BBSBW 3yr Calender 1-13

8/3/2019 BBSBW 3yr Calender 1-13

1/13

Big Bend Scenic Byway

Three-Year Calendar

Byway Events Maps Photographs Information


2/13



The Big Bend Scenic Byway is a 220-mile scenic drive that is divided into two distinct trailsCoastal and

Forestwhich beckon you, the traveler, to explore undiscovered North Florida. Be transported to a dierent

time and place through our wildlie, waterways, woods, and way o lie. Youll be surprised at the diverse

scenery, places, and experiences that await you. Discover something new. Relive your childhood...searching or

shells on a beach, eating ice cream at estivals, riding a horse through the woods, shing on a dock on the bay,or watching sunsets over the water. There are un activities or the whole amily. Historic orts, battlegrounds,

museums, wildfowers, butterfies, birds, and animals. coastal dunes, orests, rivers, beaches, and marshland. Fishing villages,

historic towns, and rural communities. Fishing, hunting, hiking, kayaking, and biking. Shopping, resh seaood restaurants,

plays, great lodging, and estivals. So make the most o your visit, whether you have a day, a week, or a month. There are no

crowds, high prices, or pressures. The Big Bend is slower paced, relaxed, and ull o great values! You wont be disappointed...

rain or shine. Its time to make memories!

Acknowledgements

This publication was prepared on behal o the Big Bend Corridor Management Entity by Diane Delaney and Don Lesh o

Applied Sustainability Enterprises and designed by Rex Adams o Adams Graphics. We wish to thank the ollowing people and

organizations or providing photographs or the Calendar, including: Diane Delaney, Carol Roberts, Apalachicola Bay Chamber

o Commerce, Wakulla County TDC, Lou Kellenberger, Betsy Kellenberger, Jim Schmid, Florida Division o Forestry, Erik

Lovestrand, Rob Diaz de Villegas, and U.S. Forest Service.

We grateully acknowledge the Federal Highway Administration National Scenic Byway

Program or their support o this publication and the nancial assistance provided by

the Florida Department o Economic Opportunity. In addition, this publication was

unded in part, through a grant agreement rom the Florida Department o Environmental

Protection, Florida Coastal Management Program, by a grant provided by the Oce o

Ocean and Coastal Resource Management under the Coastal Zone Management Act o

1972, as amended, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Award No. #NA10NOS4190178.

The views, statements, ndings, conclusions and recommendations expressed herein are those o the

author(s) and do not necessarily refect the views o the State o Florida, NOAA or any o their subagencies.

September, 2011.


3/13

January

Season o plays, music, and art opens at Dixie Theatre, Apalachicola (FC)

The Red-cockaded Woodpecker (Picoides borealis) is a keystone speciesbecause o the number o other species--birds, insects, reptiles, and small

mammals--that will eventually inhabit the nest cavities they excavate in

mature pine trees. Due to loss o habitat, their numbers have dwindled

to about 5,000 groups representing one percent o the birds original

numbers. Through conservation eorts, the rich pine orests along the Big

Bend Scenic Byway are now home to the largest population o RCWs in the

United States.

The tallest North American

bird, the Whooping Crane (Grusamericana) is one o the mostamous endangered species

in North America with only aew hundred let in the wild. Mating or lie, they

can live 22 to 24 years. The St. Marks NWR, in

partnership with the Whooping Crane Eastern

Partnership, has managed the almost miraculous

eat o reintroducing Cranes to the reuge as a

wintering ground. This is only the beginningthe

program hopes to increase the number o Cranes

and their chances o survival.

Alligators (Alligator mississippiensis ) live in theBig Bend area as living ossils, having survived

or over 200 million years. Although Alligators

have a heavy body and a slow metabolism, they

are capable o short bursts o speed, especially in

very short lunges. In Florida, it is illegal to eed

wild Alligators at any time. I ed, the Alligators

will eventually lose their ear o humans thereby

becoming a greater danger as they associate

people with ood.


4/13

Coastal Trail East

Coastal trail EastMap

Description: 47.3 miles on Coastal Highway US 98. From east to west, start in Wakulla County at the community oNewport with two spur drives (Lighthouse Road/CR 59 through the St. Marks National Wildlie Reuge and Port Leon Drive/

SR 363 to the city o St. Marks). The Byway crosses over the Wakulla River and continues on US 98 through Medart and the

picturesque shing village o Panacea. At Ochlockonee Bay the trail crosses the Ochlockonee Bay Bridge into Franklin County

and the beach community o St. Teresa, ending at Summer Camp at the intersection with Sopchoppy Highway/US 319.

