Recreation FAQs

You can go on-line at: http://www.sfwmd.gov/org/omd/ops/rt/okeechobee.html and look at the elevation at S-65C, which is a water control structure located about 700 yards south of where the restored section of the river flows back into the channelized river, and Weir 1, which is at the northern end of the restored section. If the headwater (upstream) side of S-65C is above 35.4 feet, and the elevation at Weir 1 is at 40 feet or more you should have enough water to navigate, assuming your boats drafts about 3 feet. You should use caution and motor carefully. You may have to trim your motor up. The rest of the river should not be a problem. Assuming that the vertical clearance of your boat is less than 10 feet, which will allow you to get under all bridges. The channelized Kissimmee River is pretty straight, 300 feet wide and 30 feet deep, so you should be able to make good time. The restored section is about 15 miles in length. The river meanders and the depths vary.

In all, it's about 60 miles from River Ranch to Lake Okeechobee. You should be able to scoot right along in the channeled Kissimmee River, but we would encourage you to take it slow and cautious in the 15-mile restored section. The only other area of potential concern is the section beginning about six miles south of S-65A, where three weirs were put in place as part of the research that preceded the Kissimmee River Restoration. The weirs are about six, seven and nine miles south of S-65A. At these three weirs, just use caution and follow the signs. You should be able to travel through the weirs without any problem.

For Additional Information: Orlando Service Center
1707 Orlando Central Parkway, Suite 200
Orlando, FL 32809
Phone: (407) 858-6100

We have camp ground host program at DuPuis Management Area and one at Kissimmee Area north of Okeechobee. Contact Bert Trammel at btramme@sfwmd.gov or Jeff McLemore at jmclemo@sfwmd.gov for openings.

The Platts Bluff ramp in Okeechobee County puts you on the Kisimmee River with lots of possibilities. Many of these lands are protected by the Save Our Rivers program. Holiday Park in Broward County, plus the other ramps along Highway 27 and out Alligator Alley will keep you fishing for a bit. If you need more excitement try Stick Marsh, another Save Our Rivers project, near Fellsmere see: http://sjr.state.fl.us/programs/outreach/pubs/recguide/pdfs/bluecypr.pdf.

The best source for this kind of information is the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, who manage most public lands in terms of fisheries. They have a web site at http://floridafisheries.com/ramps/index.html and http://floridaconservation.org/fishingareas.html which you should find helpful.

Holey Land Wildlife Management Area is managed by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Contact Mike Anderson at 561-625-5122 for any questions on Holey Land.

District sites with hiking trails have maps, along with some hiking trail maps. Please select Recreational Opportunities, then select hiking. A list of sites with hiking activites will display. You can also visit the Florida Trail Association web page, which will provide you information on hiking trails in the area http://www.florida-trail.org/.

Hunting activities on SOR lands are managed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The information you are seeking is available at http://wld.fwc.state.fl.us/hunting/default.html or from any of the Commission Offices. The South Region Office is: South Region (formerly Everglades Region), Regional Director, 8535 Northlake Boulevard, West Palm Beach, FL 33412 (561) 625-5122.