Apalachicola River Blueway
Transcript of Apalachicola River Blueway
Apalachicola River Blueway (This document contains maps and data book)
“The Apalachicola River is one of the most beautiful streams of North America, formed at the northern border of Florida by the junction of the Chattahoutchie and the Flint River; it crosses, making quite numerous turns, a region of great fertility, and empties near the town of Apalachicola.” The Comte de Castelnau, 1837
This early description of the 105-mile Apalachicola River still holds true today. From its formation at the Jim Woodruff Dam near the Georgia border, the river is undammed and largely wild, flowing past large tracts of public and protected lands. High bluffs, abundant wildlife, and rare animals and plants make this river among the most unique in Florida, and at the right water conditions, large sandbars make for ideal primitive campsites. The following data should provide information about the basic access points and other amenities found along the river that can contribute to a successful paddling trip.
Please note that the river can have the fastest current in the state, so it is not recommended for beginners. Mile markers along the shores, decreasing from 106 at the dam to 0 in Apalachicola, provide helpful navigational guides. Barge traffic and dredging are largely a thing of the past, but buoys, training dikes and large sand mounds are still visible. Numerous side streams, many of which are listed here, are worthy of exploration. Devon Creek, for example, (off Owl Creek) is a scenic watery tunnel beneath a thick canopy of cypress of tupelo gum trees.
One recommended side trip is to explore the Chipola River Dead Lakes area. This is a wide swampy area of both dead and living cypress trees originally formed by a naturally occurring levee that backed up the Chipola River. The area has stunning primeval beauty. From the Apalachicola River, it can be reached by taking the Chipola River cutoff just after Gaskin Park in Wewahitchka. After three miles, take a right onto the main channel of the Chipola River. A compass and/or GPS is recommended if venturing away from the main channel. GPS coordinates are provided in the data book if paddlers wish to stay at the Dead Lakes Sportsman’s Lodge (along the Chipola Cutoff just before the Chipola River on the right) or at the Dead Lakes Park Campground (along a side channel west of the main Dead Lakes area). The campground is about 6 miles from Gaskin Park.
While most of the ramps, campsites and points of interest in the data book can be easily spotted along the main Apalachicola River channel, GPS is recommended for finding the entrance to Owl Creek (mile 22) if you want to paddle the 1.5 miles to the Hickory Landing Campground.
There are two creek entrances just before Owl Creek—Kennedy and Brushy Creeks—that can cause confusion.
Most sandbars are accessible for camping/rest stops and are within the public domain, although access to land beyond the ordinary high water mark might not be allowed. Please respect private property rights and regulations pertaining to lands managed by Torreya State Park and the Nature Conservancy where water access is not allowed.
Water Levels: During low to moderate water levels, sandbars for rest stops and primitive campsites are numerous until Sand Mountain (mile 36), whereupon they are less prevalent as the ever-widening river flows past a more swampy floodplain. Most sandbars are under water during high water conditions. The USGS river gauge at Chattahoochee should be below 44 feet for best paddling and camping conditions: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/fl/nwis/uv/?site_no=02358001&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060; the USGS gauge near Sumatra should be below 5.5 feet for best paddling and camping conditions: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/fl/nwis/uv/?site_no=02359170&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060.
For more information about the river and paddling, we recommend the following websites:
Apalachicola Riverkeeper: http://apalachicolariverkeeper.org/. Note: The Riverkeeper is the managing entity for the Apalachicola Blueway Apalachicola River Blueway: http://apalachicolablueway.com/ Northwest Florida Water Management District: http://www.nwfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/apalachicolariver.html
Apalachicola Paddling Trails System in lower Apalachicola Basin: http://myfwc.com/RECREATION/WMASites_ApalachicolaRiver_paddling.htm
Recommended gear and safety equipment: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/paddling/Segments/Equip_list.htm
