Fanning Springs, FL Road Trips

1 Fanning Springs State Park (on US-19/98). The location of one of the state's 33 first magnitude springs, the area had been occupied by Native Americans, who had arrived in the region 14,000 years ago. There are Native American historic sites within the park. (updated Jul 2020)

1 Andrews Wildlife Management Area (five miles north of Chiefland in Levy County). The largest continuous tract of old-growth hardwood hammock forest on the Suwannee River exists within this 3,600-acre Wildlife Management Area. The old trees provide homes for flying squirrels, owls, and several bat species including Rafinesque's big-eared bat. North American river otters, Suwannee alligator snapping turtles, and many snake species use the cypress/tupelo swamps. Gulf sturgeon can often be seen leaping out of the water from the bank of the Suwannee River. It has over ten miles of trails and unpaved roads. An interpretive boardwalk travels through a transition of habitats from upland forest to floodplain swamp. Hunting is popular at this WMA due to robust wild turkey, white-tailed deer, and feral hog populations. There is good fishing in the Suwannee River from boats and from the shore. (updated Jul 2020) The Nature Coast State Trail, which follows abandoned railway lines, has a junction at Fanning Springs. It is a 32 mi (51 km) trail following unused rail lines that were built by the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad.