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Outdoors

Okefenokee Swamp Canoe

Paddle into the swamp from the refuge's main entrance along the Suwannee Canal, dug in the late 1800s in an attempt to drain the swamp, to the Coffee Bay day-use shelter for lunch. The east side of the swamp is mostly open prairie with low plants, water lilies and pitcher plants, and islands of pond cypress and tupelo.

For The Reps · Updated

canoe trip scenery for Okefenokee Swamp near Georgia
Photo: Taxodium ascendens in the Black Water, Okefenokee by Clinton Steeds from Los Angeles, USA, CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0). Via Wikimedia Commons.
Where
Georgia, USA
Distance
9.7 km (6 miles) one way; 19.3 km (12 miles) out and back
Difficulty
Moderate

The route

Orange Trail from Suwannee Canal Recreation Area to the Coffee Bay day-use shelter and back.

Suwannee Canal Recreation Area, the main entrance, is 18 km (11 miles) southwest of Folkston, Georgia. Okefenokee Adventures rents canoes and kayaks there, or you can launch your own. Sign in and out at the boat launch.

When to go

Open all year. From 1 March to 31 October boats must be off the water by 6 pm (the refuge closes at 7:30 pm); from 1 November to the end of February, by 4 pm (the refuge closes at 5:30 pm).

Permits and fees

No permit is needed for day paddling, but you need a refuge entrance pass ($5 per vehicle, valid 7 days, or $15 a year), sold online, at the fee machine or by Okefenokee Adventures. Overnight trips need an advance Wilderness Camping Permit.

Before you go

  • Stay on the marked trails: numbered mile markers and wooden posts painted white on top show the way.
  • Children under 13 must wear a life jacket, and every paddler must have one on board.
  • Pick up a map and ask staff about trail conditions before you set out.
  • Take insect repellent, sun protection and plenty of drinking water; the refuge advises against drinking swamp water.

What to bring

  • A buoyancy aid, worn rather than stowed
  • A dry bag for your phone and keys
  • Water and snacks
  • Sun cream, a hat and sunglasses
  • A warm layer, even on a hot day

Getting ready for it

Paddling works your back, shoulders and core more than your arms.

A few weeks of rows, pull-ups or pulldowns and some rotational core work will make a full day far more comfortable.

Staying safe

  • Alligators are common; swimming and wading are banned.
  • Open prairies leave you exposed to sun and wind, and paddling is slow where the trail is shallow or narrow.
  • Check the wind and water forecast before launching.
  • Tell someone your route and when you expect to be back.

Route details checked September 30, 2026 against fws.gov, fws.gov and fws.gov. Rules and closures change, so check before you go.