The Okefenokee Swamp in southeast Georgia is among the most underrated places to visit in the United States. Yet, this wilderness has much beauty and adventure to offer. Covering about 640 square miles, this amazing “black water” swamp has iconic Spanish moss-covered Live Oak trees, kneed Cypress trees, eagles, osprey, snakes, and, of course, the American Alligator. The much larger Everglades National Park at the south tip of Florida typically gets more attention from visitors, but the Okefenokee is astoundingly beautiful and easy to access.
Facts: Okefenokee is an Indian word meaning “trembling or bubbling or earth.” Some accounts have the word derived from Hitchiti, Creek, or other Indian languages. Hitchiti, spoken by tribes in Florida, such as the Seminole, seems the most likely. 1 The swamp is a National Wildlife Refuge, and two rivers begin in the swamp, the St Marys and the Suwannee. Both of these rivers find their way to Florida. The Georgia State Park in the Okefenokee is the Stephen C. Foster SP, named after the famous and prolific American composer.
How to Get There and When to Go
There are five entrances to the Okefenokee:
- Southeast: Suwannee Canal Rd at Folkston, GA (Okefenokee Swamp Park, private, non-profit)
- Northeast: Kingfisher Landing at Race Pond, GA
- North: Okefenokee Swamp Park (Okefenokee Swamp Park, private, non-profit)
- West: Stephen C. Foster State Park at Fargo, GA
- Suwannee Sill Recreation Area at Fargo, GA
Georgia is hot in the summer, even in the mountains. And Okefenokee is NOT in the mountains. The best times to visit are in the fall or spring. For many activities, the winter will also be a great time to visit but the live oak trees may be bare (cypresses keep their leaves in winter). Bugs, such as mosquitos, flies and no-see-ums, can also be a problem in the warmer parts of the year, although less of a problem than you might expect.
If your only chance to visit is summer, then go for it! But plan your activities for early or late in the day.
Just in case you are concerned, Okefenokee is not dangerous as long as you use common sense and follow the guidelines.
Stephen C. Foster State Park
The Stephen Foster State Park offers many activities, depending on the time of year, and is a great launching point into the swamp. Guided tours are available, as well as ranger programs and events (see the site for schedules). “Jon Boats” (flat bottom), with small motors, canoes, and kayaks can be rented. There are boat ramps around the entry points of the swamp including in the park, but personal boats require registration and there are regulations (e.g., no motors over 10HP).
The entry fee (ParkPass) is $5 per vehicle (separate from cottage or camping fees). An annual pass for State Parks can also be purchased here.
Trails on Water and Land
The waterways (“trails”) through the swamp are the best way to see the Okefenokee, whether on a guided tour, motorboat, canoe, or kayak. My favorite is from the State Park dock, through Billy’s Lake, and on to Minnie’s Lake. For a longer trail, you can continue further on from Minnie Lake to Floyd’s Prairie. Minnie’s Lake is about 4 miles from the dock. (see a trail map here) (Note: Billy’s Lake is actually the Suwannee River.)
A shorter water trail (~2 miles) is from the park’s dock to Billy’s Island where you can pull up to another dock and walk a nature trail on the Island (trail guide). Billy’s Island is reportedly named after an Indian named Billy Bowlegs, murdered in 1827. The 4000 acre island has been home to refugees of Native-Americans, escaped slaves, and AWOL soldiers. (More on the rich history of Okefenokee and Billy’s Island here.) The loop trail takes you to Weeden Island Culture mound, remnants of the logging industry, and a pioneer cemetery. See our hiking page for tips and ideas on gear.
(For thumbnail photos, click for expanded view.)
There are four hikes in Stephen C. Foster State Park. Three are about 1-mile long, and the Suwannee River Sill hike is 3-4 miles and a 5-mile drive from the main park to the trailhead. More info on the Park page. The boardwalk trail gets you into the swamp without a boat and is the hike to choose if you have limited time.