Attractions: Newport (R, F, B): Wakulla County Park (I, R, W, P, C, B), St. Marks National Wildlie Reuge & Lighthouse (I, R, W, P, B)

City o St. Marks (I, R, L, F): San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park (I, P, B), Tallahassee-St. Marks Historic Railroad

Trail State Park (R, B), Waterront Park (I, R, W, P, B)

Wakulla River (R): Wakulla Beach Road with access to Florida National Scenic Trail (R)

Panacea (I, R, L, F, C, B): Bottoms Road (W), Otter Lake Recreation Area (B, W, R, P), Gul Specimen Aquarium (I, W, B),

Big Bend Maritime Center (I, W, B), Rock Landing (R, F), Mashes Sands Recreation Area (R, W, P, B)

Bald Point State Park (I, R, W, P, B): Leonards Landing (I), FSU Marine Laboratory (I)

Byway Information Centers:St. Marks National Wildlie Reuge Visitors Center and the Wakulla Welcome Center in Panacea

Legend:I-Interpretation, R-Recreation, W-Wildlie Viewing, L-Lodging, F-Food, P-Picnic, C-Camping, B-Bathrooms


5/13

Mardi Gras Festival, Apalachicola (FC)

In Florida, butterfies and their migration

create a colorul spectacle. More than

160 butterfy species breed in Florida. In

addition, approximately 200 other species

have been recorded passing through Florida.

Many are not ound anywhere else in North

America. From September to November,

Monarch Butterfies (Danaus plexippus) andother butterfies are especially noticeable as

they migrate through rom the north, turning

west along the Big Bend as they head to

Mexico.

River systems in the Big Bend

region support habitat or Sea

Cows or Manatees (Trichechusmanatus latirostrus). Considered

vulnerable to extinction, theManatee depends on the healthy environment

o Big Bend area waters. The Manatees closest

relatives are the Elephant and the Hyrax (a small,

gopher-sized mammal). A herbivore, the Manatee

is believed to have evolved rom a wading,

plant-eating animal and may eat as many as 60

dierent plant species.

The Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus)is so named because o its ability to dig

large, deep burrows, up to 40 eet in length.

With a liespan o 60 years, this Tortoise

is a valuable component o the ecosystem

because it is a keystone species and can

inorm managers about the health o the

entire system. More than 360 other species

have been known to take reuge in Gopher

Tortoise burrows.

February


6/13

Coastal Trail Central

Coastal trail CEntral Map

Description: 23.1 miles on Coastal Highway US 98. Traveling east to west rom Summer Camp and the intersection withSopchoppy Highway US 319, continue on the Coastal Highway toward the seaside town o Carrabelle. Watch or a route change

beore town on Gul Avenue/30-A. The Byway ollows the coast, passing Frog Pond, entering Carrabelle at the Riverwalk on

Marine Street. The Byway then continues over the Carrabelle River on Coastal Highway 98, ending at the intersection with SR

65.

Attractions: City o Carrabelle (I, R, L, F, B): Frog Pond (W), Riverwalk (I, P, B), Carrabelle Historic Museum (I, B), Camp Gordon

Johnston Museum (I, B)

Carrabelle Beach (I, R, P, B): Crooked River Lighthouse (I, R, W, P, B)

Tates Hell State Forest (I, R, C, B): High Blu Hiking Trail (I, R, W, P, B), State Forest Driving Trail to the Cathedral o the

Palms (W)

Byway Information Center:Carrabelle Chamber o Commerce



7/13

March

Camp Gordon Johnston Reunion, Carrabelle (FC)St. Vincent Island Open House (FC)

Battle o Natural Bridge Reenactment, Woodville (LC)Stone Age and Primitive Arts Festival, Ochlockonee River State Park (WC)

Spotting a Florida Black Bear (Ursusamericanus foridanus) along the Big BendScenic Byway is a thrilling sight, and one

that is becoming more common or both visitors

and residents. A subspecies o the American Black

Bear, the Florida Black Bear lives in six core areas

across the state. The Big Bend Scenic Byway is in

the Apalachicola Core Area where orests and

interconnected greenways provide essential habitat.

Known locally as seaside bears, they can ound

along the bay, oraging or Crabs and Turtle eggs or

dining on Oyster bars at low tide.

The Big Bend region is a globally important area or songbirds and waterowl. This area lies on the eastern ringe o the

Mississippi Flyway and hosts large numbers o birds rom both the Midwest and the Atlantic seaboard during migratory

periods. Occasionally, a all-out phenomenon occurs when a severe storm causes exhausted songbirds to land,

sometimes carpeting the ground with their numbers. A good place to spot a all-out is at St. George Island State Park.


