A recent Paddle Florida trip on the Suwannee River was scheduled to start above Big Shoals, Florida's only rapid. Big Shoals drop some nine feet in less than a quarter mile creating Class III rapids in certain conditions. Because we were all in touring kayaks, not suited to white water paddling, and the low water level was generating that Class III level, those who paddled had a long portage around the shoals. I, and several others, elected to skip the day’s paddle and travel to the next campsite by car, saving both our boats and backs. Here’s what I saw on a hike to the Big Shoals on the day before we were to paddle.
