Suwannee, Florida, US
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Big Shoals Tract to U.S. 41 bridge (Big Shoals Run)
| Usual Difficulty |
I-II(III) (for normal flows) |
| Length |
4 Miles |
Tim at Suwannee Shoals
Tim at Suwannee ShoalsPhoto of Ted Jean taken 12/15/02 @ ~3000 cfs 51 ft
Gauge Information
River Description
Runnable nearly year-round, Big Shoals is one of Florida's greatest natural wonders. At different
levels Big Shoals has several play spots.
At low flows the run over Big Shoals is a double drop on river right. The first drop is about 4
feet into a diagonal curler. Keep your balance because the second ledge comes up quick and is about
5-6 feet with some exposed rock at the bottom. (This rock is limestone, looks like Swiss cheese,
and is as sharp as coral. Be careful!)
At medium levels the middle and the left open up.
At high water, the double drop turns into one long tongue into a massive wave.
Thanks to Dan Webb for this description.
Since the river is flat above Big Shoals it is possible to run this section by putting in and
taking out at the same spot. A nice trail on river left allows the rapid to be portaged and run
several times. By Will Reeves
Jim M adds (2003-12-22 20:46:19):
It's really flat above Big Shoals. The rapid is 1 mile from the put-in. It is really easy to paddle
back. If you are adventurous enough (or GPS equipped) it is possible to drive to the rapid on the
river left side.
Put-in location: N 30 deg 21.241 min, W 82 deg 41.213 min
Big Shoals Rapid: N 30 deg 20.460 min, W 82 deg 40.920 min
StreamTeam Status: Not Verified
Last Updated: 2004-06-20 23:55:18
No rapids entered. If you know names, and locations of the rapids please contact and advise the StreamTeam member for this run. 
User Comments
is a dam there that feeds all of the water through a 10 foot slot with about 3 feet of drop. There
is a beautiful 3 foot standing wave/hole very similar in size to that of Hell Hole on the Ocoee. I
was there back in March when visiting grandparents and running Big Shoals. The Withlacoochee hole
has three problems with it that could be fixed to make it a very real whitewater destination for
the SOUTH SOUTH East! 1. To kayak the dam in not legal, but there is a lock for small boats and a
propeller boat ramp there. 2.There is metal pipe of no observable use extending vertical out of the
wave close to the cement walls. Pin potential because of this pipe looks horrible, but the pipe
could be removed. 3. About 50 ft back where the flow of water pushes is a large wooden fence in the
river. Its made of telephone poles and a few cross beams. It would be easy for an experienced
kayaker to avoid by paddling into the massive eddy just to the surfers right. Also, a boater could
fit between the poles of the fence but could get banged up or temporarily pinned against the fence.
I took some cell-phone pics back of the spot, but lost the cell phone. On my next visit down there
I will do some visual reconniasance and documentation.
opinion of the whitewater run is that the Big Shoals shows a lot of potential as a fun playspot,
but is more or less washed out at 63.5. There is a big green wave and a bunch of wave trains but
the ratio of white to green is meager. The water flows fast and there are two big eddies on either
side of the river. One of which provides eddy service and has a very strong eddy line which can
yield serious squirts and pirhouettes. I would believe that at levels of 61 feet or so the waves
will become more like reciprocating holes and could prove some great play. Or bring a surfboard and
get up on the big green wave! The river is quite beautiful. The water is black and the flatwater
offers crystal clear reflections of the scenery. Big Shoals is easy to find and the trailhead is a
well maintained park with friendly people about. I suggest you go, at 61 ft of water.