Hamilton – Florida Birding Trail

Big Shoals Public Lands

Together, Big Shoals State Park, State Forest and Wildlife Management Area comprise the Big Shoals Public Lands, a wild and impressive property jointly managed by the Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD), Florida Forest Service, Florida Park Service and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. This site borders the majestic Suwannee River (an Outstanding Florida Water), which has the largest whitewater rapids in the state, plus scenic vistas from 80-foot high limestone bluffs above the river. With 33 miles of trails and the river to explore, visitors have numerous options for a fun-filled day.

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Holton Creek Tract

Hike the Florida National Scenic Trail (FNST) as it follows the Suwannee River through the Holton Creek Wildlife Management Area's gorgeous old-growth bottomland and floodplain forest. You will be rewarded with nice vantages from the occasional river bluffs; additional habitats include sandhills, upland mixed forest and floodplain swamp.

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Jennings Bluff Tract

Located in northeast Hamilton County near the Georgia border, the entrance road for the Jennings Bluff Tract leads gradually down through upland hardwood forest to a trail along the slow, tannic Alapaha River. Other habitats include hydric hammock, scrubby flatwoods, sandhills and open field.

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Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park

This park and campground on the fabled Suwannee River is a popular destination for music lovers, paddlers as well as wildlife watchers. Habitats include mixed hardwood forest, riparian forest, sandhills, flatwoods, fields and bay swamp. Stop at the park office to pick up maps and to pay the admission fee. Twenty miles of hiking and multi-use trails are at your disposal; cars and golf carts are allowed on selected trails for those not able to hike. One of the park's big attractions is a super-sized bat house inhabited by thousands of Brazilian Free-tailed Bats.

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Suwannee River State Park

Situated at the confluence of the Suwannee and Withlacoochee Rivers, this state park features numerous aquatic habitats (sinks, springs and streams), plus sandhills, upland pine and mixed forest, bottomland forest and floodplain forest. Five hiking trails range in length from 0.25 to 18 miles. The best trails for birding parallel the bluffs and limestone outcroppings of the Suwannee River.

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Twin Rivers State Forest

The Twin Rivers State Forest's scenic Ellaville Tract borders the western shore of the Suwannee River. Wildlife watchers can explore miles of forest roads and trails here; habitats include sandhills, upland mixed forest, bottomland forest and floodplain forest. The Blue Springs Tract is an example of a rare longleaf-wiregrass community.

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Big Shoals Public Lands

Holton Creek Tract

Hike the Florida National Scenic Trail (FNST) as it follows the Suwannee River through the Holton Creek Wildlife Management Area’s gorgeous old-growth bottomland and floodplain forest. You will be rewarded with nice vantages from the occasional river bluffs; additional habitats include sandhills, upland mixed forest and floodplain swamp.

Jennings Bluff Tract

Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park

This park and campground on the fabled Suwannee River is a popular destination for music lovers, paddlers as well as wildlife watchers. Habitats include mixed hardwood forest, riparian forest, sandhills, flatwoods, fields and bay swamp. Stop at the park office to pick up maps and to pay the admission fee. Twenty miles of hiking and multi-use trails are at your disposal; cars and golf carts are allowed on selected trails for those not able to hike. One of the park’s big attractions is a super-sized bat house inhabited by thousands of Brazilian Free-tailed Bats.

Suwannee River State Park

Twin Rivers State Forest

The Twin Rivers State Forest’s scenic Ellaville Tract borders the western shore of the Suwannee River. Wildlife watchers can explore miles of forest roads and trails here; habitats include sandhills, upland mixed forest, bottomland forest and floodplain forest. The Blue Springs Tract is an example of a rare longleaf-wiregrass community.

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