The Levy County, Dixie County and Gilchrist County area of Florida is referred to as Florida's Pure Water Wilderness. Adventures large and small await visitors willing to take a dip in the Sunshine State's most impressive outdoor water park in Florida's Pure Water Wilderness. Whether on water or on land, the area presents several options for nature lovers of all types. A sampling of those options are listed below.		Photo Credit: PWW / Lois Fletcher
Horseback riding is a popular activity in the Levy, Dixie and Gilchrist County area of Florida. In fact Levy County Florida is home to the Goethe State Forest which contains more than 100 miles of equestrian trails over the 55,000 acre retreat. The horseback riding trails of the Goethe State Forest in Levy County Florida is a great place for leasurely trail riding or for the professional rider to condition a horse in the warm winter climate. The surrounding Levy County area of Goethe State Forest is home to three professional carriage driving trainers, several judges and twenty-two drivers. Other nearby destinations and events include carriage driving training at the Black Prong Equestrian Center, The Live Oak Combined Driving Event, some SEDRA sanctioned endurance rides, and the HITS winter circuit. All within a few miles of the Bayer's Lair Bed, Barn & Breakfast, a Horseman's Paradise.
The Canterbury Equestrian Showplace in Newberry, Florida is one of Florida's premier horse jumping facilities. Canterbury offers 5 Show barns holding 200 12' X 12' stalls; 160 Rolling Acres; 16 Wash Racks; 3 Outdoor Rings; 3 Announcer Towers; 4 Cross Country Courses - Beginner Novice, Novice, Training and Preliminary; Warm Up Areas; Covered Arena Seating 2000; Clubhouse; Show Office; and Party Area.

There is also the Horse Barn in Gilchrist which welcomes horse lovers and riders of all levels to journey through the wooded countryside or the lovely Santa Fe River area. Riders can choose a trusty steed or bring their own for a memorable ride through Florida's frontier. The equestrian trails of the Cross Florida Greenway State Recreation and Conservation Area traverse several of Florida's natural habitats such as flatwoods, high pine, scrub and swamps.

Parts of the historic barge canal can also be seen while on horseback along this trail. Additional horseback trails at Goethe State Forest allow riders to wind through more than 15 different natural communities, including dome swamp and scrubby flatwoods. North Star Acres offers two-hour trail trips into the pristine forest on well-trained horses, while LaGrange Farm provides overnight stabling and camping for visitors that want to bring their own horse.

Levy County and the Goethe State Forest are not just about horses. Levy County Florida contains many spring fed rivers where you can go canoeing, kayaking or tubing as well as boating and fishing both freshwater or saltwater as Levy County is on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Birdwathching is extremely popular here. The Goethe State Forest is populated with bald eagles, osprey, the southeastern American kestrel as well as a great many red-cockaded woodpeckers. Photo Credit: PWW / Julia Anderson

Each spring, the red-shoulder hawk utilizes the cypress hammock and upland forest of Hart Springs County Park to nest and raise their young while several additional migratory and local bird species also live here. One of the largest nesting areas in Florida for colonial birds is the Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge made up of offshore islands where abundant nesting species include the white ibis and snowy egret. The Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge offers incredible wildlife viewing atop observation platforms strategically placed throughout the 52,257 acres. The rare swallow-tailed kite is a popular resident of the refuge.

Photo Credit: PWW / Lois Fletcher Photo Credit: PWW / Lois Fletcher

Canoeing and Kayaking is a very popular activity in Levy, Dixie and Gilchrist County. The waters of Florida's Pure Water Wilderness wander and wind through joyful pathways. Otters play and swim, turtles sunbathe together on a log. Paddlers have the once in a lifetime opportunity to go "Way down upon the Suwannee River" and explore the famed river via canoe or kayak. Since there is no marked trail, nature lovers can make their own way through the historic and beautiful waterway. For those travelers wanting a bit more guidance, the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge offers a marked canoe trail that explores the lower Suwannee delta/estuarine system. Steeped in history on one of Florida's least developed coasts, the Historic Big Bend Saltwater Paddling Trail is the state's first legislatively designated water trail. The ideal boat for navigating these waters is the sea kayak, but canoes are also welcome. The Santa Fe River Canoe Trail provides a scenic ride past hardwood hammocks, river swamps and numerous springs. The Santa Fe is also a perfect destination for beginning paddlers due to its slow current and gentle curves. Another popular spot for paddlers is the small coastal river known as the Steinhatchee.

