If you’re looking for a magical experience out in nature, I highly recommend visiting Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, located in southeastern Georgia and northeastern Florida.
The Okefenokee Swamp is the largest blackwater swamp in North America, covering 438,000 acres, or 700 square miles.
The swamp’s tea-colored water comes from tannic acid released by cypress trees and peat, and decaying organic matter.
You really have to experience this destination in person to truly understand why it’s so special.
More About Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge
The Okefenokee Swamp has lots of bragging rights when it comes to its biodiversity.
The swamp is home to 238 bird species, 48 mammal species, 39 fish species, 90 reptile and amphibian species, and 856 plant species.
The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge also became a UNESCO World Heritage site in July 2026, and the first UNESCO site in the state of Georgia.
Walk the Okefenokee Trails
You can experience the park’s diversity on one of the hiking trails.
The trails are flat, but many also leave you exposed in the sun, so I’d recommend planning accordingly and bringing water.
Several of the boardwalk trails are also wheelchair- and stroller-friendly.
- Trembling Earth Nature Trail – .7 miles
- Jones Island Trail – .85 miles
- Upland Pine Trail – 1.1 miles
- Chesser Island Boardwalk – 1.3 miles
- Suwannee River Sil – 3-4 miles
Climb the Observation Tower at Okefenokee Swamp
The 40 ft observation tower provides views from the highest point in Okefenokee Swamp overlooking Seagrove Lake.
The .75 mile Chesser Island Boardwalk trail leads to the observation tower.
The steps are worth it for the incredible bird’s-eye views of the swamp.
Birds to look for:
- Red-cockaded woodpecker
- Sandhill crane
- Prothonotary warbler
- Northern parula
- Swallow-tailed kit
- Bachman’s sparrow
- Barrel owl
Visit the Chesser Homestead
Learn about what life was like for the Chesser family who claimed an island inside the Okefenokee Swamp in the 1850s.
Four generations of Chessers lived at the homestead before the refuge took it over in 1971.
The family was known in the community for their sugar cane syrup, which took 55 gallons of juice to produce anywhere from 7 to 8 gallons of syrup.
Go on a Guided Tour at Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge with Okefenokee Adventures
Folkston Entrance (Okefenokee Adventures, 4159 Suwannee Canal Road, Folkston, GA)
Guests can choose between a guided boat tour or a guided kayak or canoe tour.
Each tour is unique because the routes change based on the weather, wildlife activity, and water conditions.
Make sure you check out the board in the gift shop highlighting the wildlife spotted on tours that day.
Their knowledgeable guides share insights on the swamp’s ecology, history, and conservation along the way.
Two-Hour Guided Kayak Paddle Excursion
We chose the paddle because the canoe allowed us to explore areas of the swamp that the boats couldn’t access.
A 2-hour guided paddle in this BEAUTIFUL swamp with Okefenokee Adventures ranks high among my all-time favorite outdoor adventures.
During your paddle, you’ll see gators, fish, birds, and other wildlife native to the Okefenokee Swamp.
The wildlife refuge is home to thousands of American alligators, and we were fortunate to see so many during our tour.
Thankfully, we saw them in the very wide section of the swamp, but the alligators were unbothered by our presence anyway.
Unique Overnights
During our tour, we learned about the paddle-in campsites. The idea of paddling several miles to sleep on a platform in the middle of the swamp sounded equal parts scary and intriguing to me.
Okefenokee Adventures offers fully immersive overnights in the swamp, paddling the remote waterways with trips ranging from 1 to 4 nights.
Their all-inclusive excursion takes care of all the details, so participants can enjoy the beautiful surroundings without planning the logistics.
They provide the food, camping gear, boats, and a professional guide.
No doubt the stargazing would be incredible from the swamp in a dark-sky area. I also had other questions…like where do you go to the bathroom?
They have a portable toilet option for guests on the platform.
Comfort Food at Okefenokee Restaurant
1507 3rd St, Folkston, GA
We stopped for lunch at the Okefenokee Restaurant in downtown Folkston.
I was glad we ate before we visited the park because we burned a lot of calories between hiking and paddling.
We opted for the buffet filled with southern comfort food, but you can also order from their made-to-order specials.
This is a budget-friendly stop for lunch or dinner around 7 miles from Okeefenokee Swamp.
How Far is Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge From Other Cities?
- Downtown Jacksonville, Florida – 1hr 10 minutes
- St. Marys, Georgia – 53 minutes
- Jekyll Island, Georgia – 1hr 18 minutes
