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Big Shoals State Park April 1, 2009 & April 24, 2010 |
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The two RV Gypsies visited White Springs, Florida in April 2009 and again in April 2010. They spent a lot of time at Big Shoals State Park on a rainy day in 2009, and revisited Big Shoals State Park again on a sunny day in 2010. They discovered that more than just the weather of the day had changed as shown in both sets of photos below. |
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| Big Shoals State Park features
the largest whitewater rapids in Florida. Limestone bluffs, towering 80
feet above the banks of the Suwannee River, afford outstanding vistas
not found anywhere else in Florida. When the water level on the Suwannee
River is between 59 and 61 feet above mean sea level, the Big Shoals rapids earn a Class III Whitewater classification, attracting thrill-seeking
canoe and kayak enthusiasts. Over 28 miles of wooded trails provide opportunities
for hiking, biking, horseback riding and wildlife viewing. The Woodpecker
Trail, a 3.4-mile long multipurpose paved trail, connects the Little Shoals
and Big Shoals entrances to the park. The river offers excellent opportunities
for freshwater fishing. A picnic pavilion that seats up to 40 people is
available at the Little Shoals entrance. |
Big Shoals State
Park in White Springs, Florida April 1, 2009 |
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The dirt road entrance to Big Shoals State Park and the bridge at the entrance to
Big Shoals Park |
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| A big smile on a rainy
day in the woods - this sign was nowhere to be found in 2010 |
This is what you get
when you take your own photo with a camera |
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The two RV Gypsies enjoyed
a 2-mile hike on a rainy day - This river was not reachable when the two
RV Gypsies returned in 2010. |
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This park claims the largest whitewater rapids in Florida. When the water level on the Suwannee River is between 59 and 61 feet above mean sea level, the Big Shoals rapids earn a Class III Whitewater classification, attracting thrill-seeking canoe and kayak enthusiasts. |
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Lee on the beach April 2009 -
writing in the sand - the rain had temporarily stopped. (This sand was unreachable by the two RV Gypsies in April
2010) |
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Lee wrote in the sand "We
were here April 1" |
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Lee wrote Karen's name
in the sand - how sweet! |
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Lee & Karen Duquette
enjoyed the beach and woods. |
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An Armadillo ran right
in front of the two RV Gypsies as they were hiking |
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| As stated above, the two RV Gypsies returned to this area one year later on April 27, 2010 and found that nature had really changed the area. The path to the beach and the river was no longer accessible. But since this was a nice day without rain, the two RV Gypsies decided to continue on the trail to actually see the limestone bluffs at Big Shoal this time. But after walking the trail for over an hour, they found the trail leading away from the river, so they turned around. It wasn't anywhere near as enjoyable as the first trip, even though it was pouring rain the first trip. | |
April 27, 2010 |
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| The road into Little Shoals |
Lunch area |
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| The Woodpecker Trail, a 3.4 mile long multipurpose paved trail, connects the Little Shoals and Big Shoals entrances to the park. The two RV Gypsies walked part of this trail, then they noticed a small road alongside the trail and decided to drive that road to Big Shoals. | |
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| This side road was a bit bouncy, and Karen was a bit concerned about what to do if a car came from the other direction because there was no room for two cars to pass each other. These first 3 photos were taken through the tinted front window of the truck as it drove along the dirt "road" in the woods. | |
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| After taking 3 photos through the tinted front window of the truck as it drove along the dirt "road" in the woods, Karen got out to get a better photo of the truck that would show that only one vehicle fits on the road at a time. | |
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| No problem - safe arrival at the parking lot to Big Shoals without meeting another vehicle. | |
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Looking through the trees at the Suwannee
River, which was not reachable from this trail on this date. |
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A swamp area on the side
of the trail away from the river |
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Karen photographed a very
small lizard |
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| Lee photographed a yucky critter in a tree. The park says there are poisonous snakes in the area, so this could be one or not, but whatever it is, Karen hated the photo. | |
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| While Lee looked at the trail map, Karen took a few photos from the little bridge | |
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