Recreation

The Okeechobee Service Center area is rich with recreational opportunities. The public use area within the Kissimmee River Restoration Project offers recreational activities from casual day hiking and photography through natural areas of native bird and wildlife habitat, to hunting and fishing. These public areas are laced with water trails suitable for canoes and airboat exploration. Camping is by permit only, and is limited to several primitive sites along the Kissimmee River and its tributaries.

Traffic Interruptions to Occur on County Road 15B Through April - Construction on Lakeside Ranch STA leads to temporary inconvenience. (Jan. 7)

Navigating the Lake Okeechobee Waterway: info from the US Army Corps of Engineers

Navigation Warnings: from the US Army Corps of Engineers

Visitor Info: Okeechobee Chamber of Commerce

Hiking, horseback riding and biking are accepted means to traverse many of the public areas listed in the SFWMD Public Use Guide.

There are many special events offered in conjunction with other state agencies such as the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission. Seasonal events range from permitted turkey and hog hunting to multi-day horseback tours on the Florida Cracker Trail.

The Riverwoods Field Laboratory is a facility jointly managed by the South Florida Water Management District and the Florida Center for Environmental Studies (CES). Riverwoods' mission is to support research and educational activities related to the restoration of the Kissimmee River and the great Everglades watershed.

More on Recreation & Land Stewardship

• SFWMD Recreation - Search by location or type of activity
• SFWMD Land Stewardship
• FL Trail Association
• FL Greenways & Trails (DEP)
• FL Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission/Recreation
• State Parks/Recreation
• Federal Parks/Recreation
• FL Dept of Transportation
• More Recreation Links

Recreational Guide
[21MB PDF]
Information about recreational use on public lands