Plans for the Third Annual Suwannee River Cruise are now firm. Like the first two events, this will be held in the area of Bell, FL (approx. 50 miles west of Gainesville, FL). We are, however, planning a number of changes this year, which will build on the success of our previous events. Read on for details and remember to mark your calendar now. This event will begin Friday afternoon, Feb. 29, 2008 and run through March 2, 2008.

ACCOMODATIONS
Our first two Suwannee River Cruise’s were based at the fly-in community of Shady Bend airfield, but last year’s participants overflowed into the rental cottages of Suwannee River Preserve. While we greatly appreciate the hospitality of the Tanous family at Shady Bend, we really need more overnight accommodations than are available here. Suwannee River Preserve is well suited for our needs with rental cottages, which include 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a full kitchen and a living room. The facility’s owner Sage Piotrowski, is genuinely interested in our attendance and has offered us the following group rate for this event: River access units $150/nt and riverside units $195/nt (subject to their standard 2 night minimum). As each unit could be used by up to 6 individuals, this has the potential to be very reasonably priced accommodations. A central location adjacent to the river and including a dedicated ramp will add a great deal of value to this year’s event. Visit the Suwannee River Preserve website for additional details and remember that they do have a limited number of cottages. If you are unable to secure a cottage or otherwise choose to stay elsewhere, options for camping or motel are listed below.

MEALS
While the cottages of Suwannee River Preserve do include a full kitchen, please note that there is no restaurant or store on site. Remember to shop for groceries and supplies before you arrive. For those who wish to eat out Friday night, several members of our group are planning to head over to Adkins BBQ in Bell. Note that their menu is not limited to BBQ, they have a full "family style" dinner menu.

During Saturday's cruise we will stop for lunch at Salt River Shellfish, a great seafood restaurant in Suwannee, FL. You still might want to pack a snack and extra drinks in your cooler as this will be a long cruise.

A group meal is planned for Saturday night at the Suwannee River Preserve. Our thanks to Sage Piotrowski for volunteering to roast a pig for this occassion. Another planned group meal is brunch on the river during Sunday’s cruise. Suwannee River Cove is a wonderful riverside facility with an excellent Sunday brunch and a private ramp to allow us access. Cost is reasonable and it is assured that you will not leave this place hungry.

CRUISES
As was the case last year, Saturday’s cruise will be downstream. This year, however, we plan to venture all the way down to the Gulf, with a stopover for refueling and lunch in the town of Suwannee, FL. A loop around Hog Island will provide excellent photo opportunities in some of the most remote wilderness on Florida’s coast. Yes; this cruise will include some salt water operation, but the opportunity for a thorough fresh water will exist upon return to our cottages. For those who are unwilling to venture into salt exposure, Fowlers Bluff at River Mile 17 would serve as a viable hold point or turnaround. Please note that the full roundtrip distance of this cruise will be up in the range of 110 miles so plan your fuel supply accordingly.

On Sunday morning, we will hover to brunch at the Suwannee River Cove Restaurant, which is some 20 miles upstream. After brunch we will tour up the Cypress lined Santa Fe River and then wind our way back to the cottages of SRP well before dusk. If anyone needs to plan an early departure and cannot hover Sunday, they should think about joining us by car and then departing directly from brunch.

In regard to the weather, we hope to encounter a weekend of Florida's famous sunshine with afternoon temps up into the 70s. Just in case we are not so fortunate, it would be wise to bring along a jacket, raingear and perhaps even gloves and hat for these long cruises. Hopefully they will remain stowed for the duration of the trip.

A few words of caution regarding safe and courteous operation in this area. First be alert for crosswinds, particularly in view of the fact that the river is lined by large diameter cypress trees. You will occasionally encounter other boats and some of these may be airboats, which will require a wider turning radius. Be alert to the effects of your prop wash on the ramps in this sandy area. Please attend the drivers meetings each day.

PRE-EVENT PLANS
Plans are in place for a pre-event cruise on the upper Suwannee River in southeastern Georgia. As this will start early Friday morning, it will be necessary for participants to travel into the area on Thursday (Feb 28) afternoon or evening. For accomidations, we have selected Travelodge just off of I75 in Lake Park, GA (229-559-0110). Please shop for your fuel and supplies on Thursday, as we will plan to depart for Fargo, GA (approx 40 miles East) at 7AM.

Our cruise route will start at the Suwannee River Visitors Center in Fargo, GA and run to a county park in White Springs, FL, some 50 river miles downstream. We have contracted American Canoe Adventures, an outfitter out of White Springs, to provide ground transportation back to our tow vehicles in Fargo. The basis for the early start and one-way travel is to allow for the unexpected and still arrive at our final destination (Bell, FL) before too late in the day on Friday. This is a beautiful and very unique section of the Suwannee River and well worth the associated logistical challenges.

The Visitors Center in Fargo offers a great ramp and day parking that should be adequate for all of our trailers and tow vehicles. While this should not limit any of our potential participants, it should be noted that the first 10 to 15 river miles of this trip will be quite narrow and tightly winding. Going will be slow and it could be necessary to clear a path through a fallen tree ot two. If your craft is particulary wide or tall you may may encounter significant restrictions in this area.

By the time we reach Roline Canoe Launch the river will have widened to the point that access restrictions are unlikely. The ramp here is somewhat narrow, but is concrete and could be used to launch craft that wish to avoid the tight sections of the Suwannee in Georgia. Another 4 miles downstream is Turner Bridge Ramp which could serve as either a put-in or extraction point. See further down this page for Google Earth placemarks and GPS coordinates for these and other access points along the Upper Suwannee route.

At river mile 176.3 (approx 45 miles downstream of Fargo), we will encounter Florida's only white water, Big Shoals (see photo below). While this is a mild section of water when compared to the white water of western NC or eastern TN, it should be negotiated with caution and care. The shoals are gagged limestone and would not be particulary forgiving in the case of contact with a fiberglass or foam hull.

After Big Shoals there are a couple of smaller shoals and then another 5 miles downstream and we will arrive at our takeout point in White Springs. It is our intent to have someone stay here to watch over the hovers while our drivers are transported back to their tow vehicles in Fargo. Details associated with this will be posted once they have all been worked out. Please note that there are NO facilities for fuel or supplies along this cruise route. You will need to pack everything that you need (fuel, tools, parts, food, etc) in your craft prior to departing Fargo.

WRAP-UP
Sunday’s cruise will likely wrap up well before dusk and some may get a head start on the trip back home. Many, however, will likely stay over to enjoy one last night at the cottages of Suwannee River Preserve. While there are no firm plans for a group meal Sunday night, this may well fall in place as we grow closer to the event.

Mark your calendar now and firm up your plans to join us for the third annual Suwannee River Cruise. For additional information, refer to the post-event write-ups covering our previous events (Suwannee River Cruise I & Suwannee River Cruise II). If you have additional questions contact Louis Bondurant at LPB3@mindspring.com or 770-971-9565.

Click here to see how it went -> Post event write-up

The full roundtrip length of Saturday's cruise will be 110 miles. For those who wish to minimize salt exposure, Fowlers Bluff would serve well as a turnaround point.

Operations for this year's event will be based out of the cottages of Suwannee River Preserve.

Cecil Scalf dancing with the Cypress on the Santa Fe River. Contact can actually represent double jepordy, as a snake may knocked off of an overhead branch and fall into your craft.

Gary and Denise Tanous did a fantastic job on group dinners at their Shady Bend residence during both the first and second Suwannee River events.

Hart Spring, one of our stops during last year's cruise.

Our trip around Hog Island will provide exposure to coastal wilderness one would not expect to find in this country, much less in the rather highly developed state of Florida.

The Suwannee River Cove Restaurant serves a great Sunday brunch and offers us easy river access with an adjacent ramp.

The 10.75 mile loop around Hog Island.

