Suwannee Canoe Outpost Report

on

Current River Conditions

 

by Steve Baxter

 

Updated: 2/9/07

 

The latest updates are written in RED and underlined, like this sentence.

 

(All information is subject to our own observations and customer reports.  We can’t know everything out there, but we try to stay on top of river conditions.  A chart with more specific information is below.)

 

2/8/07—White Springs water level: 52.0 feet.  The Suwannee River is open for overnight trips at least as far up river as State Road 6.  Little Shoals, just above the US 41 boat ramp at White Springs, is passable but lively and a bit shallow for a loaded canoe, so expect to scrape bottom a little.  The segment of Big Shoals below the end of the portage is very similar to Little Shoals. 

 

Day trips:  All day trips are a go.  No reported pullover spots.

 

Overnight trips:  We’re putting overnight trips on the Suwannee up to SR 6.  When we have more info on the river above SR 6, we’ll post it. 

 

Overnight trips on the N. Withlacoochee are normal as far as we know. 

 

We are NOT putting people on the Alapaha until we have more information.

 

A note about the chart below:  A single-person kayak floats in shallower water than a loaded canoe, so keep that in mind when you read “spots that would ground a kayak” or “spots that would ground a loaded canoe”.  If it grounds a kayak, a loaded canoe ain’t gonna make it!  But if a loaded canoe won’t make it, a single-person kayak might.

 

I hope this helps you plan your trip!  See you on the river...soon.

 

 

Suwannee River section

Miles

Date and description of latest known condition

 

 

 

Okefenokee Swamp to Fargo

20

10/06     Motorboats not allowed in the swamp because of low water.

Fargo to Roline boat ramp

14

2/8/07    Unknown, but possibly passable.

Roline boat ramp to SR 6

6

9/06       At least 3 low spots that would ground a kayak;

              dangerous, slippery, foot-sized rocks in long stretches

SR 6 to Cone Bridge boat ramp

9

9/06       At least 12 low spots that would ground a kayak; rocky.

Cone Bridge ramp to Gulf

11

2/8/07    Passable, but use caution just below Big Shoals, and at Little Shoals.