Rather than give up in frustration and leave The Sill for another location because of the low water levels, I decided to grab my camera and hike instead of paddle as far up the canal as I could. Passing beyond the “restricted vehicle access” gate, I started the walk in the afternoon sun. Thankfully the grass had been mowed fairly recently. Although the sun was shining bright in a blue sky, a consistent breeze made the walk rather enjoyable… for now. I hiked a mile northward along The Sill, photographing alligators along the way.
Upon coming to the second sluice gate, the water below the dam was much wider and a bit deeper. The blackwater pool was shaded by some overhanging trees that blocked the low angle of the Fall sun. Three adult alligators were enjoying this shady spot beneath the cypress trees.
Past this second bridge over the dam, the grass was a bit higher. I contemplated turning around for fear of ticks and chiggers. The last thing I wanted was to sit in a canoe the next three days with itchy, irritated ankles. But gazing further up the canal, the sight of a few basking alligators drew me on further. Just a few steps in and I spotted an enormous Florida Softshell Turtle nearly fully out of the water, his underside and neck a bright pink.
At 1.3 miles in, a small creek cut the roadway berm in half and my easy walkway ended. On the other side of the rill, tall grasses and shrubs grew in a thick tangle that reached up over my head. But I had come too far to turn back, and could still see several large alligators basking on the banks ahead. So I decided to press on as far as I could. Because of the low water levels, there was a narrow ridge along the water’s edge. To my left was a wall of tangled vegetation, while to my right was an immediate drop-off of a couple feet into the waters of the canal. I followed close along the bank on this natural walkway of soft soil and low grasses left by the receding waters.
Progress became quite slow on this narrow strip. The path was just a few feet wide and at a pretty sharp angle leading down toward the water… not an easy hike on the feet and ankles. Noting the patches of pressed grasses along my way, I knew I was treading upon some popular, and recently used, gator basking spots. I must admit, even though I’ve done many hikes in close proximity to alligators, being this close to the water’s edge made me a tad nervous. Even though the water was shallow, the tannins of the blackwater made it impossible to see more than a few inches below the surface. I’ve paddled the entire length of The Sill on several occasions and I know the immense size of some of the alligators along this channel! I imagined a large alligator, hungry from a lack of food in the shallow waters, and thinking I was an unsuspecting deer, suddenly bursting out to grab my leg and drag me in. So I hugged the wall of vegetation to my left as much as I could. Thankfully my fears didn’t materialize (or you wouldn’t be reading this!).
No sooner had these fears been playing in my head and I recorded these words in voice text, a loud smack resounded and a giant splash rippled the water. It wasn’t nearby, but close enough to make me jump. Immediately, just on the opposite bank, one of those large Monsters of The Sill that I’ve blogged about before had emerged in all its glory.
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia; October 13, 2025
Okefenokee Photography Project by William Wise 
A nice walk with company, 😁😁
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