Santa Fe Swamp Conservation Area

ABOUT THIS PLACE

Santa Fe Swamp covers 7,046 acres, and the conservation area inside it accounts for 5,356 of them. Together with Lake Santa Fe and Little Lake Santa Fe the swamp forms the headwaters of the Santa Fe River, which runs on into the Suwannee and from there to the Gulf of Mexico. Georgia-Pacific gave the land to the Suwannee River Water Management District in 1984, a gift described at the time as the largest and most environmentally significant donation in the state of Florida's history. This is working conservation land rather than a park with facilities. The uses allowed on it are wildlife viewing, hunting, bicycling, hiking and horseback riding, and the riding and cycling are on administrative roads rather than on built trails. It forms part of the Santa Fe Swamp Wildlife and Environmental Area. From Starke the way in is east on State Road 100 to Southeast 11th Avenue, then right, with the entrance half a mile along on the left. From the Gainesville side it is northeast on State Road 26 to US 301, left as far as County Road 1471, then right for five and a quarter miles to the first entrance. Hunting is allowed only in permitted areas and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission sets those rules; its local number is 386-758-0525. The Suwannee River Water Management District, at 9225 County Road 49 in Live Oak, answers on 386-362-1001