Suwannee,

Big Shoals Tract to U.S. 41 bridge (Big Shoals Run)

Usual Difficulty	I-II(III) (may vary with level)
Length	4 Miles

Gauge Information

Name	Range	Difficulty	Updated	Level
SUWANNEE RIVER AT WHITE SPRINGS, FLA.
usgs-02315500	55.00 - 68.00 ft	I-II(III)	00h49m	50.62 ft (rc= -0.3 )

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