Savor the Suwannee on this scenic riverside loop with sinkholes, ancient trees, and more!

It’s been a number of years since I first hiked the Big Oak Trail at Suwannee River State Park, west of Live Oak, but I did the loop again yesterday on a fine day for hiking and was reminded that it is, indeed, one of the most scenic hikes in North Florida. Much of the hiking parallels the Suwannee and Withlacoochee Rivers, which meet here at a confluence where the Withlacoochee (not to be confused with the one in Central Florida) flows south from Georgia to enter the Suwannee. Along the loop portion of the hike, there are many deep sinkholes and tall trees, including the namesake Big Oak, which has a base big enough it took eight people holding hands to circle around it.

This hike can be done in a variety of ways with a variety of starting points. It is now officially part of the Florida Trail (whereas it used to be a loop off the thru-trail) and has a nice large camping area with picnic benches and fire ring at the confluence. You can start from the ranger station at Suwannee River State Park for a 12.5-mile hike, or drive west a little along US 90 to the Drew Mansion Ruins trailhead on the opposite side of the Suwannee River to cut the mileage down to 9.5, or drive around to CR 141 and park down near a gate east of the Withlacoochee River (do not block the gate) to the gas transmission line for an easy 4.1 mile hike.

Although this 12.5-mile hike can be done as a very long day hike, this is rugged terrain for Florida, so if you want to do the full mileage, consider tackling this as an overnight trip, enjoying the primitive campsite with its panoramic views. One warning, though—some nights, echoes of train whistles down the river will wake you up!