 Reservations
(800) 864-7275
Park (912) 637-5274
NOTE: Low water levels can affect boating activities. Call ahead
during dry season to ask about guided boat tours and rentals.
Named after songwriter Stephen Foster, this remote park is a primary
entrance to the famed Okefenokee Swamp and is one of the most intriguing
areas in Georgia. Moss-laced cypress trees reflect off the black swamp
waters, providing breathtaking scenery. Visitors can look for
alligators, turtles, raccoon, black bear, deer, birds and numerous other
creatures while on the park’s elevated boardwalk trail or on a guided
boat trip. More adventurous visitors may wish to rent motorized boats or
canoes for further exploration of the swamp, including a trip to
historic Billy’s Island. The park office sells drinks, snacks, ice,
books and t-shirts. Because the park is located within a National
Wildlife Refuge, gates are locked at closing time and an entrance fee is
charged.
At the Suwannee River Visitor Center, visitors learn not only about
alligators and cypress trees, but also how buildings can be made from
recycled car parts and plastics. Located off Hwy. 441 at the Suwannee
River bridge, the center mixes environmental education with engineering
showmanship. Inside, visitors learn that tannic acid produced by
decaying vegetation is what gives the river its tea color, and that
unlike other reptiles, mother alligators actively care for their babies.
A third of the building materials was made from recycled content,
including decking made from plastics, insulation made from newspaper,
and a retaining wall made from old dashboards and electrical cables.
Park Hours (gates locked at closing): Fall/Winter, 7AM–7 PM;
Spring/ Summer, 6:30AM–8:30PM
Office Hours: Fall/Winter, 8AM–5PM; Spring/Summer, 7AM–6 PM
Facilities
80 Acres
66 Tent, Trailer, RV Campsites ($17–$22) – cable TV hookups
9 Cottages ($70–$90)
Interpretive Center
1.5-Mile Trembling Earth Nature Trail
25 Miles of Day-Use Waterways
3 Picnic Shelters ($31-$56)
Pioneer Campground ($40)
Suwannee River Visitor Center
Activities
Canoe and Fishing Boat Rental
Guided Boat Tours
Boating – ramp, 10 horsepower limit
Fishing
Birding
Address/Directions
Stephen C. Foster State Park
17515 Hwy. 177
Fargo , GA 31631
Located 18 miles northeast of Fargo via Ga. Hwy. 177. |