8/13

Coastal Trail West

Coastal trail WEst Map

Description: 25.6 miles on Coastal Highway 98. Traveling east to west, this trail begins at the intersection with SR 65heading toward the oyster-producing community o Eastpoint. Watch or the route change rom US 98 in Eastpoint to Patton

Drive/SR 30. The Byway ollows St. George Sound to the Bryant Patton Bridge. Cross the bridge to St. George Island, then turn

west at Gul Beach Drive/SR 300 to Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park. Return to the mainland, and ollow the

Byway east on South Bayshore Drive back to US 98. Cross over the Apalachicola River on the John Gorrie Bridge to historic

Apalachicola. The Byway ends at the boat dock on Market Street.

Attractions: Eastpoint (F): Marion Millender Park (W, P), Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve Visitor Center (I, W, B)

St. George Island (I, R, L, F, B): Dr. Julian G. Bruce SGI State Park (I, R, W, P, C, B), Little St. George Lighthouse (I, B),

Island Bike Trail (R)

Apalachicola (I, L, F, B): St. Vincent National Wildlie Reuge Visitor Center (I, B), Apalachicola Maritime Museum (I, B),

Orman House State Park (I, B), Chapman Botanical Gardens (P), John Gorrie State Park (I, B), Chestnut Street Cemetery (I),

Dixie Theatre (I, B)

Byway Information Centers:St. George Island Visitor Center, Apalachicola Chamber o Commerce



9/13

April

Apalachicola Antique & Classic Boat Show (FC)Riverront Festival, Carrabelle (FC)

Pioneer Breakast/Tallahassee Jazz and Blues Fest, Tallahassee Museum (LC)Worm-Gruntin Festival, Sopchoppy (WC)

Wakulla Wildlie Festival, Wakulla Springs State Park (WC)Wild About Wakulla (WC)

Humanatee Festival, St. Marks (WC)

As rainall reaches Floridas sandy soil, it combines with carbon dioxide and decaying vegetation to orm a mild carbonic

acid that slowly dissolves the underlying porous limestone, enlarging its small cracks and pores. Over thousands o years,

these small pores and cracks expand to become underground caves and caverns. Collectively, these interconnected caves are

the pipes through which groundwater fows within the Florida aquier to the springs, where groundwater is orced up and

onto the surace.

Springs are classied based on the amount o water discharged. The largest magnitude 1 springs discharge at least 65

million gallons o water a day. The volume o water fowing rom a spring is dependent upon a variety o actors: the water

pressure in the aquier beneath it, the number o caves leading to the spring vent or opening, and the size o the vent itsel.

Wakulla cave is a branching, fow-dominated cave and is the longest and deepest known submerged reshwater cave system

in the world. Wakulla Springs is one o the worlds largest, discharging an average o 260 million gallons o water per day.

Its spring pool is an impressive 315 eet in diameter, and the huge vent is estimated to be 82 eet wide, 50 eet high, and 185eet deep. The spring orms the Wakulla River, which fows 9 miles (14 km) to the southeast where it joins the St. Marks

River. Ater a short 5 miles (8.0 km), it empties into the Gul o Mexico at Apalachee Bay. This reshwater input is essential in

maintaining Apalachee Bays incredibly rich ecosystem.


10/13

Forest Trail East

ForEst trail EastMap

Description: 28.6 miles. Traveling east to west in Wakulla County, turn o o Coastal Highway US 98 at Newport ontoBloxham Cuto/SR 267, passing Wakulla State Forest and Wakulla Springs State Park. Ater crossing US 319 turn onto

Springhill Road/CR 2203 to Capital Circle SW, passing the Tallahassee Regional Airport, ending at the intersection with

Blountstown Highway/SR 20.

Attractions: Bloxham Cuto/SR 267: Wakulla State Forest (I, R, W, P), Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park

and Lodge (R, L, F, I, W, P, B); Cherokee Sink (R, W, P, B)

Apalachicola National Forest access rom Springhill Road: Leon Sinks Geological Site (I, R, W, B, P), Trout Pond

Recreational Area (I, R, W, P, B), Historic GF&A Bike Trial ( R), Lost Lake Recreational Area (I, R, W, P, B)

City o Tallahassee (F, L, B, I): Tallahassee Museum (I, R, W, F, B), Mission San Luis de Apalache (I, B)

Byway Information Centers:Visit Tallahassee, Tallahassee Museum



11/13

May

Tour o Historic Homes, Apalachicola (FC)Plein Air Paint-Out, Apalachicola (FC)

Military Muster, Mission San Luis (LC)Blue Crab Festival, Panacea (WC)

Many o the rivers

along the byway are

called blackwater

deep, slow-movingchannels that fow through swamps

and wetlands. As vegetation decays

in the water, tannins are leached out,

resulting in tea-colored acidic water.