Hiking and Biking - By foot or on wheels, the beauty of Florida's Pure Water Wilderness is simply captivating. Visitors surround themselves in the peace and serenity of the preserved lands on the 32-mile Nature Coast Trail State Park. This paved "green zone" links the Suwannee, three counties and four cities, a precious wildlife management area and a cool spring, with miles of picturesque landscapes in between. The 49,949-acre Goethe State Forest provides extensive hiking and biking opportunities through 15 different natural communities, including scrubby flatwoods, dome swamp and basin swamp. Visitors to this area may catch a glimpse of the red-cockaded woodpecker or the rare hooded pitcher plant. All of the area's state, county and city parks offer additional hiking trails that take visitors along boardwalks and off the beaten path to see some of the area's most beautiful natural resources.

Photo Credit: PWW / Bruce Crenshaw

Diving and Snorkeling - Visitors take the ultimate plunge into the sparkling waters of numerous crystal clear springs in the tri-county area. One of the most interesting dive spots is the City of Hawkinsville Underwater Archaeological Preserve. A tribute to the once flourishing steam boating era, divers can "stroll" the decks of the amazingly intact vessel, which now rests on the bottom of the Suwannee River. Swimming, snorkeling and splashing are welcomed at the area's parks including Manatee Springs State Park, Hart Springs County Park and Fanning Springs State Park. The freshwater springs are the main attraction, while the endangered, gentle manatee is the star. Commercially operated dive spots offer unique surroundings such as Blue Springs with its large underwater rock ledge and steeply sloping sandy bottom, Blue Grotto with its extensive cavern dives and Devil's Den, which thrusts visitors 60 feet below ground level before the dive even begins. Ginnie Springs is also a favorite for an old-fashioned tube ride. Hart Springs in western Gilchrist County has recently opened its extensive cave system to divers, as well.

DOLPHIN WATCHING - Intelligent dolphins engage in play on Florida's Gulf Coast . . . They like to ride the pressure wave on the bow of boats seeking the wave out and riding! Dolphins are curious, and they're social as they move in their pods through Gulf waters. For the uninitiated, it is sometimes x-rated play that dolphins unabashedly engage in as they mate in their water world. Adults smile; children ask questions. See dolphins year-round off the coast of Dixie and Levy Counties on Florida's Gulf Coast.

MANATEE WATCHING - Manatees, the friendly sea cows, weigh up to 2,000 pounds. It's a wonder that ancient mariners mistook them for mermaids. They're vegetarians and manatees love to eat sea grasses. You'll most often see them during cooler months, December through March, in the Suwannee River or at Manatee or Fanning Springs State Parks. Mama Manatee loves her calves and they spend time together bonding. Manatees are social mammals and they're curious about humans. Unfortunately, manatees are often seen crop marks on their back from collisions with boats. Go slow when boating and look for this gentle giant.

FISHING - In Florida's Pure Water Wilderness, there is no need to exaggerate those tall fish tales. The large numbers of river waterways are brimming with several species of fish in freshwater and saltwater. Along the Gulf of Mexico between Steinhatchee and Cedar Key, saltwater fishing for sea trout, mackerel and grouper is plentiful. The Waccasassa River and the Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park provide a little of both saltwater and freshwater fishing for fisherman wanting to try their hand at both. Fishermen at Lake Rousseau/Withlacoochee River throw out the reel for bluegill, redear sunfish, catfish, black crappie and largemouth bass. Of course, the three major rivers - Suwannee, Steinhatchee and Santa Fe - are the most popular fishing "holes" in the area.

HUNTING- Several options for hunters present themselves within Florida's Pure Water Wilderness. Andrews Wildlife Management Area and the Cedar Key Scrub Wildlife Management Area have seasons for archery, muzzle loading gun and general gun where small and large game may be taken. Although there is typically no public access to the 24,625-acre Gulf Hammock Wildlife Management Area, there are hunting seasons during certain times of the year. Fishing and frogging in this area is allowed when it is open for hunting. Trapping and hunting with dogs is permitted in the Big Bend Wildlife Management Area- Jena Unit, where hunters may take small and large game, spring turkey and migratory game birds during specified seasons.

Area Links
www.PureWaterWilderness.com
www.LevyCounty.Org
www.DixieCounty.org.
www.GilchristCounty.com
www.ChieflandChamber.com
www.WillistonFl.com
www.CedarKey.org
www.FanningSpringsFlorida.com.
www.SuwanneeRiverChamber.com.
http://WithlacoocheeGulfAreaChamber.com
www.visitflorida.org