We get that a lot of paddlers have dreamt about kayaking though the wilderness that is Okefenokee Swamp. The problem is that if you have no idea what to expect and where to start your trip planning, you might find yourself stuck between…well mud and weeds.

• Okefenokee Swamp Tours
• Okefenokee Swamp Park Waycross Ga
• Okefenokee Swamp Airboat Tours
• Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge

Luckily we’ve put together a handy little guide that’ll give you some great pointers and show you what to avoid altogether in the swamp. Sit back, read up, and then get ready to start planning a kickass trip, paddling the Okefenokee Swamp!

1. Okefenokee Swamp Park (North) - A private non-profit facility, this entrance is located eight miles south of Waycross. Interpretive displays, a boardwalk, boat and train tours, and live animals show s. Call 912-283-0583 for information about programs and entrance fees. Address: 5700 Okefenokee Swamp Park Road Waycross, GA 31503.
2. Jul 29, 2010 A Georgia fisherman recorded hundreds of alligators gathering in a canal in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, in what biologists believe may be a strange feeding ritual. Ray Cason witnessed.

A south Georgia fisherman earlier this month caught a lot more than fish on his camera when he recorded hundreds of alligators in a rare 'feeding frenzy' in the Okefenokee Swamp. Ray Cason, of.

Okefenokee Swamp – Fast Facts

Paddling Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

Total Area: Over 4,000 Acres

Water Conditions: Flat and Still

Aug 05, 2019  Sharks feeding in Myrtle Beach (Source: Tara Savedge) MYRTLE BEACH, SC (FOX Carolina) – A family visiting Myrtle Beach from Richmond, Virginia had a close encounter with a frenzy of feeding sharks just a few yards away from shore Monday morning. Aug 05, 2019  MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – A woman from Richmond, Va., was able to capture video of about five sharks in a feeding frenzy off Myrtle Beach. “I saw my husband kind of pointing down at the beach to me and then he made a shark fin with his hands over his head,” said Tara Savedge. Shark feeding frenzy myrtle beach 2019. Aug 06, 2019  Family captures dramatic shark feeding frenzy at Myrtle Beach. Going for a walk on the beach should be relaxing — except if you happen to spot about half a dozen sharks in a feeding frenzy. A family on vacation in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Aug 06, 2019  Shark feeding frenzy near shore at Myrtle Beach stuns visitors. A group of sharks engaged in a feeding frenzy close to the shore at Myrtle Beach, S.C., treated visitors to a wild show Monday morning. Beachgoer Tara Savedge, of Richmond, Va., told WBTW she was visiting the popular tourist destination with her family when she witnessed the spectacle.

Average Trip Duration: 3 days

Location: Georgia

Before You Paddle

• You’ll need to get in touch with the ranger office BEFORE you get to the swamp in order to get a camping permit and select a trail. Reservations are absolutely required and no walk-inns are permitted.
• The ranger office only issues 7 permits at a time, so keep that in mind when doing your planning.
• Campfires are strictly prohibited at overnight stops, which means that you’ll have to make use of a portable camping stove.
• Approaching (or feeding) the alligators is not permitted.

The Trip at a Glance

You’ll have to launch before or at 10am since National Wildlife rules are very strict in this regard. Paddlers have to be at their overnight stops before sunset and need to stay put until sunrise.

The designated trail route that you got when you made your reservation has to be followed at ALL times. These are permit rules.

If you’ve reserved and east-to-west traverse, you’ll be traveling down the Orange Purple, Blue and Green trails, which effectively gives you two nights out on the swamp.

You can make a stop at Coffee Bay day-use shelter, which is located on one of the banks. Over here you’ll be able to enjoy a picnic and make use of the washrooms provided.

After this, you’ll enter Chase’s Prairie, and continuing along will take you to your first night’s stop.

Okefenokee Swamp Tours

Early the next morning, you can head out to Floyd’s Island, the spot where you’ll probably spend your second night out in the swamp.

The Green Trail leads to the middle fork of the Suwannee River. This leads to Stephen Foster, which is where you’ll find rental facilities and probably also encounter powerboats.

No matter what your pace is, or what you’re aiming to see out there, the most crucial part of your planning should be sticking to your designated reserved trail route at all times.

Your Camping Options

Overnight stops are located throughout the swamp. These stops are raised above the water and offer a 360 view of the area and also have ample space for tents to be pitched. All paddlers have to be at their overnight stops before sunset, so keep this in mind when determining the pace at which you’ll be paddling.

When Is The Best Time to Go?

The Okefenokee Swamp is pretty much a year-round destination for kayakers, although the peak season tends to fall between March and May each year, when the bugs aren’t everywhere to be seen. Do keep in mind that this time of year marks the increase of alligators, so take your pick. Reservations are restricted to a maximum of 2 nights per party during the peak season. That being said, once you’ve decided on when you’d like to go, it’s essential that you make a reservation. These can be done as far as 2 months in advance. A reservation will cost you $10 per person, per night, which is another thing you need to keep in mind.

Can I Park My Car for Free?

Unless you have a reservation for a trail, parking will cost you $5 per car.

The Case on Swimming

Swimming is strictly prohibited in the Okefenokee Swamp (due to obvious alligator-related reasons). On that note, you should also know that pets are not permitted to join you on your trip.

Wildlife in the Area

The Okefenokee Swamp is home to an abundance of animal species, aside from alligators. Keep your eyes peeled to spot the turtles, heron, snakes, otters, owls, frogs, cranes, and the occasional black bear.

Need More Info?

Okefenokee Swamp Park Waycross Ga

Look: We reckon that this guide is pretty conclusive, but as with all things done by man, it might lack details that you would have liked to get the scoop on. For that reason, we’ve included some cool links that you can use to add a little more info to your encyclopedia of knowledge of the Okefenokee Swamp.

Okefenokee Swamp Airboat Tours

• This article shows you what a fellow paddler experienced during his first Okefenokee trip.
• You can use this link to check out itineraries for camping and kayaking trips on the swamp.
• Over here you’ll find 12 different trips and trails ranked according to their difficulty level.
• This article has some useful paddling info for prospective paddlers on the area.
• You can consult the reserve’s website for some additional information.

Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge

There you go folks. We’ve shared just about everything we know about paddling on the Okefenokee Swamp with you, and we honestly hope that this guide has been helpful. All you need to do now is to sit down, take our tips and pointers into consideration, and then plan one super swampy paddling adventure out on Okefenokee!