Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge

We recently spent six hours exploring the Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge in Gerogia. This was our second trip into the swamp. Steve rented us a jon boat with a motor at the Suwannee Canal Recreation area which is at the main entrance.

Steve getting boat operation instructions

We left the dock just after 9 am. It was a beautiful sunny day and the water was calm and like glass. The reflection of the trees and sky almost gave a sense of vertigo at times. We followed the Suwannee Canal to start the day. It didn’t take long after we headed out to see our first alligator. It was a small one sunning itself on the bank. All in all, we ended up seeing a total of 43 gators. In the canal most of them were small, but when we ventured into the more open water of Chester Prairie, we did see few big ones. The little ones are cute but the big ones make me a little nervous, especially when they swim right in front of the boat and suddenly disappear beneath the surface.

following a big one - where’d he go?

Inaddition to the gators, we saw lots of turtles. The turtles are very shy and slip into the water as soon as the boat approaches. There are also lots of birds in the swamp. Mostly herons, but we did also see a Belted King Fisher.

Believe it or not there are also restrooms in the swamp, and shelters where you can camp for the night. Just don’t expect 5 star accommodations. The restroom is basically a portable potty on a wooden deck. The shelters are wooden platforms with a roof and if your lucky a picnic table. One we stopped at did have a fire pit on the small bit of solid ground next to it. You should always check the facilities for snakes and gators before using. Thankfully I did not encounter any when I used the restrooms.

Be sure to check for gators and snakes before using

Getting onto the water is the best way to enjoy the swamp. Maps of the water routes are available for free and there are direction signs in the swamp. In addition to jon boats, you can rent canoes and kayaks, though day rentals can only go a short way in the canal area unless you do an extended guided excursion. There are also 90 minute tours on larger boats.

You can enjoy a short walk along the water’s edge if you don’t fancy being on the water. You can walk the 0.35 mile Cane Pole Trail by the Suwannee Canal to a wetland prairie overlook. Along the path, there are a few overlook areas where you may be lucky enough to spot a gator.

Just off the main road entrance is Swamp Island Drive. This road takes you to a boardwalk, lookout tower, and historic homestead at Chesser Island. We did this when visiting a year ago. The boardwalk to the tower is 0.75 mile long. It is a nice walk and you get great views from the tower. The other trail is a 0.7 mile loop that takes you past the historic homestead. The buildings are not open but you still can get an idea of how the homesteaders lived.

Okefenokee is a great place to spend the day. Just remember if you really want to see wildlife, especially gators, you need to go into the swamp on the water.

Into the swamp

Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge

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