Boating
Most of the motorboats that you rent in Okefenokee have small motors with a till (handle) attached to the motor. Tips on operating a jon boat: After shifting the gear into “forward,” the driver faces toward the bow to steer. The trick is that you push the till/handle in the opposite direction of where you want to go (i.e., pushing the handle to the left (“port”) makes the boat’s bow move toward the right (“starboard”)). This is fairly simple but might take a little practice, at first, to get the hang of it. Be sure to get comfortable with driving the boat before you leave the openness of Billy’s Lake and head into the narrow trails. (rental information)
Accommodations and Other Actives
The park has a good campground with 52 sites (book yours at the Reserve America website), and there are 9 cottages that can be rented as well. There is a modern lodge with rooms in Fargo, about 20 miles from the park. (Park map)
The Stephen C. Foster State Park is also a certified Dark Sky Park by the International Dark Sky Association.
Many Georgia State Parks have “geo-caching,” including SC Foster Park. (Get more information and the geocache app here.)
If you are interested in knowing more about Stephen Foster, who wrote the official state songs of Florida and Kentucky as well as many other well-known tunes, see Wikipedia.
Overnight Canoe/Kayak Trips
Many paddling enthusiasts take the water trails on overnight trips, staying at shelters constructed throughout the swamp. These trips require permits ($50/night) from the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). (Go here for Okefenokee permits.) If you park your car at the State Park, there is a $5 overnight fee. Canoes and Kayaks can be rented at the State Park or at Okefenokee Adventures. (Map and “trails”.) The USFWS site has a number of suggested routes/itineraries based on the number of nights.
Flora and Fauna in Okefenokee Swamp
A big part of the Okefenokee experience is the flora and fauna. On our trips to the swamp, we have seen amazingly beautiful and interesting trees, flowers, and animals. There seem to be surprises around every bend. Boating through the swamp, you feel like you are in a different world.
In addition to the pictures shown here, there is a good list of plants and wildlife, with photos, at Sherpa Guides. If you venture into the swamp in a boat of some kind, it is almost certain that you will see alligators. On the other hand, some species, while inhabiting the swamp, are rare for a human to see (e.g., bobcats).
Birds and Birding
There are many species of birds in the swamp, including bald eagles, osprey, egrets, heron, Sandhill Cranes, and many types of ducks and mergansers. The USFWS has a helpful listing of birds in Okefenokee that indicates the season and regularity of sightings. The State has a great birding site for the swamp with helpful information, as does ebirding. Chesser Island Boardwalk (3/4 mile) on the east side of the swamp leads to a 40 ft observation tower that overlooks Seagrove Lake and is a good place to see birds and other wildlife.
Snakes
It is no surprise that there are water-loving snakes in the swamp, both venomous and nonvenomous. The poisonous pit-vipers include various subspecies of rattlesnakes and the water moccasin (aka cottonmouth). As noted previously, despite the snakes and alligators, Okefenokee is not dangerous as long as you use common sense and keep a safe distance.
Fishing
If you plan on fishing in Okefenokee, make sure and check the regulations and safety rules that are a bit different than you might be used to (e.g., don’t use stringers since they may attract alligators). Since the “black” swamp water is acidic, due the decaying vegetation, the species of fish is different than in most lakes. Thus, Okefenokee is a unique fishing experience. More good information for anglers at Georgia Outdoor News.
For Kids
Needless to say, Okefenokee is a great adventure for kids. Boating, trails, ranger programs/talks are available all year. (Schools in the region have field trips to the swamp, regularly.) A children’s book about Okefenokee, “Deep in the Swamp”. (Goodreads. Retrieved December 12, 2023), would be a good introduction for younger ones.
Other things in the area: Cumberland Island, St Simons Island, Jekyll Island
While you are in southwest Georgia, you might also want to visit the coast. Jekyll Island is a good beach destination, and St. Simons Island has beaches, seafood, a lighthouse, and interesting history. St. Simons has historic Christ Church, where John Wesley and George Whitefield (founders of Methodism) visited. Cumberland Island is a remote wilderness area and National Seashore, accessible only by ferry, with a campground and hiking to historic sites (i.e., ruins). Much of the year, the campground is full; reservations can be made up to six months in advance. Cumberland Island also has the Greyfield Inn, built by the Carnegies in 1890, with antique furnishings and all-inclusive accommodations (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) (~$1000/night).
Of course, a little further up the coast is the remarkable town of Savannah, Georgia.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okefenokee_Swamp#cite_note-25 ↩︎