Dixie County's Guaranto Park offered a good ramp and staging area during our second Suwannee River Cruise. This year, however, we will move our congregating point to the Cottages of Suwannee River Preserve on the Gilcrest County side of the river. The SRP cottages are approx 2 miles downstream of this park (see Google Earth placemarks and GPS coordinates listed in the table below).

The ramp at the Cottages of Suwannee River Preserve will make coming and going a breeze. No trailer required once you arrive.

After lunch Sunday we will cruise the Santa Fe River.

 

Accommodations

Rental Cabins

The Cottages of Suwannee Preserve
1200 NW 78th Ave,
Bell, Fl. 32619

Contact Sage Piotrowski
(352)463-9140 or
suwanneesage@aol.com

Two river miles downstream of Guaranto Springs Park.

Motels

Best Western
Suwannee Valley Inn
125 N. Young Blvd
Chiefland, FL 32626
(352) 493-0663

Cadillac Motel
7490 N US 19
Fanning Springs, FL 32693
(352) 463-2188

Camping

Hart Springs - A Gilcrest County park, 12 river miles downstream of Guaranto Springs Park.

Manatee Springs - A Florida State Park,30 river miles downstream of Guaranto Springs Park.

 

Points of Interest for Suwannee River Cruise

River Mile
Latitude
Longitude
 Google Earth Placemarks
0
N 29° 17’ 26”
W 83° 09’ 46”
4
N 29° 19’ 26”
W 83° 08’ 31”
17
N 29° 23’ 57”
W 83° 01’ 19”
34
N 29° 35’ 20”
W 82° 56’ 15”
 Fanning Springs, FL
43
N 29° 40’ 32”
W 82° 57’ 14”
52
N 29° 45’ 15”
W 82° 56’ 26”
55
N 29° 46’ 48”
W 82° 56’ 21”
66
N 29° 53’ 15”
W 82° 52’ 47”
74
N 29° 55’ 22”
W 82° 55’ 32”
Click on text to the right to download Google Earth placemarks for all 9 locations ->>
Lower Suwannee River Cruise

 

Pre-Event Feb 29, 2008 - Upper Suwannee River (Fargo, GA)

An area of diverse and amazing beauty. Just because the water is coffee colored does not mean it is not clean. The tannin which is released from the Cypress trees is of no consequence to the water quality.

The Suwannee River Visitors center completed in 2004 includes a beautiful interpretive center, an access ramp to the river and relatively abundant parking.

During our first cruise on the upper Suwannee we were allowed to park our tow vehicles and trailers adjacent to the visitors center. We will check with them in advance to see if this option exists for this year's cruise.

Tom Schulte and Leo Stamm braving some very tight quarters while operating their 17' Svept Ving on the Upper Suwannee.

The appearance and nature of the river will change from day to day with the season and water flow.

Slow going for the first 5 to 10 miles downstream from Fargo. The river widens significantly as you approach the Florida state line.

Hard to believe that such a river could see such minimal use on a summer afternoon.

Almost a surreal experience traveling through this area.

Our crowd had thinned down quite a bit upon reaching last year's turnaround point, just upstream of the Florida state line. This year we hope to make it (one way) down to White Springs, FL.

Roline Canoe Launch offers a good concrete ramp, but I would recommend checking the wind direction before hovering down it

Turner Bridge ramp is a bit on the narrow side for hovering down. One could always back the trailer down the ramp.

Florida's only white water, Big Shoals, is clearly navigable by hovercraft but should be approached with respect. The gagged limestone and would not be particulary forgiving in the case of contact with a fiberglass or foam hull.

Our takeout point for the Upper Suwannee River Cruise is a county park in White Springs. It is our intent to have someone stay here to watch over the hovers while our drivers are transported back to their tow vehicles in Fargo.

The sill at the southwest rim of the swamp provides an interesting buffer to waterflow downstream. For those interested in the hydrology, here is a link to a 2004 USGS paper containing extensive technical facts from this area. For real time data on river levels visit the USGS site pages for Fargo, GA or White Springs, FL.

 

Access Points for Upper Suwannee River Cruise

River Mile
Latitude
Longitude
 Google Earth Placemarks
221.8
N 30° 40’ 51”
W 82° 33’ 36”
Hwy 441 Br - Fargo, GA
206.4
N 30° 35’ 49”
W 82° 41’ 22”
Florida State Line
202.4
N 30° 33’ 51”
W 82° 43’ 30”
Roline canoe launch
198.8
N 30° 31’ 30”
W 82° 43’ 42”
Turner Bridge Boat Ramp
195.5
N 30° 30’ 26”
W 82° 42’ 59”
SR 6 Bridge (No Ramp)
185.5
N 30° 26’ 42”
W 82° 40’ 16”
Cone Bridge Ramp
177.1
N 30° 21’ 10”
W 82° 41’ 14”
Godwin Bridge Canoe Launch
176.3
N 30° 20’ 25”
W 82° 41’ 00”
Big Shoals
171.0
N 30° 19’ 33”
W 82° 44’ 19”
Hwy 41 - White Springs
Click on text to the right to download Google Earth placemarks for all 9 locations ->>
Upper Suwannee River Cruise

 

Detail River Maps (Click on a map for a Closer View)
Courtesy of Suwannee River Water Management District

Lower Suwannee
Middle Suwannee
Upper Suwannee

1. Town of Suwannee - Several ramps in the town, both free and fee.
2. Munden Creek - From Old Town on Hwy 349 to Munden Creek Rd., near the town of Suwannee. Turn east on the Munden Creek Rd. and turn right at the T-intersection to the ramp.
3. Fowlers Bluff - From Chiefland go south on Hwy 345 to Hwy 347 and continue south to NW 46 Lane, which goes to the ramp.
4. Yellow Jacket - From Hwy 19-27 A in Old Town go south on Hwy 349 for 9.8 miles; turn on Yellow Jacket Landing Rd. Go east for 0.9 mile to the fork, then go right to the ramp.
5. Camp Azalea - From Chiefland take Hwy 320 west to NW 107 Terrace (Camp Azalea Rd.). Follow the road around as it turns into NW 102 PI. and then NW 92 St. At the T-intersection go right to the ramp.
6. Usher - From Chiefland take Hwy 320 west to NW 107 Terrace (Camp Azalea Rd.). Follow the road around 2 1/2 miles. Canoe launch on right.
7. Manatee Springs State Park, canoe launch only - From Chiefland follow Hwy 320 west to the park entrance. Entrance fee to the park.
8. New Clay Landing - From Chiefland go west on Hwy 320 to NW 110 Ave. Go north on 110 Ave. and continue on NW 129 PI. and NW 130 St. to the park.
9. New Pine Landing - From Hwy 19-27 A in Old Town go south on Hwy 349 to New Pine Landing Rd. Follow to the ramp at the end of the road.
10. Old Pine Landing - From Old Town go south on Hwy 349 to Old Pine Landing Rd. Turn left and follow the road to the boat ramp.
11. Hinton Landing - From Fanning Springs go across the river and south on Hwy 317 to the park. From Old Town go south on Hwy 349 to Hwy 346-A. Go left on Hwy 346-A to Hwy 317 and turn right to the park.
12. From Fanning Springs go west across the river on Hwy 19-27 A to the first dirt road on the left. Follow this road for two blocks to the ramp on the left.
13. Suwannee Gables Ramp - From Fanning Springs go west on Hwy 19-27 A. The Suwannee Gables Motel is on the north side of the road.
14. KOA Campground - From Old Town go north on Hwy 349 for 1.2 miles to the campground. Ramp fee is charged.
15. Purvis Landing - From Old Town follow Hwy 349 north to Purvis Landing Rd. and the ramp.
16. Hart Spring - From Trenton go west on Hwy 26 to Hwy 232 and go north to Hwy 344. Turn west on Hwy 344 and follow to the ramp.
17. Eula Landing - From Trenton go west on Hwy 26 to Hwy 232 and go north. The paved road makes a 90 degree turn, but continue straight on the dirt road to SW 25 St. Go west to the ramp.
18. Wannee - From Bell go west on Hwy 341 to Hwy 341-A and go south to West Suwannee Road. Go west on W. Suwannee to NW 70 Ave and then south to SW 10 St. Toke SW 10 St west to the ramp.
19. Log Landing - From Bell go west on Hwy 341 to Hwy 341-A and go south to West Suwannee Rd. Go west on W. Suwannee Rd. to NW 70 Ave. and then north on 70 Ave. to NW 7 PI. Follow 7 PI. west, and then go south on NW 73 Way and west on NW 6 St. to the ramp.
20. Guaranto Spring - From Branford go south on Hwy 349 to Hwy 353. Follow Hwy 353 east and toke the first road on the right at the Rock Sink Church. The road winds around to the park.
21. Rock Bluff - From Bell go north on Hwy 129 to Hwy 340. Toke Hwy 340 west to the park on the south side of the road just before the river.
22. Hirsh Landing - From the Dixie-Lafayette County line go north on Hwy 349 to Hwy 342 and toke it east to the Hatchbend Church. Go north at the church for .2 miles. Turn right on county graded road, go .7 miles. Turn right on county graded road. Go 1.3 miles to the ramp.
23. Sims Landing - From the Dixie-Lafayette County line go north on Hwy 349 to Hwy 342 and toke it east to the Hatchbend Church. Go south at the church to the T-intersection and then go right 0.2 miles. Ramp is on the left.
