• Learning about the natural history and the equally fascinating human history of this unique primitive habitat 
• Paddling among huge old cypress trees that have lived there for hundreds of years
• Watching sluggish alligators sunning themselves
• Stopping often to take pictures and investigate the early blooming wildflowers
  
• Enjoying quiet cabins and hearty meals after active days
  

The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in Southern Georgia is unique, wild, and visually incredible.  From the ancient Cypress trees hung with Spanish moss to sleepy alligators and numerous birds, this primitive environment is like no other.  The human history here is also fascinating: starting with the earliest, aboriginal inhabitants (the Ouaquaphenogaw or Yamases) through the Native American Seminoles to the earliest European inhabitants, the Swampers, and the Suwannee Canal Company timber harvesting, this unique environment has challenged and shaped many lives.

We travel via canoe among the various waterways, paddling among ancient and towering Cypress trees, lily pads, and other water plants. Sluggish alligators sunning themselves or perhaps slipping in the water to avoid human contact are a common sight.  We stop often to take pictures of this magnificent and wonderful environment. And we return knowing we have seen one of the most truly special places on earth.

Women in sufficient condition to paddle up to 6 hours a day (with breaks) and sufficient mobility to get in and out of the canoe when necessary. No paddling experience is necessary, we teach all the skills you need to know.  Rating: 1 2 [3] 4 5

• three nights in cabins at Stephen Foster State Park. Each cabin has 2 bathrooms and 2 bedrooms with 2 beds in each room
• one night in a motel in Folkston
  

• experienced guides
  
• four nights double occupancy lodging
• all meals from lunch on Saturday though breakfast on Wednesday
• round trip transportation from the Jacksonville, FL airport
• canoe rental and instruction
• entrance fees

At 11:00 AM at the Jacksonville FL Airport (JAX) or 1:00 pm at Stephen C Foster State Park

At 10:00 AM at the Jacksonville airport

you can download the complete trip information here

Saturday: We meet at the Jacksonville, FL airport at 11:00 AM (if you plan to arrive that morning, please make sure your plane arrives by 10:30).  Our drive to Stephen C. Foster State Park in Georgia, the westernmost access point of the Okefenokee and our home for the next three days, will take about 2 hours.  We enjoy a picnic lunch, start getting to know each other, and then have some time to hike the trails and boardwalks around the park. There is excellent bird viewing and we will probably see our first gator.  We will have an early dinner in our cottages and then walk to the ranger station for an excellent overview of the area geologic, natural, and human history from one of the park rangers.

Sunday:  8.6 miles to Minnies Shelter, 13 miles to Floyds Prairie (total, not one way)
After picking up our canoes we start with a short instructional paddling and safety session.  We then head out from Stephen Foster east into Billys Lake, a long narrow depression in the swamp.  We see alligators sunning themselves if the sun is out and a variety of birds, as well as starting to see the ancient Cypress trees. This portion of the swamp, the Orange Trail, is characterized by the still, dark waters of Billys Lake and the overhanging Cypress trees.  We will set a very leisurely pace so we can explore the various nooks and crannies of this long narrow lake while watching for alligators, turtles, Ibis, Egrets, Herons and the unique water plants of the swamp. After 2.2 miles of paddling we reach Billys Island, home to much of the swamps history.  We take the walking trail from the dock to the northernmost part of the island.  At various times Billys Island was used as a refuge for remnant bands of Seminoles, a homestead for early Swampers, and the site of a booming lumber town complete with a movie theater.  All of that is gone now, leaving only burial mounds, cemeteries, and the steel framework of cars and equipment.

After eating lunch on Billys Island we head north to Minnies Lake and the edge of Floyds prairie.  This water path winds and twists amongst the Cypress trees, giving us an up close and intimate view of the most mature and aged Cypress trees in the swamp.  After a break to stretch our legs at Minnies Shelter at the southern portion of Minnies Lake we will decide whether to continue on to Floyds prairie (2.2 miles one way).  This portion of the trail again becomes narrow and winding until it reaches the southern portion of Floyds Prairie, dominated not by Cypress trees, but by low lying water plants and watery bushes. A prairie, not of dirt, but of water. Regardless of how far we go, we backtrack the way we came, returning to our cabins for an excellent meal.

Monday: 9.2 miles to Suwanee River Sill (total, not one way)
Today we head the opposite way on Billys Lake, west towards the Suwannee River Sill on the Brown Trail.  After leaving Billys Lake we travel the wooded path of the ancient Suwannee River again watching for alligators, Ibis, Egrets, Osprey, Anhingas and aquatic turtles. Our paddling will be exciting during this portion of the watery trail called The Narrows as it twists and turns and goes every which way but straight. Leaving the Narrows the trail again widens and curves less until we reach the Suwannee River Sill, an earthen dam used to control an earlier wildfire.  We willl stop along the Sills bank for lunch and a chance to stretch our legs. 

After lunch we backtrack along our path, returning to our cabins for hot showers and another excellent dinner.

Tuesday: 13.8 miles to Monkey Lake, or 9.6 miles to Mizell Prairie (total, not one way)
Today we pack up and then ride in our van  to the East Entrance, the Suwannee Canal Recreation Area (approximately 1.5 hours).  This location contains the Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge headquarters, a visitor center with excellent exhibits, several foot trails, a restored homestead and a 4000 foot boardwalk with an observation tower. 

After exploring the Recreation area we pick up our canoes and head out for a completely different experience of the swamp.  The east side of the Refuge has fewer, and younger, Cypress trees and provides excellent examples of the swamp prairies.  The prairies are dominated by water lilies, sedges, grasses, beakrushes, yellow-eyed grasses, and Neverwet, as well as young Pond Cypress and Hurrah Bush.

Depending on how much time we take exploring the recreation area, we will either head north on the Yellow trail to Mizell Prairie or head south along the White trail to Monkey lake.  Both trails offer the possibilities of seeing migratory sandhill cranes and a variety of waterfowl.  Of course, alligator sightings are likely as well. Both of our trail choices first begin by heading west on the Suwannee Canal.  This canal was dug by the Suwannee Canal Company in the 1890s in an attempt to drain the Okefenokee for timber and agriculture - fortunately for us and wildlife, they were unsuccessful! The canal is wide, long and straight and although person-made, provides excellent scenery and spectacular reflections in the still water when the sky and light conditions are right. After exploring the trails to either Mizell Prairie to the north, or Monkey Lake and Chesser Prairie to the south, we backtrack on the canal to the Suwannee Canal Recreation Area. We spend tonight in the nearby town of Folkston and after a hot shower, we will go out for our final farewell dinner featuring some down hme southern cooking.

Wednesday: After breakfast the drive back to the Jacksonville airport is only about an hour and we will have you back there by 10 AM for a flight out after 11:30 AM.