Most major blackwater rivers are in

the Amazon River system and the

southern United States, where they

support distinctive fora and auna.

The striking array o habitats, plants, sh, reptiles and amphibians in the Apalachicola River basin make it one o the most

productive estuaries in North America, and a treasure o biodiversity. The Apalachicola Rivertogether with its tributaries, the

Chattahoochee and Flint Riversdrains a 20,000-square-mile watershed, comprising the largest foodplain orest in Florida. It is

estimated that its discharge into the Gul o Mexico accounts or 35 percent o the total reshwater contribution to the west coast o

Florida. The Apalachicola Bay supplies 10% o all Oysters harvested nationally and has the 3rd largest Shrimp harvest in Florida. It

is also the second largest o 25 existing National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) sites in the nation. The variety o habitats and

unique geography make the river, bay, and surrounding orests home to numerous endemic, rare, and imperiled species


12/13

Forest Trail Central

ForEst trail CEntral Map

Description: Description: 69.6 miles in length. The trail begins at the intersection o Capital Circle SW and BlountstownHighway/SR 20. Traveling east to west on SR 20, the trail passes recreational areas o the Apalachicola National Forest and

Lake Talquin State Forest. Beore the Lake Talquin Dam, turn let onto Smith Creek Highway/CR 375. This portion o the trail

borders the Ochlockonee River and passes through the center o the Apalachicola National Forest. Turn onto Rose Avenue/CR

22 to visit the quaint town o Sopchoppy. Return on CR 22 to Curtis Mill Road/CR 299, through the National Forest and rural

countryside to Sopchoppy Highway US 319. The trail ollows US 319, passing the Ochlockonee River State Park, then crosses

the Ochlockonee River into Franklin County. The trail ends at Summer Camp at the intersection with Coastal Highway 98. Note

that there are no gas stations through the National Forest.

Attractions: Blountstown Highway / SR 20: Apalachicola National Forest - Silver Lake Recreational Area (I, R, W, P, C, B),

Lake Talquin State Forest - Fort Braden Trails (I, R, W, P, C, B), Lake Talquin State Park - River Blu Picnic Site (P, W, R, B, I),

Historic Ft. Braden School (I), Leon County Park - Luther Hall Landing (I, R, W, P, C, B), Apalachicola National Forest -

Vinzant Riding Trail (R, W), Lake Talquin State Forest near CR 375 - Bloxham Tract (W, P, B) Smith Creek Highway /CR 375: Apalachicola National Forest - Pine Creek Landing (R, W, C), Two Rivers Bridge & Porter

Lake Campground (I, R, W, P, C, B), Florida National Scenic Trail (R, W), Mack Landing (R, W, P, C, B)

City o Sopchoppy (F, I, C, B): Historic GF&A Depot (I, B), Historic School & Gym (I), Myron B. Hodge City Park&

Sopchoppy River (I, R, W, P, C, B)

Curtis Mill Road/CR 299: Apalachicola National Forest Wood Lake Landing (R, W, P, C, B)

Sopchoppy Highway /US 319: Ochlockonee River State Park (C, I, R, W, B, P)

Byway Information Centers:Ft. Braden Library, Sopchoppy Historic Depot



13/13

June

Wetlandsincluding marshes, swamps, and bogs

are crucial to a healthy coastal environment. Wetlands

support an astonishing array o sh and wildlie; they

eed sh in the bays, provide nutrients to the ood

chain in estuaries, and serve as breeding areas and

shelter or numerous sport and commercial sheries.

Wetlands also act as water storage and ltering

systems, moderating run-o and keeping water clean.

Water fowing rom the salt

marshes into the bay supports

vital sea grass beds. The sea

grasses, which thrive in the

shallow water, produce oxygennecessary or all other sh and animal lie in these

waters. They are also valuable or water birds

and other aquatic predators because they serve

as nurseries or sh and shellsh. Apalachee Bay

contains one o the most productive sea grass

beds in Florida. They are easily impacted by

pollution, boat propellers, and storm water run-

o.

Even though there is

an abundance o springs,

rivers, marshes, tidal fats,

and wetlands in the Big

Bend, conservation and

stewardship is everyonesresponsibility to sustain

these resources or uture

generations. In addition

to the invaluable sh and

wildlie habitat that they

provide, they also buer

inland areas rom large

storms and hurricanes.

Fishing is antastic along the Byway, hire a guide or try a charter

Documents

BBSBW 3yr Calender 1-13