, Griffis Fish Camp 2022-12-02, Suwannee River, Okefenokee Swamp
We’re doing it again, December 13-15, 2024.
Thanks to Shirley for these pictures from 2022.
See also facebook posts by: Continue reading
From alligators and wood storks in the Okefenokee National Wildlife (NWR) to mussels, Gulf sturgeon, and alligator snapping turtles in the Lower Suwannee NWR, plus Banks Lake NWR and Cedar Key NWR, Larry Woodward, Deputy Refuge Manager, ONWR, gave a WWALS Webinar on Water, Wildlife, and Wilderness, and the importance of the 4 National Wildlife Refuges of the Suwannee.
After a brief introduction by Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman, Larry Woodward spoke for about 45 minutes, followed by questions and answers, all by zoom, from noon to 1PM, Thursday, November 11, 2024.
Here is the video:
https://youtu.be/ya5b8V6woOE
Fictional inhabitants of the Okefenokee Swamp include not only Pogo the Possum but also Kermit the Frog.
Continue readingJoin 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]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-12-13--okefenokee-paddle-cast-iron-cookout/fbmany.jpg)
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
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]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-12-09--griffis-fish-camp-suwannee-pictures/foodmany.jpg)
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
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]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-12-09--griffis-fish-camp-suwannee-pictures/fmany.jpg)
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
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]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-12-09--griffis-fish-camp-suwannee-pictures/slmany.jpg)
From Suwannee River Sill to Lunch 2023-12-09
Here’s
the video:
https://youtu.be/oEJJLBMJhA4?si=bT1I2Ho5tMVT4qQ2
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]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-12-09--griffis-fish-camp-suwannee-pictures/many.jpg)
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
Join us for 2 nights of rustic camping and cooking at Griffis Fish Camp on the Suwannee River downstream from the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refugee. Camping cost is $5.00 per person per night. There is also a $2.00 launch fee for each person. We have the Red Top shelter reserved so you can pitch your tent anywhere in the area. If you need hookup for a camper, you’ll need to reserve your own spot. Bring some firewood if you can. It gets dark early & chilly in December and we’ll enjoy a campfire both nights.
When: Gather 4 PM, launch none, sunset 5:29 PM, end all day, Friday, December 2, 2022
Gather 8:45 AM, launch 9:30 AM, end allday, Saturday, December 3, 2022
Wake up 8 AM, launch whenever you like, end go home, Sunday, December 4, 2022
Put In Friday: 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
Take Out Friday: camping
Put In Saturday: 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.
Saturday we’ll launch from Stephen Foster State Park at 9:30 and paddle 7 miles back to Griffis, with a lunch stop at the Sill where we will probably have to portage over. If the water level continues to be low, be prepared to portage your kayak over low spots and deadfall. If you don’t have a Ga. State Park pass or a National Park Pass, there is a fee for parking at SFSP. Ga. State Park passes are also free to borrow from any public library.
Take Out Saturday: Griffis Fish Camp
Back at camp we’ll get the fires going and start cooking. Show us what you can do with your old cast iron! There is no menu, absolutely anything goes. Bring your own plates/bowls/utensils to help reduce waste.
Put In Sunday: Griffis Fish Camp
GPS: 30.78246, -82.443594
Sunday morning will be a leisurely packing up. There is no check out time. If there is interest (and clean pots) maybe we can cook breakfast too. Everyone is free to go back to explore the Okefenokee further before heading home.
Take Out Sunday: Go home
![[Cast Iron Cookout, Suwannee River Sill, Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Griffis Fish Camp Beach]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2022-12-02--camp-paddle-griffis/many.jpg)
Cast Iron Cookout, Suwannee River Sill, Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Griffis Fish Camp Beach
The water gates at the Suwannee River Sill are always open, despite the widespread Florida myth that in big rains Georgia opens them to flood Florida.
![[The Sill is always open for Suwannee River water, 09:50:32, 30.804, -82.4177]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2019-12-08--okefenokee-griffis-fish-camp-suwannee-paddle/20191208_095032.jpg)
The Sill is always open for Suwannee River water, 09:50:32, 30.8040000, -82.4177000
These pictures are from camping two nights at Griffis Fish Camp.
See also the WWALS map of the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail, extended into Georgia. Continue reading
Join us as we camp two nights and paddle the Upper Suwannee River, between the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Fargo, Georgia, around Griffis Fish Camp, on the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail.
When: 4:00 PM, Friday, February 15, 2019, Camping, Griffis Fish Camp
Put In:
Gather 8AM, launch 9AM, Saturday, February 16, 2019, Griffis Fish Camp to Fargo Boat Ramp
Gather 8AM, launch 9AM, Sunday, February 17, 2019, Suwannee River Sill to Griffis Camp
GPS: for Griffis Fish Camp: 30.782505, -82.4436
Take Out:
Friday camping,
Saturday take out at Fargo,
Sunday take out at Griffis Camp.
Bring: a tow rope and 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.
Free: This outing is free to WWALS members, and $10 (ten dollars) per day for non-members. We recommend you support the work of WWALS by becoming a WWALS member today!
![[Water, Wildlife, & Wilderness: 4 NWRs of the Suwannee --Larry Woodward, Okefenokee, Banks Lake, Lower Suwannee, Cedar Key, WWALS Webinar 2024-11-21]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-11-21--water-wildlife-wilderness-nwrs-video/fbmany.jpg)