Suwannee Canoe Outpost

01/31/2023

Great news for the Canoe Outpost-Peace River and all their customers!

12/30/2022

Since the weather forecast is so good for Sunday (but not so good on Saturday), we will plan to be open on Sunday, which is New Year's Day.

Call ahead at 386-364-4991 if you can!

12/08/2022

It looks like another exceptionally good forecast for the next week!

The Suwannee is on the low side, which means excellent scenery and camping, but not much current in most places.

Plan accordingly!

A storm will track from the southern Plains to the Ohio Valley through Friday with showers and thunderstorms. On the northern edge, snow, ice, and/or a wintry mix is possible from the central Plains to the central Great Lakes. A significant Pacific storm with high winds, and heavier rain and snow wi...

12/03/2022

River level now:

Nice!

12/02/2022

Holy smoke, that's a good 5-day weather forecast!

It's probably the best one that we've seen in a long time.

A strong cold front continues to push across the Western U.S. today with a storm developing when it reaches the central Plains. Heavy snow will continue across the Intermountain West and Rocky Mountains and spread into the northern Plains and Upper Midwest. Gusty to high winds and critical fire weat...

09/28/2022

Godspeed to the Canoe Outpost-Peace River and everyone in the path of Hurricane Ian!

We are with you in spirit, even if not in person.

08/25/2022

Here's what the outflow at Madison Blue Spring looks like today!

River levels: just right.

09/02/2021

Labor Day Weekend update for the Suwannee River:

The Suwannee has been too high to paddle safely for 30 days now. After cresting well above flood stage about 19 days ago, it continues to drop.

At the current rate of decrease, it will NOT reach a safe paddling level in time for Labor Day Weekend. During this time, there will be NO road access to the Canoe Outpost or the boat ramp.

However, we DO plan to be open next week and hope to be fully operational by Thursday, September 9th.

Thanks and we'll see you on the river!

08/25/2021

Here's an update on Suwannee River conditions:

The Suwannee is predicted to come down below flood stage by this weekend. At the current rate, we should be able to open in about ten days, just in time for Labor Day Weekend.

(All predictions depend on rainfall.)

Thanks and we'll see you on the river!

08/13/2021

River level update, 8/13/21:

The Suwannee is cresting today and is almost six feet above flood stage (currently 79.8 feet) at the White Springs gauge. (See the link below.)

It is about three feet above flood stage at the Outpost (Suwannee Springs gauge) and is predicted to rise another foot and a half or so by Monday (three days from now).

By then, we'll see what Tropical Storm Fred has brought. If it brings no rain, then we should be open again in about 3 weeks.

Either way, we'll keep you posted.

Thanks and we'll see you on the river!

National Weather Service Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service (AHPS)

07/10/2021

Hello, all. Please be advised that the Suwannee will be above a safe paddling level for at least a week or two, mainly because of rain from Elsa.

Until yesterday, the river was forecast to flood in our area (at the Suwannee Springs gauge), but it looks like it will stay in its banks for now.

Here's a link to the river level forecast:

National Weather Service Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service (AHPS)

06/07/2021

Here's a link to a graph showing the river level as recorded at the White Springs gauge during the last year. (Note the glitch in early December.)

As a guideline, we consider 50 feet to be "low water," while above 64 feet the river is too high to be safe for inexperienced paddlers.

Below 50 feet, you might have to get out of your canoe or kayak here and there above the Outpost. At "high water," above 64 feet, the beaches and limestone banks are completely underwater.

Ideal paddling conditions are probably between about 51 and 56 feet for most folks, and the "sweet spot" for canoe-camping is about 52 to 54 feet. (Note that everything on the river is approximate.)

Lower water means more beaches and scenery, and higher water means faster current. The "sweet spot" has a bit of both.

The scenery right now is at its maximum, and the current is near its minimum. We'll take this over high water any day!