BY KAREN MILLER, (published Feb, 2019, reprinted with permission by the Amelia Islander Magazine)

It was a brisk winter morning when my beau, Rusty, and I headed to the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge for a 2-day guided paddling trip with Okefenokee Adventures in Folkston, Georgia. Less than an hour from Amelia Island, the Okefenokee swamp is a great place to visit this time of year, when the weather is cool and insects are at a minimum. We were met by owners Joy and Chip Campbell, along with another couple, Rachel and Eric, for an overnight paddling trip adventure through the magnificent Okefenokee Wilderness. The Okefenokee (a Native American word for “bubbling water”) boasts 438,000 acres of peat-filled wetlands, 353,981 acres of which are within the National Wilderness Area refuge boundaries. It is home to many rare and endangered species such as the red-cockaded woodpecker, wood storks, indigo snakes, bald cypress and many carnivorous plants, and a wide variety of other wildlife.

None of Chip and Joy Campbell’s friends and family were surprised when they chose to leave North Carolina’s vibrant and bustling Research Triangle area to move to south Georgia’s famous Okefenokee Swamp. Chip, a Georgia native, has been exploring the Okefenokee since he was a 12-year-old Boy Scout. Chip introduced Joy to the region during their college days at North Carolina State University. The couple opened Okefenokee Adventures in 2000; they and their staff are the most experienced team of professional guides working in the Okefenokee today because they truly love the swamp.

Our all-inclusive tour, with Chip as our guide, took us through cypress-lined canals and winding canoe trails through the Chesser and Mizell Prairies, bringing us to Cedar Hammock campsite, a floating platform with a picnic table, room for tents, a privy, and tie-ups for our canoes. After we set up out tents for the evening, Chip cooked us a fine dinner of jambalaya with salad, homemade hummus, veggies, and cookies. In addition, our excursion included a hearty lunch of sandwiches made fresh from Okefenokee Adventures own café, plus snacks and beverages, and breakfast the next morning before our paddle back.

Our adventure took us to a magical place impossible to reach other than by canoe where we came in contact with sandhill cranes, ibis, white egrets, snipe, cormorants, hawks, and many more birds and plants. It was too cold for the alligators to be out this trip but Chip assured us that there are usually scores of gators to be seen. Chip’s recounting included very interesting history and lore about the Okefenokee, its people, and industry that has shaped its evolution. We also learned about what makes the swamp water so dark, like a good brewed tea, and many of the terms used to describe swamp features like “hammocks,” islands of hardwood trees growing on sandy bottoms that rise above the peat and water.

“These trips are a great way to experience the swamp firsthand,” said Chip. “You don’t need any paddling experience, and the excursion is safe and fun for people of all ages and abilities.” In addition to our paddling adventure, Okefenokee Adventures offers sunset boat tours, 90-minute tours, extended excursions, and custom multi-day overnight paddles.

Okefenokee Adventures provided everything we needed for the perfect paddling trip, including tents, sleeping gear, plus delicious meals and snacks! For more information about seeing the Okefenokee up close and personal, call (912) 496–7156 or visit www.okefenokeeadventures.com.

Visit Amelia Islander Magazine for more Backyard Adventures and other articles about life and events on the island.