Suwanee River Canoeing Conditions?

[jlillest]

We're looking to do some canoeing on the Suwanee on our upcoming trip to NFL. Does anybody have any comments or suggestions about Canoeing the Suwannee from Rte51 (near Cave Excursions) down to Branford? Is the River high enough right now (ie, no dragging canoes across low spots)? I can look at the Army Corps of Engineers data, but the river heights don't mean anything to me since I don't know the area.

If anybody has suggestions or comments I'd be excited to hear them.

Thanks,
-Jon

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Down the area you're talking about, should be no problem at all.

[Red Hat Jef]

I'm also going to be up in the area and wanting to do some kayaking. I'm familiar with the flow when swimming to telford, which feels quite strong. Will paddling up the river right now be reasonable, so we can drift back? Or is the flow pretty strong and I should plan on a one-way trip?

[FW]

I'm also going to be up in the area and wanting to do some kayaking. I'm familiar with the flow when swimming to telford, which feels quite strong. Will paddling up the river right now be reasonable, so we can drift back? Or is the flow pretty strong and I should plan on a one-way trip?

Canoes, and kayaks go up river a lot easier than swimmers. However, you can do a longer trip, if it is all downstream. Then you have the logistics problem of having a way to get back to your vehicle.

[JE]

Jim Hollis used to run shuttles from hwy 51 in Mayo, & you were able to egress at his place in convict spring or plan further downstream to the Branford or Little River take out. It is a nice paddle....at this time of year especially so. The current was swift when i did the trip, but it really depends on flow volume. ck here : http://www.allaboutrivers.com/

[Greenwood_60]

The current owners of Suwanee River Rendezvous (Convict) will do the same. You can probably work it out to have them drop you upstream, and pick you up downstream at Little River or whatever.

[sandy]

When are you coming down?

[billyf]

check out http://www.floridastateparks.org

they have a a canoe trail Suwannee River Wilderness Trail
http://www.floridastateparks.org/wilderness/

[FW]

Jon,

I found something that may be useful to you. It is a list of most of the Suwannee river places to launch a canoe. It has the distances between them, and the distance to the Gulf. I hope the columns line up. This software doesn't handle tabs too well.

# Name TOTAL LEG
0 Gulf 0.0 0.0
1 Suwanee 3.0 3.0
2 Fowlwers Bluff 15.0 12.0
3 Manatee 24.4 9.4
4 US 19 Fannin SP 33.5 9.1
5 Hart Springs 42.7 9.2
6 Sun Springs 46.3 3.6
7 Wannee 48.9 2.6
8 Guaranto 54.7 5.8
9 Rock Bluff 56.5 1.8
10 Little L. City 61.8 4.5
11 Sante Fe River 65.7 4.7
12 Branford 76.0 10.3
13 Little River 80.3 4.3
14 Troy 82.6 2.3
15 Mearson 85.8 3.2
16 Boat Ramp 86.6 0.8
17 Royal Blue 90.8 4.2
18 Convict Spring 91.8 1.0
19 Running Springs 93.7 1.9
20 Luraville SR51 98.0 4.3
21 Laf Blue Spg 102.6 4.6
22 Thomas Spring 104.8 1.4
23 Charles Spring 105.8 1.0
24 Dowling Park 112.5 6.7
25 Mill Creek 114.1 1.6
26 Springhead 115.8 1.7
27 I-10 124.5 8.7
28 US 90 126.9 2.4
29 Withlaoochee 127.1 8.2
30 Alapaha River 134.8 7.7
31 Nobles Ferry 135.1 8.3
32 Holton Creek 139.4 4.3
33 Guinea Creek 142.4 3.0
34 Mitchell Creek 144.7 2.3
35 Mill Creek 146.0 1.3
36 SCL R.R 148.1 2.1
37 US 129 150.0 1.9
38 Camp Branch 156.5 6.3
39 Jerry Branch 157.9 1.4
40 I-75 162.4 1.4
41 Poucher Branch 162.5 0.1
42 Swift Creek 162.8 0.3
43 Tiger Branch 167.4 4.6
44 White Spg 136 169.6 2.2
45 White Spg 441 171.8 2.2
46 Falling Creek 174.0 2.2
47 Robinson Br. 176.4 2.4
48 Big Shoals 176.7 0.3
49 Long Branch 178.5 1.8
50 Deep Creek 180.2 1.7
51 Roaring Creek 187.1 6.9
52 Bay Creek 194.8 7.7
53 SR 6 Bridge 196.5 1.7
54 Rocky Creek 199.1 2.6
55 Tame Creek 207.0 7.9
56 FL/GA Line 207.5 0.5
57 Little Sewanne 214.7 7.2
58 Suwannoochee 219.2 4.5
59 Fargo 222.0 2.8
60 Jones Creek 226.0 4.0
61 Aligator Creek 230.6 4.6
62 Bay Creek 235.0 4.4
63 Sill At Swamp 235.5 0.5

[Me]

American Canoe also provides shuttles. I'm using them this spring while doing the SRWMD River camps over a five day period. www.aca1.com

Edit: If you use ACA....they can also advise you on conditions, etc.