The Jennings Bluff Tract shows how surface water and groundwater are connected in Hamilton County. The Dead River, also called Jennings Bluff, is a tributary of the Alapaha River. It flows underground for nearly five miles and resurfaces at Alapaha River Rise. Water from the Dead River swallet enters the Upper Floridan Aquifer, flows about 10 miles south, and emerges into the Suwannee River through Holton Creek Rise and Alapaha River Rise.

River Landscapes and Trails

Big Shoals State Park encompasses two nearby areas along the Suwannee River: one in southeastern Hamilton County and one in northwestern Columbia County near White Springs. At Big Shoals, the river drops 10 feet over a stretch just under 600 feet long. At a water level of 59 to 61 feet, this creates Florida’s only Class III rapids. This classification applies at the specified water level.

The sections of the Florida Trail offer different connections to the river and surrounding landscapes. The 7.7-mile Alapaha section follows the limestone-lined waters of the Alapaha and Suwannee rivers. The 3.6-mile White Springs section follows a bend in the Suwannee River through a historic community and is suited to an easy day hike. In Big Shoals State Park, the 2.4-mile Long Branch Trail runs upstream along the Suwannee River, which is wide and shaded by overhanging tupelo trees there. Along the Disappearing Creek Loop on the Florida Trail by the Suwannee River, Camp Branch flows through rapids and plunges into a large sinkhole.

The landscapes of Twin Rivers State Forest also range from sandhills and floodplains to swamps and sinkhole terrain. Some primitive campsites are located along multi-use trails that can be reached on foot, by bicycle, and by canoe. Holton Creek connects a white sand beach on the Suwannee River with a 2,500-acre tract of the Suwannee River Water Management District; the beach is directly on the Florida Trail. The Swift Creek 25A Tract has access to the Florida Trail, a wooden footbridge, and a riverside canoe launch. The Woods Ferry Tract has a canoe launch and the first river campsite on the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail. In the Jerry Branch Tract, cycling, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, and wildlife viewing are possible on management roads.

Culture in White Springs

The White Springs Historic District includes 85 contributing resources: 81 buildings, two structures, one site, and one object. Exhibits at the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park museum are devoted to Stephen Foster’s best-known songs. Activities offered in the park include hiking, cycling, canoeing, and wildlife viewing.

The Florida Folk Festival takes place every year over Memorial Day weekend at Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park. The 2026 festival program included, among other things, fried mullet, curries, gyros, and red beans and rice; food offerings may vary from year to year. If the festival is the reason for your trip, check the specific event dates when planning. The Hamilton County Old Jail is temporarily closed for repairs following storm damage. Check its status if you are considering a visit.

Getting There and Planning Your Stay

Hamilton County is accessible via U.S. 41 or U.S. 129. When planning your stay, it helps to first decide on the focus of your trip: hiking and river landscapes, activities at the state park, or a cultural event such as the Folk Festival.

More Destinations

Discover more destinations: White Springs, Madison County, Glades County, St. Johns, Indian River, Franklin County, Palm Beach, Bradford County

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