Dead River Sink

Dead River Sink is located in north Florida near the Georgia state line near a town named Jennings. It's on a piece of property named Jennings Bluff Tract which is located on the south side of the Alapaha River, east of Jennings.

Dead River Sink is very unique in that the waters of the Alapaha river flow into the sink (as a siphon) and doesn't appear again until days later and then into the Suwannee River. This underground distance is approximately 10 miles straight line, but rivers rarely flow straight, even underwater. At the time of writing this article, the Alapaha River was high. When the river is low, the river, downstream of the sink can stop flowing; dry up. The water was high enough to safely paddle down atop the sink (should one want to try that).

The Jennings Bluff Tract contains a small parking area adjacent to a canoe launch. This is on the east side of the property and on the west bank of the river. The dirt road into the launch can be a bit rough, but an all terrain vehicle is not required.

Once you enter into the park. There is a split almost immediately; stay left. Soon after there is another split. Right takes you to the Canoe Launch; left takes you directly to the Dead River Sink. Signage is lacking.

Alapaha River Rise (Shelley Run)

The output of the Dead River Sink is 10 nautical miles away (as the crow flies), and flows directly into the Suwannee River; just a few hundred feet away from where the Alapaha river (when it's flowing) converges with the Suwannee (near a park and boat ramp called Gibson Park). This location is currently on private property although you could argue the 'navigable waters' rule/law. I did paddle into the run, and found the pool is 70 feet deep. This location is called the Alapaha River Rise (or Shelley Run) . Area Google Map of Alapaha River Rise. It has a very tanic output but still a first magnitude spring. It flows at an average rate of 802 cubic feet (22.7 m3) per second. One of the biggest in the United States.

From information derived from the internet, they did a dye trace from Dead River Sink and it appeared, days later, in the Alapaha River Rise.

Note: I just visited both sites, and I can say the current/flow into the sink AND the current/flow out of the Rise are stronger than the Alapaha River that feeds it and the Suwannee River that receives it.

Google Map to Site

Click on any picture below to see a larger version