Overview

The Big Oak Trail features a loop trail in the northern portion of Suwannee River State Park, connected to the park’s day use area by segments of the Suwannee River and Ellaville sections of the Florida Trail and by park trails. Hikers follow both the Suwannee and the Withlacoochee Rivers and cross both rivers on bridges. The trail is blazed in two different colors: orange for the continuous Florida Trail and blue for the Big Oak Loop and the connector between the Florida Trail and the State Park Annex parking area. The parking area is west of the river off old US 90, where an interpretive side trail leads to the ruins of the Drew Mansion, once the plantation home of Florida’s reconstruction-era Governor.

The Big Oak Loop follows the banks of both the Withlacoochee and Suwannee Rivers, with deep sinkholes paralleling the trail. At approximately the halfway point of the loop, the trail overlooks the confluence of both rivers, where there is a primitive campsite on the bluffs.

Many large oak trees shade the trail along the river bluffs. The namesake tree for the trail has no sign but is marked with a serrated log set into the footpath in front of the enormous oak.

Parts of the Withlacoochee side of the loop follow an old dirt road which led to the ferry crossing between the defunct towns of Columbus and Ellaville, passing the second magnitude Suwannacoochee Spring. The Columbus cemetery may be seen along the Sand Hills Trail in Suwannee River State Park on the opposite side of the river.

Map

The Big Oak Trail is located within Suwannee River State Park and the Twin Rivers Wildlife Management Area. Although the trail begins at the Suwannee River State Park office off US 90 w of the I-10 interchange and just east of the Suwannee River, those not having reason to enter the fee area of the park may begin at the State Park Annex parking lot on US 90 just west of the river. The loop portion of the trail begins at the park gate in Hamilton County on the north bank of the Suwannee River. This gate is reached from CR 141 at the Withlacoochee River bridge, which is also the terminus of the Suwannee River and Ellaville sections of the Florida Trail. From US 90, take the first dirt road west for the Suwannee River bridge and turn right on paved CR 141. To reach the trail from the bridge, follow the orange blazes down the embankment and park along the gas pipeline right of way.

 Disclaimer: While FTA strives to maintain accurate information and is constantly updating its geodatabase, the trail and development along the trail corridor is constantly changing. The data has been collected from a variety of sources and accuracy varies. FTA provides this data for recreational purposes only and does not intend the data as a survey. 

Centerline data Florida Trail System (c) 2007 Florida Trail Association, Inc.

Trailheads

Park within the Suwannee River State Park day use area (fee) at the agricultural inspection station or the Desoto exhibit on US 90, or along the gas line right of way off CR 141.

Features

Botanical

The Big Oak

Bridges

Bridges cross both the Suwannee and the Withlacoochee Rivers.   

Campsites

Primitive campsite   

Geologic

Numerous sinkholes.  

History

Drew Mansion

Ellaville - ghost town

Conditions

The trail follows the bluffs of both the Withlacoochee and Suwannee Rivers, with scenic views and some short rugged climbs.  

Precautions

Water taken from the river or the stream must be boiled, filtered or treated before using. Watch signage to make sure you don’t miss the various trail junctions when you make a round-trip or loop hike.

Restrictions

 Note hunting dates within the Twin Rivers WMA and wear blaze orange if hiking during hunting season. 

Resources

50 Hikes in North Florida

North Loop Trails

Hiker’s Guide to the Sunshine State

Ellaville Section, Florida Trail

Florida Hikes! Big Oak Trail

Suwannee River Wilderness Trail

Suwannee River State Park

Twin Rivers State Forest

Twin Rivers Wildlife Management Area

Original Florida