Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge

Paddling the Okefenokee means days in a dark, peat-filled wetland straddling the Georgia–Florida border, with an abundance of alligators for company and nights on raised shelters deep in the swamp. The refuge has six marked boating trails and seven interior overnight shelters, which together give a choice of twelve different overnight canoe trips. Because the routes are set and the water is sheltered, this suits paddlers who want a wild trip without open-water crossings or route-finding. The trade-off is that you camp where the itinerary says, so check the refuge's current reservation rules and trail conditions before you plan.