Places to Go and Things to Do
in Dixie County |
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Freshwater Fishing
Every mile of the Suwannee River in Dixie County offers great fishing opportunities. Bigmouth Bass, Catfish and Red Belly are among the numerous fish in our pristine river. Plenty of public boat ramps line the river, see the map for more details. |
Saltwater Fishing
Year-round saltwater fishing is found off the Dixie coast line between Cedar Key and Steinhatchee. Sea Trout, Redfish, Cobia, Mackerel, and Grouper are abundant in our coastal waters. Professional guides are available at both Suwannee and Steinhatchee and public ramps are available at Jena, Horseshoe Beach, Shired Island and Suwannee. |
Springs
In Dixie County you will find several delightful, little-known springs accessible by boat as well as car. When spring-hopping in northern Florida, be sure to stop in at Guaranto Springs, a County Park located in the north east section of Dixie County. Right on the border of the county is Fanning Springs, a state recreational area with full swimming and diving facilities and the home of Red Belly Day. Also close by is Manatee Springs in Chiefland. During the winter months, manatees are often viewed at these springs. |
 Birding
Birding spots abound in Dixie County. The Swallow-Tailed Kite is seen here May to Sept., very often in the Lower Suwannee Wildlife Refuge. Red-Tailed and Red-Shouldered Hawks are common sights as are Ospreys and the American Kestrel. American Bald Eagles are often seen and very often nesting along the river. At the forest edges you will see Titmice, Vireos, Chickadees, Flycatchers and Martins along with at least eight different Woodpeckers. Sandhill Cranes frequent the area during the winter months. Wading and shore birds are common at all times and warblers migrate through during the spring and fall. |
 Hunting
For decades, Dixie County has been known as one of Florida's finest hunting territories for white-tailed deer, turkey, wild hog and small game. This is still true today due to three types of hunting enviro-systems: (1) Private hunt clubs which foster wild game on thousands of acres of wilderness; (2) State-managed wildlife areas where games species are encouraged and (3) Federal wildlife refuges which offer high quality seasonal hunting on a quota basis. Check the map for locations of the Jena Wildlife Area, Steihatchee Falls Wildlife Area and the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Area. Always check regulations before hunting. |
 Boating
Dixie County is bordered on three sides by water so boating opportunities are numerous. Excellent marina facilities are located at the Suwannee River, Suwannee at the Gulf, Horseshoe Beach and at gulf-front Steinhatchee.
Hiking/Bicycling/Exploring
Our new Nature Coast Greenway and the Suwannee to Shired Wilderness Trail offer great adventures to hikers, bikers, horseback riders, 4x4ers, and RVers. World class photo opportunities and beautiful vistas lie around every corner. The NEW Nature Coast State Recreational Trail is now open! |
Canoeing/Kayaking
The Suwannee River promises spectacular scenery and easy downstream canoeing and kayaking. Several marinas and campgrounds now rent canoes but most paddlers bring their own. In the Lower Suwannee region, tributaries such as Salt Creek, Monden and Shingle Creeks are definitely worth exploring. The Shire Island area and the Nowhere coastal creeks also offer paddling surprises.
SCUBA
A great spot for divers is the historic City of Hawkinsville underwater State Park located near the Nature Coast Greenway bridge across the Suwannee River. Fanning Springs is considered a great open water dive with its crystal clear water and nearby Manatee Springs offers cave diving for certified divers. Within 50 miles in any direction, more dives await.
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Dixie County Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 547
Cross City, FL 32628
(352) 498-5454
fankrum@inetw.net |
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