multi-day
Commitment
intermediate
Fitness level
fargo
Location
What to Expect
Join the Georgia Conservancy on December 18 -20, for a weekend exploration of one of the most beautiful places in Georgia: the Okefenokee Swamp. Guests will have the opportunity to paddle the mysterious tea-colored water of the Okefenokee with esteemed naturalist Cathy Sakas and learn about the natural wonders and fascinating cultural history found in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.
Our headquarters for the weekend will be the Suwannee River Eco-lodge. The Eco-Lodge is located in Fargo, GA, west of the Refuge and just north of the Suwannee River, and is managed by the fine folks at the Stephen C. Foster State Park. The Eco-Lodge is a conference center with a commercial kitchen, meeting room and 10 cottages each in a beautiful, natural, private location. There will be no other guests at the Eco-Lodge besides us!
The Okefenokee contains many types of habitat – islands, lakes, cypress forests, scrub-shrub areas and open ‘wet’ prairies. In late Fall, migrating sandhill cranes should be arriving and the occasional bald eagle will be heading south to Florida for the winter. Cypress needles will be turning a golden brown and sweetgum will be glowing red before floating to the ground. As we canoe through the Okefenokee, keep a lookout for alligators, deer, white ibis, herons, egrets and maybe even a black bear.
Learn more about the recent conservation win for the Okefenokee Swamp
The Schedule
Friday: Arrival Day
Meeting point: Suwannee River Eco-Lodge
Guests arrive on Friday for an evening of relaxation, dinner and short presentations. Check-in will begin at 3:30 p.m. at Suwannee River Eco-Lodge in Fargo, GA
Saturday: Into The Swamp...
We will caravan into the Refuge to Stephen C. Foster State Park where we will embark on our paddle trip to Billy’s Island and Minnie’s Lake, learning about the human history and ecology of the Okefenokee. After our paddle, we will return to the Eco-Lodge to enjoy dinner and an evening around the campfire.
Sunday: Back On The Water
On Sunday morning, we will return to Stephen C. Foster State Park and we paddle north to Mixon’s Hammock.
Plan your trip
The Details
What Should I Pack?
You will be sent a suggested packing list a few weeks out from the trip, along with any updates a few days out.
Is This Family Friendly?
This is an intermediate fitness level trip, so while we welcome teens and their parents, young children don’t do well.
What About Boats?
Feel free to bring your own kayak or canoe. Don’t have one? No worries – add a canoe rental during registration. Questions about what boat works best? Reach out to us at trips@georgiaconservancy.org
Register For This Trip
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