Fourth Annual Spring Paddle Florida on the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail
March 26-April 2, 2011 – Trip Overview

Madison Blue Springs State Park (Withlacoochee R.)
to Manatee Springs State Park (Suwannee R.)

Capacity: 200 people
Distance: 115 miles
Registration: $300/Adult; $275/Senior, College Student;
$250/Youth 8-17; Child (7 and under)/free
Meals: $150/person
Paddle Florida Lite: Four days or less: $60/day; Meals: $30/day

Day One — Saturday, March 26, 2011
Participants in Paddle Florida will arrive at Madison Blue Springs State Park the day before the start for a night of camping and orientation for the adventure to come.  Paddlers will either drive straight to the starting point and park their vehicles there for the week, or take advantage of the River’s End Shuttle. If you are driving straight to the starting point, this shuttle at the end of the week will be available for those who need to get their boats and gear back to the starting point. If you would like to have your car waiting for you when you finish the trip, you may drive to Manatee Springs and park your vehicle there and take the Kick-Off Shuttle (a $50 fee –$25/person, $25/boat– is required for shuttle service). After having your boats loaded, you will be shuttled to Madison Blue Springs State Park to check in.

Day Two — Sunday, March 27, 2011
Madison Blue Springs State Park to Suwanee River State Park
(Go to an interactive Google Map of the day's track)
The first morning of Paddle Florida will have us departing Madison Blue Springs State Park. You will notice the distinctive aspects of the Withlacoochee as it makes its way into Florida from Georgia; a narrow riverbed and increasingly steeper limestone bluffs. After paddling a distance of 8 miles, we will stop for lunch at Melvin Shoals.  The shoals here can be up to a Class II, so we will portage those boats who wish to avoid the whitewater. All lunch stops will offer healthy "snack food," various fruits and drinks (all you can eat). Everyone should be fortified for the rest of this short 12-mile day. We will be establishing a stagger to avoid bottlenecks at rest stops.  In the afternoon, our intrepid paddlers will arrive at the Suwannee River State Park for overnight camping. One of Florida’s most visited parks, it sits at the confluence of the Suwannee and Withlacoochee Rivers. On the way,  you will be treated to springs visible at the bottom of the limestone cliffs.  About one mile in, paddlers will experience Pott Springs on river left; one of the prettiest spots in the Suwannee River Valley, as well as a wide variety of wildlife native to the region.

Day Three — Monday, March 28, 2011
Suwannee River State Park to Advent Christian Village
(Go to an interactive Google Map of the day's track)

Paddlers should remember that the Suwannee River Valley at this time of year can be cold, at least by Florida standards. Temperatures can range from 60-80 degrees during the day, and 35-55 degrees at night. When we depart the Suwannee River State Park this Saturday morning, we will embark on another short day: 14 miles to Advent Christian Village (ACV). The fire each night will provide light, heat, ambiance, trash disposal and olfactory delight. Be sure to bring cameras in order to capture and preserve some great moments. And remember to take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footprints. Activities will be planned for each night.

Day Four — Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Advent Christian Village to Suwannee River Rendezvous Resort and Campground (Go to an interactive Google Map of the day's track)

We will compensate for yesterday’s short paddle with the longest leg of the trip, 24 miles. Our rest stop will be at Lafayette Blue Springs State Park, 11 miles into the day. We will spend the night at the Suwannee River Rendezvous Resort and Campground 13 miles later. (we will be providing a shuttle for those who wish to skip the next 13 miles). This is a beautiful private sector facility located at Convict Springs. Camping will be under a canopy of oak trees on a bluff overlooking the river. The Rendezvous also has a limited number of "indoor" accommodations available.

Suwannee River Rendezvous Resort & Campground, 386-294-2510 for reservations and price or click on the logo to jump to the Suwannee River Rendezvous Resort & Campground Website.

On this day you will see the river begin to widen a bit as we make our way down this world-class waterway. You will also be treated to a few areas of "fast water" and several springs.

Day Five — Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Suwannee River Rendezvous Resort and Campground to Ivey Memorial Park
(Go to an interactive Google Map of the day's track)

Another short "sprint" of 15 miles this day. We have our rest stop nearly ten miles into the day's adventure, but it is well worth it, as we take a break for lunch at Little River Springs, currently a Suwannee County Park, but soon to be an additional property of the Florida Park Service. This site is popular with cave and cavern divers. The spring is the entrance to a cave system more than 1,200 feet long and 100 feet deep. After visiting this picturesque location, the final five miles will be a breeze. On the way, we will also pass Royal Spring, Troy Springs and Ruth Springs, before we camp at Ivey Memorial Park in Branford, Florida. When you get off the river, you are nearly in downtown Branford. This may be a good opportunity to pick up some additional supplies.

Day Six — Thursday, March 31, 2011
Ivey Memorial Park to Gornto Springs County Park
(Go to an interactive Google Map of the day's track)

Again, depending on the weather, we may see a fog-shrouded river in the morning as we move farther toward our destination. About 13 miles into this 21-mile day, we'll stop for lunch. We still have 11 miles to go to reach Gornto Springs, a Dixie County Park. Part of what makes this trip unique is that we camp on the river every night. There are no high school gymnasiums, buses or cafeterias to navigate. Everything we need will be on the banks of the Suwannee. Additionally, by now, we should have seen an alligator or two in addition to other native wildlife, such as limpkins, snowy egrets, great blue herons, anhingas, roosting bald eagles and vultures, and turtles by the score.

Day Seven — Friday, April 1, 2011
Gornto Springs County Park to Fanning Springs State Park
(Go to an interactive Google Map of the day's track)

We must paddle 20 miles to make it to one of the gems of the Florida Park Service: Fanning Springs State Park, where we will have a final night party. Fanning Springs, like Branford will afford participants the opportunity to pick up supplies or maybe patronize one of the local restaurants. On the way, we will stop at Hart Springs, which is another fantastic county park, this time in Gilchrist County. The lunch stop is 12 miles along on this day. But the good news is that we are nearing the end of the trip with only a nine-mile morning paddle into Manatee Springs State Park.

Day Eight — Saturday, April 2, 2011
Fanning Springs State Park to Manatee Springs State Park
(Go to an interactive Google Map of the day's track)

Beautiful Manatee Springs produces over 80.000 gallons of water per minute. In the winter Manatees gather in the 72 degree water and in summer Gulf Sturgeon are jumping out on the river. When we arrive, there will be a bus and our truck to shuttle weary travelers and their boats back to Madison Blue Springs State Park.  For those who are interested in extending their trip, take a trip to the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park, where the Suwannee Springfest will be in full swing.  Paddlers can make their own arrangements with the park for camping Thursday night, or depart for home with a sense of accomplishment that you spent a week experiencing the various ecosystems along the way, and paddled 115 miles on two of Florida’s best rivers.

WHAT HAPPENS HERE STAYS WITH YOU.
SEE YOU NEXT TIME . . . GOING WITH THE FLOW!