24. Wanamake - From the Santo Fe River go south on Hwy 129 to NW 102 PI. and then toke 102 PI. west to NW 39 Ave. and the ramp.
25. Hatchbend - From Branford toke Hwy 349 south to Hwy 138; go east on Hwy 138 to T-intersection. Then toke the paved road to the right to the ramp.
26. Ivey Memorial Park - In the town of Branford on the south side of Hwy 27 just before the river.
27. Patrician Oaks - From Branford go north on Hwy 27 to the first road on the right after Hwy 475 on the left. Follow the road into Patrician Oaks. The ramp is at the end of the road.
28. Ruth Spring Tract, SRWMD canoe launch - From Branford toke Hwy 27 north to County Road 425; go north to the tract entrance at the curve in the road. Follow the road and sign inside the tract.
29. Walker Tract, SRWMD canoe launch - From Branford toke Hwy 27 north to County Road 425. Go north post the Ruth Spring Tract to the Walker Tract entrance and follow the signs inside the tract to the canoe launch.
30. Mearson Spring - From Hwy 27 between Branford and Mayo toke Hwy 251 to the river and the ramp.
31. Royal Spring - From Live Oak toke Hwy 51 west to Hwy 349 and go south 10 miles to 198 Terrace. Follow 198 Terrace to the park.
32. Hardinburg Ramp - From Hwy 51 in Mayo go east on Hwy 27 to Hwy 354-B and go north. At the intersection of 354 and 354-B go straight ahead to the river and ramp.
33. Hal W. Adams Bridge - From Mayo follow Hwy 51 north to the river. Park is on the east side of the road just before the bridge.
34. Lafayette County Blue Spring - From Mayo toke Hwy 27 west to Hwy 251-B and go north to the graded road. Go east on the graded road to the park. Entrance fee.
35. Allen Mill Pond - From Mayo go north on Hwy 27 to Hwy 251-B. Then go north to where the road tokes the 90 degree turn to the west. Follow the graded road at the turn north to the ramp.
36. Charles Spring - From Live Oak toke Hwy 51 south 12 miles to Hwy 252. Go west on 252 to the T-intersection on the graded road. Toke the road to the left; the road to the park is on the right.
37. Christian Tract, SRWMD canoe launch - From Dowling Park go east on Hwy 250 to 225 Rd and then south to 132 St. Go west on 132 St. to the tract entrance.
38. Sand Pond Ramp - From Dowling Park toke Hwy 250 west across the river to Hwy 251 and go south for 1.5 miles to Sand Pond Road. Follow this winding county grade road to the river.
39. Dowling Park - Ramp is in the park on the north side on Hwy 250 just before the river.
40. Boundary Bend - From Dowling Park go west on Hwy 250 across the river to the first paved road on the north side of Hwy 250. Follow this road to the second graded road on the right and go right. Toke this road to the ramp.
41. Suwannee River State Park - From Live Oak toke Hwy 90 west out of to the park, just before the river. Entrance fee to park.
42. Road 141 ramp - From the Hwy 141 and US 90 intersection go north to Hwy 143. Then go east on the graded road across from Hwy 143. Go right at the T-intersection and follow road to the ramp.
43. Gibson Park - From Live Oak take Hwy 249 north across the river. Park is on the west side of the road.
44. Boys Ranch - From Live Oak take Hwy 795 north to the Boys Ranch. Follow the main road into the ranch almost to the end and the ramp is on the right.
45. Fox Trail - From Live Oak go north on Hwy 795 to 24 St. (Fox Trail Rd.) and go east to 107 Rd. The ramp is at the end of the road.
46. Spirit of the Suwannee Campground - From Live Oak take Hwy 129 north. The park is on the west side of the road across from the inspection station. Entrance fee.
47. Woods Ferry Tract, SRWMD canoe Launch - From Live Oak take Hwy 129 north to Hwy 136-A; go east to 57 Rd. Take 57 Rd. north to the tract entrance, then follow the road to the canoe launch.
48. Hwy 41 Bridge Park - From White Springs take Hwy 41 south out of town. The park is on the right before the river.
48a. Stephen Foster State Park canoe launch - located inside the state park. Entrance fee to park.
49. Big Shoals Tract, SRWMD canoe launch - From White Springs follow Hwy 135 north to Godwin Bridge Rd. Take the road to the tract and the launch.
50. Cone Bridge Road - From Lake City go north on Hwy 441 to Cone Bridge Road. The road dead ends at the ramp.
51. Turner Bridge Boat Ramp - Take Hwy 6 east from Jasper. Turn north on Woodpecker Route (graded road). Turn east at Turner Bridge, follow road to ramp.
52. Roline canoe launch - From Hwy 6 east of Jasper turn north on the Woodpecker Rt.(graded road) to Roline Rd. Go east on Roline Rd. to the ramp.

