Fort White - Things to Do
Hike or bike along trails through varied habitats and enjoy hunting, fishing, paddling, wildlife viewing and photography.
Hunting
Hunting of waterfowl and white-tailed deer takes place in the fall and winter. Turkey hunting is available in the spring. Temporary parking lots are available to hunters on the area to make the more remote portions of the area within easier walking distance. Deer and turkey hunting is fair, but portions of the area that border the Santa Fe River provide excellent habitat for gray squirrels. Appropriate licenses and permits are required. Check the regulations summary brochure and hunt calendar before you visit.
If you see a sick or abnormally thin deer or deer dead of unknown causes, please report its location to the CWD hotline, (866) CWD-WATCH (293-9282).
Fishing
Bank fishing is permitted along the Santa Fe River. Expect catches of Suwannee and black bass, redbreast and spotted sunfish. Boat access is available at many public boat ramps in the area. Appropriate licenses and permits are required.
Wildlife Viewing
Wildlife viewing is most productive along the marked trails that loop through the sandhills and along the floodplain of the Santa Fe River. Look for gopher tortoises and southern fox squirrels in the oak and pine dominated sandhills. Barred owls, red shouldered hawks and migratory warblers frequent the cypress, gum and red maples found in the floodplain forest. Visit the Wildlife for more details.
Hiking and Biking
Download the Fort White WEA Trail Guide.
Hikers may follow miles of marked trails through the upland sandhills community and forested floodplain of the Santa Fe River. Bicycles may only be ridden on well-defined roads, trails and firebreaks. Find trailheads and parking along N.E. 2nd way and N.E. 130th Place.
Paddling
Paddling on the spring-fed Santa Fe River can be enjoyable all year, but water levels vary depending on rainfall. The river is a popular paddling route suitable for beginners. There are many public boat ramps and canoe launches along its journey through surrounding counties. The county boat ramp is temporarily closed. At the WEA, river access for canoes and kayaks is available near the parking area close to the river on NE 2nd Way.