Trip tips and safety information:
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/paddling/Segments/Tips_Safety.htm
Wildlife viewing tips:
http://myfwc.com/recreation/View_Info_index.htm
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WASHINGTON
BAY
^Jim Woodruff Dam
Lake Seminole
Gulf Of Mexico
St Joseph Bay
Apalachicola Bay
Gulf Of Mexico
St George Sound
St Andrew Bay
Dead Lakes
Apalachicola National Forest
Tate's Hell State Forest
Torreya State Park
Econfina Creek WMA
Upper Chipola RiverWMA
Tyndall AFB
Apalachicola River Blueway
BAY
GULF
LIBERTY
JACKSON
WAKULLA
CALHOUN
GADSDEN
FRANKLIN
Noma
Altha
Vilas
Wilma
Frink
Bascom
Hinson
Gretna
Creels
Malone
Orange
Quincy
Midway
SneadsAlford
Medart
Kinard
HavanaWausau
Chipley
Hosford
Panacea
Sanborn
Telogia
CypressOakdale
Bristol
SumatraDalkeith
Norfleet
Jamieson
Marianna
Fountain
HardawayAlliance
Callaway
Dellwood
Econfina
Eastpoint
Greenwood
Oak Grove
Graceville
Cottondale
Ward Ridge
Honeyville
Greensboro
Carrabelle
Round Lake
Sink Creek
Jacob City
Youngstown
Blountstown
SpringfieldSmith Creek
Indian Pass
Wewahitchka
Campbellton
Resota Beach
Compass Lake
Apalachicola
Saint Teresa
Bayou George
Crawfordville
Chattahoochee
Lanark Village
%
%^
Lake Seminole
Angus Cholson Jr Nature Parkof Chattahoochee
^Seminole Lodge
$+269A
Gulf Power Rd
Legion Rd
Chattahoochee RVCampground
^
Jim Woodruff Dam
Scholz Power Plant
Abandonded Jackson County Port
Future Site Of Chattahoochee Landings
Clyde Hopkins Park
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I-10 Bridge
Aspalaga Boat Ramp
Aspalaga Blue Springs Run
Torreya State Park
£¤90
Apala
chicola River
§̈¦10
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Spring Branch
Blu
e Spring Run
Flat Creek
Means Creek
Aspalaga Rd
Æ_^
Croo
ke d Cr
eek
Sinai Rd
Aspa
laga B
luff
Lake Seminole to Blue Spring Run
1/7
Donald Rd
Lake Seminole
ÆQU
Mo s quito
Creek
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SneadsChattahoochee
0 0.6 1.2 1.8 2.4 30.3 Miles
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% CitiesRoads
RailroadsRivers
Florida Conservation LandsCities
Apalachicola River POI^ Points Of Interest
Æ_ Hiking TrailÆW LodgingÆQ Designated Campground
!y Boat Launch/Landing
Interstates
Primitive CampgroundÆQU
!G Bicycle Trail
!³ Grocery Store
I* Restrooms
ÆV Restaurantpo Potable Water
§̈¦
10
Aspalaga Blue Springs Run
!y
Æ_^
Croo
ked C
reek
Aspa
laga B
luff
High Sandbar
To rreya P ark R d
Torreya State Park
Trammell ConservationEasement
John Redd Rd
Gregory House/Torreya State Park
Rock Creek
Short Creek
Ocheesee Creek
Ocheesee Landing
Land Sto re Rd
St Rose R d
Apalachicola Bluff & Ravines Preserve
Apalachicola Bluff & Ravines Preserve
Torreya State Park
Torreya State Park
Sweetwater CreekGraves Creek
Beaverdam Creek
!y
^
!yHarry Donar Rd
Red's Landing
Harry Donar Landing
Alum Bluff low sandbar
Æ_^
!y
Rock Bluff
Blue Spring Run to Alum Bluff
2/7
Apala
chico
la Riv
er
ÆQU
!(69
Sweetwater Creek
ÆQU
!(12
Ocheessee Lan ding Rd
ÆQU
L i ttle Sweetwa ter Creek
4567270
4567270
4567286
I*Æ_ÆQ
0 0.75 1.5 2.25 3 3.750.375 Miles
¯
RoadsRiversFlorida Conservation Lands
Apalachicola River POI^ Points Of Interest!y Boat Launch/Landing
ÆQ Designated Campground
Æ_ Hiking Trail
I* RestroomsPrimative CampgroundÆQ
U
%
%
L i t tle Sweet water Creek
Alum Bluff low sandbar
!y
!|
Bristol Landing
HWY 20 Bridge
Apalachicola Bluff & Ravines Preserve
Corbin-TuckerConservation Easement
Sutton Lake & Bayou
Neal Landing
Long High SandbarT h
e Bay
o u
Hicks Creek
Old River
Sutton Creek
Old River
Rive r R d
Poloway Cut Off
Bak er Branch
Wo
o d s Bra
nch
!(71
!(71
!(69!(12
Estiffanulga County Park
River Rd
!(20
Alum Bluff to Estiffanulga Region3/7
Apalach
icola
River
ÆQU
Ammo
nia Ri ve
r San
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Bristol
Blountstown
0 0.75 1.5 2.25 3 3.750.375 Miles
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% Cities
Roads
Rivers
Florida Conservation Lands
Cities
Apalachicola River POI
Æ_ Hiking TrailÆW LodgingÆQ Designated Campground
!y Boat Launch/Landing
Primitive CampgroundÆQU
!³ Grocery Store
I* Restrooms
ÆV Restaurant
!| Canoe/Kayaking
po Potable Water
%
%
!(71
Corbin-TuckerConservation Easement
$+333
Estiffanulga County Park
Estiffanulga Region to Dead Lakes Park4/7 Wo
ods Branch
Mary Slough
High Sandbar
Apalachicola NationalForest
Apalachicola River Water Management Area
High Sandbar
!|
!|
^Hageman's Ditch
Dead Lakes
Florida River
Chipo la Cut of f
Iola Landing
Florida River
Gaskin ParkChipola Cutoff
Gaskin ConservationEasement
High Sandbar
Dead Lakes Park
Dead LakesSportsman's Lodge
