Big Oak Trail-Suwannee River

Along the Withlacoochee, you'll bounce back and forth from this road to a marked trail. This road was part of the stage coach route from Pensacola to Jacksonville in the 1800's. Neat. Get notifications via:

You can start at the parking lot in the state park for a 12.5 mile out and back, or at the 141 bridge for a 5.5 mile lollipop. From the 141 bridge, take the gas line right of way (gated) east to the park boundary fence, then turn right at the double orange blaze of the Florida Trail. You'll soon reach the river. This is the view on the north side of the Withlacootchee where you come out of the woods. Get notifications via:

Here's what the trail look like for the majority of the hike. Nice open forest. Get notifications via:

More views of the Withlacoochee. Very pretty. Get notifications via:

Get notifications via:

As you walk east along the northern bank of the Withlacoochee, you'll pass several large sink holes and this karst window. Don't fall in... looks like it would difficult to extricate yourself. These karst windows are openings to the aquifer, so don't throw stuff in... you may drink it later. Get notifications via:

Fall on the Withlacoochee (would never imagine this is Florida if you didn't know it was) Get notifications via:

A large old sink hole. Get notifications via:

Peaceful. We didn't see anyone else on the trail for the entire 5.5 miles, except for a few guys camping at the campground at the junction of the Withlacoochee and Suwannee rivers. And that was on a beautiful fall Saturday. Get notifications via:

Get notifications via:

Get notifications via:

Right before you get to the junction of the two rivers, you'll see the spring at the Ellaville ghost town across the river. Canoes are popular here on the weekends. I can see why. Get notifications via:

Get notifications via:

After you reach the confluence of the two rivers, you'll head north along the west bank of the Suwannee river. This is the gas line easement as it crosses the Suwannee. If you're in a bind or the weather turns sour, you can run back up the easement all the way to gate. It's open and straight as an arrow. Get notifications via:

The trail's namesake... and yes, it is a big oak! There's a sign near the tree that points out the divergence of the Florida Trail (orange blazes) and the return part of the loop (change to blue blazes). Follow the blue blazes back to the junction of the trails at the gas pipeline easement. Get notifications via:

Not part of the lollipop, but this is the view of the RR bridge from the old U.S.90 bridge (foot traffic only). If you do the full trail from the park, you'll walk over this bridge. Get notifications via:

The old U.S.90 bridge. A peaceful location. Beautiful views of the rivers. Get notifications via: