Okefenokee Swamp Trip

Kayaking Across the Swamp

The Okefenokee Swamp is legendary, steeped in history and folklore. Dale and I had talked about paddling across it for several years, but a drought had kept the water levels low and many of the trails closed. December had brought rain and we secured a permit to paddle and camp in January. The trails and campsite are highly controlled as this is a National Wildlife Refuge. Created in 1937 and covering almost 400,000 acres, it is actually a bog and is one of the oldest and best preserved fresh water areas in America. Find our more at http://okefenokee.fws.gov/gendisplay.htm.

We choose January because the heat and bugs are incredible oppressive during the warmer seasons. The swamp is home to more alligators than you can imagine, but the cool snap kept our sightings to only two. We put in at Kingfisher Landing on the east side and spent two nights camping on wooden platforms. Being a swamp, there are very few places that are campable. Several campsite are on platforms and only one group will have a campsite at a time. So you are on your own and rarely see anyone else except near the entrances where day trippers may be encountered.

On the third day we took out at Stephen Foster State Park on the west side. The swamp is about 30 miles across, but it is a 100 mile drive back to the put in. We had arranged to be picked up by a shuttle service for the trip back to our vehicle.

The pictures: It was hard to get good pictures. We were often below the swamp grass, paddling in channels on the east side. The west side is more open with lakes and cypress forests. However, the light did not cooperate and many pictures were washed out. Pictures of sunset and sunrises were not possible because we never had a clear horizon.

The machine in the picture was operated by two rangers and is used to clear trails. It takes them a couple of years to make it through all of them. It is rather like a lawn more turned on edge and makes a mess as we found after we passed it.

Several pictures are water reflections as the black water makes an excellent mirror. Two pictures were take upside down to give the illusion of being normal pictures - you can spot these by the almost negative-like color.

The swamp is more conducive to canoes, but we had little trouble with our kayaks. However, we did get into a few tight spots. The biggest drawback to kayaks is low water. We just made it over several sunken trees, feeling them as we passed over. A canoe would be easier if you had to get out and portage over these obstacles. The swamp is never a constant water level - it is always rising if it is raining or dropping if it is dry.