Florida /

Suwannee River

River in Florida · 6,423 acres · near Bell, Branford, Chiefland, Ellaville

The Suwannee River is a blackwater river about 246 miles long. It rises in the Okefenokee Swamp near Fargo, Georgia, and flows southwest through north Florida to the Gulf of Mexico near the town of Suwannee, in the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge. After crossing into Florida it drops through limestone into a whitewater rapid, which is rare in Florida, and turns west near White Springs. Along the southern edge of Hamilton County it is joined by the Alapaha and Withlacoochee rivers. The river then bends south near Ellaville, passes Luraville, and takes in the Santa Fe River, its main tributary, south of Branford.

Public launches along the river are run by county governments, including Hamilton, Columbia, Gilchrist and Dixie counties. Others are run by the Suwannee River Water Management District, whose Roline Tract north of White Springs has a boat ramp and a canoe launch, and by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at Weeks Landing in the refuge. Gilchrist County lists ramps at Hart Springs, Wannee Landing and Rock Bluff at the CR 340 bridge. The Suwannee River Wilderness Trail links state parks, preserves and wilderness areas for more than 170 miles, from Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park to the Gulf. During floods, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) activates idle-speed, no-wake zones set by state rule on four stretches: US 90 to SR 51, SR 51 to Little River Spring, Little River Spring to CR 340, and CR 340 to Fowler Bluff. Each zone takes effect when its river gauge reaches a set height. In August 2024 the Suwannee County Sheriff's Office closed all boat ramps on the Suwannee, Santa Fe and Ichetucknee rivers because of high water.

Anglers on the river catch largemouth and Suwannee bass, several kinds of catfish, and redbreast and spotted sunfish. Gulf sturgeon jump from the river in spring and summer. The steamboat Madison worked the river before the Civil War.

Boating rules

Rules change; check with the agency or town before you go.

Launches

Community

Where people who fish, boat and paddle Suwannee River talk about it. Lake associations, clubs and local groups will be added as we find them.

Sources

  1. Suwannee River - Wikipedia
  2. Suwannee and Santa Fe Rivers - Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
  3. FWC deactivates idle-speed, no-wake restrictions on Suwannee River's Zone 1 - FWC
  4. ROLINE - Suwannee River Water Management District
  5. Boating & Fishing - Visit Gilchrist County
  6. Adventure on the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail - Florida State Parks
  7. All boat ramps closed along Suwannee River, Santa Fe River and Itchetucknee River - WTXL

Researched October 13, 2026 from the sources above. Written content CC BY 4.0. Something wrong? Corrections are welcome.