Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge

This trail begins from the main parking lot behind the picnic area/Richard S. Bolt Visitor Center or from a parking area on the Swamp Island Drive. Follow the remnants of the Suwannee Canal built in 1891 through pine uplands and cypress wetlands to look for signs of gopher tortoises and woodpeckers.

Beginning just west of the boat ramp, this trail parallels the Suwannee Canal into Okefenokee's wetland prairie, offering fishing platforms and benches on this fully accessible trail. This trail offers great birdwatching opportunities during spring and fall migration.

Stroll the fully accessible boardwalk to the 40-foot Owls Roost Tower for a vast view of Seagrove Lake, prairies, and the Okefenokee Wilderness. Bicycles are not permitted due to the trail surface (boardwalk). Due to the presence of alligators, pets are not permitted on this trail.

This trail includes the short hiking trail out to the Chesser Island Homestead and the loop trail that goes through the woods to the north of the homestead yard. The homestead loop goes through a forest of oak, palmetto, and Spanish moss and is a great place for birdwatching and wildlife watching.

For visitors wanting to get some extra hiking in, you can park at either the boardwalk or the homestead and walk from one to the other on this short trail that parallels the Swamp Island Drive. Be on the lookout for white-tailed deer, pileated woodpeckers, and red-shouldered hawks.

This spur off of the Chesser Homestead Trail takes visitors on a short boardwalk out to Ridleys Island.

Walk through the pines and palmettos to look for woodpeckers and warblers. Threes marked with a white band indicate cavity trees for the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker.

Billys Island and this short loop hiking trail is accessible from the Stephen C. Foster State Park. A short paddle or boat ride will bring you to the dock on Billys Island where you can see what remains of the Hebard logging village as well as the Lee family cemetery. Billys Island is accessible by boat for day-use only.

This trail connects the Orange Trail with the Green Trail and skirts the edge of Chase Prairie. the deeper holes you come across are good fishing areas. It is used mainly as a route from the Orange Trail to Floyds Island or Bluff Lake. Motorized and non-motorized boating. Camping and/or access to certain portions of trail with an advanced camping permit reservation ONLY.

Kingfisher Landing to Bluff Lake is eight miles along a channel originally cut for peat mining and across open lakes and a waterway lined with pitcher plants and spatterdock. The next nine miles to Floyds Island take you through Territory and Chase Prairies with narrow closed-in channels in between the prairies that may be difficult to paddle during low water levels. Floyds Island to Stephen C. Foster State Park is nine miles of marshes and cypress forests on the RED TRAIL, ending in Billy Lake. Motorized and non-motorized boating. Access via Kingfisher Landing is a remote entrance without facilities. Camping at Bluff Lake and Floyds Island with advanced permit reservation only. If portaging across Floyds Island, portage distance is approximately 0.25 mile.

Follow the historic Suwannee Canal, dug in the late 1800s, in an attempt to drain the swamp. Six miles from the Suwannee Canal Recreation Area is a day use shelter, Coffee Bay, which is a great spot to stretch your legs and have lunch. Canal Run Shelter is a 10-mile paddle from the Suwannee Canal Recreation Area (east entrance) and seven miles from Stephen C. Foster State Park. The trail past Canal Run Shelter becomes narrow and winding for five miles to Billys Island. This stretch of trail is only open to overnight paddling trips and closes frequently due to trail conditions. Past Billys Island, paddle through Billys Lake for two miles to Stephen C. Foster State Park. During times of low water levels, paddlers may be navigating stumps, peat blow-ups, and encroaching vegetation between Canal Run and Billys Island. Trail open to motorized (some portions) and non-motorized boating. Camping at Canal Run Shelter requires advanced permit reservation. Portions of trail are along the concession and state Park boat tour route. Portions of trail are considered easy to moderate due to distance while other portions of trail are considered difficult due to distance and trail conditions.

This trail starts off of the Suwannee Canal or Orange Trail, heading south into Chesser Prairie, then Grand Prairie, and ending at Monkey Lake Platform. This trail goes through some of the most iconic open prairie, where you may see alligators, wading birds, and plants such as water lilies and golden club. Motorized and non-motorized boating. Camping at Monkey Lake Platform with advanced permit reservation ONLY. Portions of this trail are on the concession tour boat route.

This trail connects to the Orange Trail through Chase Prairie and back to the Blue Trail. The challenges of this trail come from the plants that may slow paddlers' progress through the prairie. Non-motorized boats ONLY for camping access to Round Top Shelter. This platform offers a 360-degree view of the swamp surrounding it. Round Top is a great location for stargazing. This site also provides some of the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets. Camping with advanced permit reservation ONLY.

Kingfisher Landing to Maul Hammock is a long day of paddling 12 miles through scrub-shrub, marsh, and small lakes. the non-mile stretch between Maul Hammock and Big Water goes through marsh, a narrow/closed channel, and into a wider river channel surrounded by cypress. The Big Water Shelter is at the north end of Big Water Lake. The last 11 miles to Stephen C. Foster State Park go through cypress forest, and past Minnies Lake (day-use shelter) to Minnies Run and Billys Lake. The slow current is with you as it travels towards the State Park. Open to motorized (some portions) and non-motorized boating. Camping at Maul Hammock and Big Water with advanced permit reservation ONLY.

This trail extends north of the Suwannee Canal into Mizell Prairie. Cedar Hammock platform lies about a mile into this trail. This area is typical Okefenokee prairie, with low growing plants and scrub-shrub habitat. This trail is open to day-use and overnight camping (advanced permit required). Non-motorized boats only. Camping at Cedar Hammock is a great option for families with children or less experienced paddlers that still want to have an overnight experience in the swamp.