Suwannee River State Park Part 2

After a walk along the bank of the river, we usually take a short trek to the other side of the park to check out the history the park contains.

This part of the park features relics from the old sawmill that was located here.  Timber was and still is a huge part of the local economy.

The park is located at the junction of two rivers, the Suwannee and the Withlacoochee.  The area was an important center of transportation and housed a railroad bridge that crossed the Suwannee.

This became a strategic area for the Confederacy to protect during the Civil War and the Confederate Army built earthworks here in preparation to protect the railroad bridge across the Suwannee as the Union Army began a march west across the state.

The Union Army was stopped at the Battle of Olustee in neighboring Columbia County.  So the area the park contains did not see any action. But it is an interesting bit of history to ponder when enjoying a peaceful stroll.

We'll save this trail for another day.

Suwannee River State Park

Until I began this blog, I didn't realize how much time my family spent outdoors, especially at the river.  Our county is bordered on three sides by the Suwannee River and it helps define our life here.

One of the parks my family visits frequently is the Suwannee River State Park.  Our favorite parts of the park are the nature trails.  There are several to choose from, but no trip to the park is complete without a stroll on the trail along the river.  It's not too long and provides views that change with the seasons.  There is always something new to discover as we travel around each bend.

Perhaps the favorite part of this trail is the foot bridge that stretches across a dip in the landscape.

On this trip the dip is bone dry, but in times of plentiful rainfall the water rushes toward the river.

I particularly enjoy the view of the river from the bridge.

This trail meanders along the bank of the river and features some great examples of the native flora and fauna.  Magnolia, laurel oak, ferns, various birds, squirrels…

So much of the land around here is flat so it's a nice change to view a spring bubbling under, through, and over limestone as it makes it way down the slope to the river.

The sound of bubbling water is glorious!

Let's dip our toes in and cool off!

I also love the cypress trees along the river.  These appear to be ancient.

They lend a sense of permanence with their roots clinging deeply into the soil allowing them to stand in times of drought as well as the torrential floods of the past.