
Big Shoals State Park
Timbering Project Impacts and Closures
The Florida Forest Service is conducting a timbering project at Big Shoals public lands. Several areas will be impacted or closed.
Impacted: The main road, S.E. 94th Street/Old Godwin Bridge Road, to the entrance of Big Shoals State Park; please use caution on the clay/dirt road, watch for log trucks and ruts. The upper (Big Shoals) portion of the Mossy Ravine/Road 2 Trail to the Road 13 junction will be impacted; please watch for log trucks crossing the trail. There is currently no access to the 100-acre field/equestrian parking area from the Big Shoals Entrance; please use the Little Shoals entrance.
Closed: Road 1 to Road 14 is closed to vehicle traffic; Road 2 to the Road 13 junction is closed to vehicle traffic; the Woodpecker Trail from the 4-mile Creek east to the Big Shoals State Park entrance is closed; Road 14 is closed to vehicle traffic.
Signature Event Cancellation
It is DEP’s priority to protect the health and safety of our visitors, staff, volunteers and concessions. To support safe social distancing, the following event has been canceled: Big Shoals Annual Pumpkin Fest (October 24, 2020). We appreciate your cooperation and understanding as we continue to review and make additional operational changes deemed necessary for the protection of public health. For further updates, please check our Safety Updates Page.
Hours
8 a.m. until sundown, 365 days a year.
Fees
$4 per vehicle. Please use the honor box to pay fees. Correct change is required. $2 pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers.
Location
Little Shoals Entrance: 11330 S.E. County Road 135, or Big Shoals Entrance: 18738 Southeast 94th St.
White Springs FL 32096
Contact Info
Welcome to Big Shoals State Park
Big Shoals State Park features the largest whitewater rapids in Florida.
Limestone bluffs towering 80 feet above the banks of the Suwannee River afford outstanding vistas not found anywhere else in Florida. When the water level on the Suwannee is between 59 and 61 feet above mean sea level, the Big Shoals rapids earn a Class III Whitewater classification.
Only experienced canoe and kayakers should attempt to navigate the shoals. There is an area available for portaging around the shoals.
Visitors who wish to view the Big Shoals rapids should park at the Big Shoals parking area and hike 1 mile on the Big Shoals hiking trail (Yellow Blaze trail). There is no vehicle access to either the Big Shoals or Little Shoals rapids.
The best way to access Little Shoals rapids is to enter the park through the Little Shoals entrance, drive down Road 1 and turn right on Road 6. Drive to the end of Road 6 where you will park your vehicle and hike approximately 0.5 miles down the Mossy Ravine trail (Blue Blaze trail) until you see the sign for Little Shoals.
Over 28 miles of wooded trails provide opportunities for hiking, biking, horseback riding and wildlife viewing.
The Woodpecker Trail, a 3.4-mile-long multipurpose paved trail, connects the Little Shoals and Big Shoals entrances to the park. The river offers excellent opportunities for freshwater fishing. A picnic pavilion that seats up to 40 people is available at the Little Shoals entrance.
Please be aware that limited hunting is permitted during select seasons inside the neighboring Big Shoals Wildlife Management Area. Some of the park’s roads and trails traverse through the Wildlife Management Area. Hunting is strictly prohibited within state park boundaries. Hunting regulations and area maps can be found by visiting Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Big Shoals is located near other awe-inspiring state parks: Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park, Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park, Suwannee River State Park, Suwannee River Wilderness Trail, Madison Blue Springs State Park, Lafayette Blue Springs State Park, Ichetucknee Springs State Park and O’Leno River State Park, just to name just a few!
Plan Your Visit
Experiences
Amenities
Big Shoals State Park Photo Gallery



