Swamp Talk: Okefenokee Toastmasters Newsletter, January 2015
Okefenokee - fws.gov · Trail Descriptions (Water levels may determine availability and difficulty...
1
Trail Descriptions (Water levels may determine availability and difficulty level of trails) ORANGE TRAIL Follows the historic Suwannee Canal, which was dug in the late 1800s in an attempt to drain the swamp. Canal Run Shelter is ten straight miles from the east entrance, on the berm of the canal. Past Canal Run Shelter are five miles of narrow, winding trail that leads to Billys Island. Follow Billys Lake two miles to Stephen C. Foster State Park. Low water levels between Canal Run and Billys Island often mean navigating stumps, peat blow-ups, and encroaching side vegetation. RED TRAIL Kingfisher Landing to Maul Hammock is a long day of paddling twelve miles through scrub-shrub, prairie, and small lakes. The eleven-mile stretch between Maul Hammock and Big Water go through prairie, narrow closed channel and into a wider river channel surrounded by cypress. Both days are long and difficult. The Big Water Shelter is at the north end of Floyds Prairie. The last eight miles go through prairie, cypress forest, and Billys Lake. General information: Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Rt. 2 Box 3330 Folkston, GA 31537 912/496 7836 Open daily (except Christmas) from 9am – 5pm http://www.fws.gov/okefenokee Overnight Wilderness Canoe Information and Reservations: *Reservations are accepted ONLY Monday through Friday (excluding federal holidays) 7am – 10am Eastern Time 912/496 3331 Trail 12 4 night 44 miles Trail 11 4 night 43 miles Trail 10 3 night 33 miles Trail 9 3 night 33 miles Trail 8 2 night 22 miles Trail 7 2 night 25 miles Trail 6 2 night 32 miles Trail 5 2 night 24 miles Trail 4 2 night 31 miles Trail 3 1 night 18 miles Trail 1 1 night 16 miles Trail 2 1 night 20 miles Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Canoe Trail Map GREEN TRAIL Kingfisher Landing to Bluff Lake is eight miles along a channel originally cut for peat mining and across open prairies full of pitcher plants. The next eight miles to Floyds Island take you from Durdin Prairie to Territory and Chase Prairies. Between are narrow closed-sided channels that may be difficult paddling during low water levels. The overnight shelter on Floyd’s Island is a hunting cabin built in the 1920’s. There is a half-mile portage across the island. Floyds Island to Stephen C. Foster State Park is eight miles of prairies and cypress forests, ending in Billys Lake. BROWN TRAIL To reach Cravens Hammock, paddle five miles through the River Narrows to the Suwannee River Sill. Follow the trail through five more miles of mixed cypress, bay, and gum swamp to an oak-covered hammock. Trail condition varies with water levels—there can be a strong current through the Narrows, which may make the return trip difficult. Youth campers access Mixons Hammock with a two-mile paddle across Billy’s Lake. PURPLE TRAIL The Purple Trail winds through Chase Prairie, leading to Round Top Shelter, which boasts a 360 degree view of the prairie. Windy days can make paddling difficult, but the shelter is worth the trip, especially when the moon is full. BLUE TRAIL The Blue Trail connects the Orange Trail with the Green Trail and skirts the edge of Chase Prairie through deeper holes, which are good fishing areas. It is used mainly as a route from the Orange Trail to Floyds Island. Trail Enter MI First MI Second MI Third MI Fourth MI Exit Total Number Night Night Night Night MI 1 Kingfisher 8 Bluff Lake 8 Kingfisher 16 Suwannee 10 Suwanne 20 Canal 10 Canal Canal Run 2 Stephen 7 7 Stephen 14 Foster Foster 3 Stephen Cravens 9 Stephen 18 Foster 9 Hammock Foster 4 Kingfisher 12 Maul 11 Big Water 8 Stephen 31 Hammock Foster 5 Kingfisher 8 Bluff 8 Floyds Island 8 Stephen 24 Lake Foster 6 Kingfisher 8 Bluff 12 Round Top 12 Suwanne 32 Lake Canal 7 Suwannee 12 Round Top 5 Floyds Island 8 Stephen 25 Canal Foster 8 Stephen 8 Floyds 7 Canal 7 Stephen 22 Foster Island Run Foster 9 Kingfisher 8 Bluff 8 Floyds Island 7 Canal Run 10 Suwanne 33 Lake Canal 7 Stephen 30 Foster 10 Kingfisher 8 Bluff 8 Floyds Island 5 Round Top 12 Suwanne 33 Lake Canal 11 Kingfisher 12 Maul 11 Big Water 4 Floyds 8 Bluff Lake 8 Kingfisher Hammock Island 12 Kingfisher 12 Maul 11 Big Water 4 Floyds 7 Canal Rum 10 Suwannee 44 Hammock Island Canal 7 Stephen 41 Foster Mixons Stephen 2 Mixons Mixons Mixons 2 Stephen 4 Hammock Foster Hammock Hammock Hammock Foster Canal Run 43
Transcript of Okefenokee - fws.gov · Trail Descriptions (Water levels may determine availability and difficulty...