 

Around the Area

Stephen C. Foster State Park has several walking paths some of which are elevated above the swamp floor. One can also rent either a canoe or small outboard and experience the Okefenokee Swamp up close and personal. For additional information go to www.gastateparks.org. Please note that this is part of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuse and Wilderness Area. The operation of hovercraft is illegal here.

For some unknown reason the park service saw quite a low demand for boat rentals on this day.

 

Florida has the highest concentration of fresh water springs in the world (nearly 400), and almost half of these are found in the Suwannee River Valley. Shown to the left is Head Spring of the Ichetucknee River in Columbia County. Far closer to the area we will be cruising is Rock Bluff Spring which is accessible only by water.

The following websites catalog a great deal info on many of the springs throughout this region:

Florida Springs Database
Springs Fever

 

Cedar Key is one of the oldest ports in the state, and when Florida's first railroad connected it to the east coast, it became a major supplier of seafood and timber products to the northeast. Today it has become a haven for artists and writers who find the unspoiled environment inspirational to their work. Many people visit each year to walk the historic streets browse the shops and galleries, explore the back bayous and enjoy the world-famous restaurants featuring seafood fresh from local waters. Annually, thousands of visitors come to enjoy the Old Florida Celebration of the Arts in April, the Fourth of July Celebration and the October Seafood Festival.

 
Interested in scuba diving? Ginnie Springs has often been called "the world's favorite freshwater dive." Over the years, thousands of divers from around the world have marveled at Ginnie Springs' crystal-clear water and startling natural beauty. Jacques Cousteau, in fact, characterized Ginnie Spring as "visibility forever."

 

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