Driving Directions
Take Interstate 75 to Hwy 136 East (Milepost Exit 439 - Old Exit 84). Go three miles to Hwy 41. Turn right and travel less than a mile to Hwy 135. Turn left on Hwy 135. Little Shoals entrance is approximately 5 miles on the right. To enter through the Big Shoals entrance, continue past the Little Shoals entrance for another 4.5 miles. Big Shoals entrance is on the right.

Big Shoals Public Lands is a 3,782 acre land preserve that features the largest whitewater rapids in Florida. The park has 33 miles of wooded trails for daytime recreational use. Bird watching, picnicking, bicycling, hiking, canoeing, kayaking and horseback riding are encouraged. Fishing is permitted with proper licensing. Limited hunting is permitted in designated areas and is administered by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Park Activities

Bicycling, Fishing, Hunting, Horse Trails, and Nature Trails

Bicycling
Extensive trails offer a variety of challenges to fat tire bicyclers through hardwood canopies, pine and palmetto forests and alongside the bluffs overlooking the Suwannee River. The Suwannee Bicycle Association sponsors several rides throughout the year. Visit our links page to learn more.

Fishing
The Suwannee River offers excellent opportunities for fresh water fishing. Large mouth bass, black crappie, several types of sunfish and bream, and channel catfish are plentiful. A fishing permit is required.

Hunting
Limited hunting is permitted inside the Wildlife Management Area for archery, muzzle loading, small game and turkey seasons. Contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at (386) 758-0525 for additional information. Hunting is prohibited in recreational use areas.

Horse Trails
Ride on marked trails with friends, or join a ride sponsored by the Santa Fe Trail Riders. Proof of a negative Coggins test is required.

Nature Trails
Big Shoals offers 33 miles of trails for use by visitors. Hike along the ridgeline for unique vistas of the Suwannee River that are uncommon in Florida’s otherwise flat terrain. The topography ranges from flat expanses to steep slopes and ravines. Fifteen distinct natural communities are contained within the land preserve, from highland hammocks and sloping forests to pine flatwoods and the nearly primeval forest of the baygall. Ferns, palmettos, swamps, and the springtime beauty of wild azaleas in bloom are part of the scenery.

Still in the development stage, the Woodpecker Trail will be a winding, four-mile paved route from the Little Shoals to Big Shoals entrance.