Trail Descriptions(Water levels may determine availability and difficulty level of trails)
ORANGE TRAIL Follows the historic Suwannee Canal, which was dug in the late 1800s in an attempt to drain the swamp. Canal Run Shelter is ten straight miles from the east entrance, on the berm of the canal. Past Canal Run Shelter are five miles of narrow, winding trail that leads to Billys Island. Follow Billys Lake two miles to Stephen C. Foster State Park. Low water levels between Canal Run and Billys Island often mean navigating stumps, peat blow-ups, and encroaching side vegetation.
RED TRAILKingfisher Landing to Maul Hammock is a long day of paddling twelve miles through scrub-shrub, prairie, and small lakes. The eleven-mile stretch between Maul Hammock and Big Water go through prairie, narrow closed channel and into a wider river channel surrounded by cypress. Both days are long and difficult. The Big Water Shelter is at the north end of Floyds Prairie. The last eight miles go through prairie, cypress forest, and Billys Lake.
General information:Okefenokee National Wildlife RefugeRt. 2 Box 3330Folkston, GA 31537912/496 7836Open daily (except Christmas) from 9am – 5pmhttp://www.fws.gov/okefenokee
Overnight Wilderness Canoe Information and Reservations:*Reservations are accepted ONLYMonday through Friday(excluding federal holidays)7am – 10am Eastern Time912/496 3331
Trail 12
4 night44 miles
Trail 11
4 night43 miles
Trail 10
3 night33 miles
Trail 9
3 night33 miles
Trail 8
2 night22 miles
Trail 7
2 night25 miles
Trail 6
2 night32 miles
Trail 5
2 night24 miles
Trail 4
2 night31 miles
Trail 3
1 night18 miles
Trail 1
1 night16 miles
Trail 2
1 night20 miles
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge
Canoe Trail Map
GREEN TRAILKingfisher Landing to Bluff Lake is eight miles along a channel originally cut for peat mining and across open prairies full of pitcher plants. The next eight miles to Floyds Island take you from Durdin Prairie to Territory and Chase Prairies. Between are narrow closed-sided channels that may be difficult paddling during low water levels. The overnight shelter on Floyd’s Island is a hunting cabin built in the 1920’s. There is a half-mile portage across the island. Floyds Island to Stephen C. Foster State Park is eight miles of prairies and cypress forests, ending in Billys Lake.
BROWN TRAILTo reach Cravens Hammock, paddle five miles through the River Narrows to the Suwannee River Sill. Follow the trail through five more miles of mixed cypress, bay, and gum swamp to an oak-covered hammock. Trail condition varies with water levels—there can be a strong current through the Narrows, which may make the return trip difficult. Youth campers access Mixons Hammock with a two-mile paddle across Billy’s Lake.
PURPLE TRAILThe Purple Trail winds through Chase Prairie, leading to Round Top Shelter, which boasts a 360 degree view of the prairie. Windy days can make paddling difficult, but the shelter is worth the trip, especially when the moon is full.
BLUE TRAILThe Blue Trail connects the Orange Trail with the Green Trail and skirts the edge of Chase Prairie through deeper holes, which are good fishing areas. It is used mainly as a route from the Orange Trail to Floyds Island.
Trail Enter MI First MI Second MI Third MI Fourth MI Exit TotalNumber Night Night Night Night MI
1 Kingfisher 8 Bluff Lake 8 Kingfisher 16
Suwannee 10 Suwanne 20 Canal 10 Canal Canal
Run
2 Stephen 7 7 Stephen 14 Foster Foster
3 Stephen Cravens 9 Stephen 18 Foster
9 Hammock Foster
4 Kingfisher 12 Maul 11 Big Water 8 Stephen 31 Hammock Foster
5 Kingfisher 8 Bluff 8 Floyds Island 8 Stephen 24 Lake Foster
6 Kingfisher 8 Bluff 12 Round Top 12 Suwanne 32 Lake Canal
7 Suwannee 12 Round Top 5 Floyds Island 8 Stephen 25 Canal Foster
8 Stephen 8 Floyds 7 Canal 7 Stephen 22 Foster Island Run Foster
9 Kingfisher 8 Bluff 8 Floyds Island 7 Canal Run 10 Suwanne 33 Lake Canal 7 Stephen 30 Foster
10 Kingfisher 8 Bluff 8 Floyds Island 5 Round Top 12 Suwanne 33 Lake Canal
11 Kingfisher 12 Maul 11 Big Water 4 Floyds 8 Bluff Lake 8 Kingfisher Hammock Island
12 Kingfisher 12 Maul 11 Big Water 4 Floyds 7 Canal Rum 10 Suwannee 44 Hammock Island Canal 7 Stephen 41 Foster
Mixons Stephen 2 Mixons
Mixons
Mixons
2 Stephen 4 Hammock Foster Hammock
Hammock
Hammock
Foster
CanalRun
43
