Members of the community and Waycross-Ware County Chamber of Commerce gathered at Okefenokee Swamp Park Saturday morning, March 14 for the 49th Annual Swamp Run.
The event included a 10k trail run and one-mile fun run, as well as an official ribbon cutting for the park’s newest trail, the Flatwoods Fire Trail.
The trail is a brief 0.6 miles. Its creation was supported by Athletic Brewing Company, and its Two for the Trails program. According to Okefenokee Director of Education Katie Antczak, Okefenokee received the grant in fall of 2024.
“We had some hiccups with weather kind of holding us back, because when we were getting lots of rain, it was very muddy,” she recalled.
The trail is open year round during park hours, free to the public.
“We do ask that visitors check in in the gift shop first, just so we know they’re here,” she continued, “but otherwise, anybody can come anytime the park is open.”
Antczak concluded, “We are thrilled about this opportunity to be able to offer an outdoor recreation opportunity for our local community and for our visitors, and we hope it gives them a chance to learn a little bit more about the flatwoods ecosystem, and why it’s so important in the Okefenokee Swamp.”