Side channel entrance to Dead Lakes Park Campground
!y
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!(71
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Old Panama Hw y Lake
Grove Rd
G U
Parke
r Rd
Riv er Rd
Iola R
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C hipola
R iver
Apa l a chico
la Riv
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Lots Mill C reek
Eq ua loxic
CreekÆQ
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Flor i
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Iamonia Lake
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4567379
4567333
4567275
4567392
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Wewahitchka 0 1 2 3 4 50.5 Miles
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% Cities
Roads
Rivers
Florida Conservation Lands
Cities
Apalachicola River POI
ÆQ Designated Campground
!y Boat Launch/Landing
Primitive CampgroundÆQU
I* Restrooms
!| Canoe/Kayaking
^ Points Of Interest
ÆV Restaurant
!³ Grocery Store
po Potable Water
%
%
%
Apalachicola NationalForest
Apalachicola River Water Management Area
High Sandbar
Florida River
Chipola Cut of f
Iola Landing
Florida River
Gaskin ParkChipola Cutoff
Gaskin ConservationEasement
High Sandbar
Dead Lakes Park
Dead LakesSportsman's Lodge
Side channel entrance to Dead Lakes Park Campground
!y
!|
Lake
G
rove Rd
Apalachicola National Forest
Fres
hwate
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al Rd
Robinson Bay
River Styx
!|
Ke nned
y Cr eekSw ift Sl ough
Chipola River
Spiders Gut
Kenn edy Creek
Sand Mountain
Battle Bend
Kennedy Creek
Brushy Creek
Chipola River
River Styx
Owl Creek
Owl C
reek
Hickory Landing Campground
Litt
l e Ow
l Cre
ek
Dead Lakes Park to Owl Creek5/7
Apalachicola River
Brushy Creek
Dead Lak es
ÆQU
9:;115
456722
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9:;180
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Wewahitchka
0 1 2 3 4 50.5 Miles
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% Cities
Roads
Rivers
Florida Conservation Lands
Cities
Apalachicola River POI!y Boat Launch/Landing!| Canoe/KayakingÆQ Designated Campground
Primitive CampgroundÆQU
I* Restroomspo Potable Water
Brushy Creek
Owl Creek
Apalachicola National Forest
!y
Fort Gadsden Historic Site
Bloody Bluff Landing
High Sandbar
Humphreys Slough
Owl Creek to Humphreys SloughApalachicola River WMA
Apalachicola River Wildlife &Environmental Area Tate's Hell
State Forest
Hickory Landing Campground
De von Creek!|
^
Howard Creek
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Bearm
an Cr
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Deep
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k
Bloody Bluff Rd
B rickyard Rd
Wrigh t Lak e Rd
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Devon Creek
Apala
chico
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Brothers River
ÆQU
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Brick
yard Cu tof
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4567387 9:;124
4567381
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9:;129A
0 0.6 1.2 1.8 2.4 30.3 Miles
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RoadsRiversFlorida Conservation Lands
Apalachicola River POI^ Points Of Interest!y Boat Launch/Landing!| Canoe/Kayaking
Primative CampgroundÆQU
ÆQ Designated Campground
I* Restrooms
%
!y
High Sandbar
Humphreys Slough
Bloody Bluff R d
Brothers River
St Marks River
Jackson River
Box-R Wildlife Mgmt AreaAcorn Lake Creek
Humphreys Slough to Apalachicola
7/7
!|!y
!|Sauls Creek Rd
Ga rdeners Landing Rd
£¤98 £¤319
Apalachicola River Wildlife &Environmental Area
Tate's Hell State Forest
Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve
Apalachicola Bridge
J ohn son
Creek
G raham Creek
St Mar ks Rive r
East River C utoff
Hidden Johnson Creek
Cedar Creek
Hoffm
an
Creek
Tucker Cre ekSt Marks River
Chipley Creek
Little S t Marks Ri ver
Big Bay
Little BayTurtle Harbor
East River
Brothers R iv er
Apalach
icola River
Acorn L
ake Creek
Grassy Creek
Scipio Creek
ÆQU
Jack
son R
iver
Apalachicola River
East Riv er
Humph re ys S lo ugh
Little St Marks River
!(65
Caesar Creek
ApalachicolaÆV!³ ÆW
4567384
Apalachicola Battery Park!y0 0.6 1.2 1.8 2.4 30.3 Miles
¯
% Cities
Roads
Rivers
Florida Conservation Lands
Cities
Apalachicola River POI!y Boat Launch/Landing
Primitive CampgroundÆQU
ÆV Restaurant
!| Canoe/Kayaking
Railroad
!³ Grocery Store
ÆW Lodging
Apalachicola River Paddling Data Book
If paddling downstream, the east side of the river would be on your left and the west side on your right.
PC = Primitive campsite POI = Point of Interest/landmark
C = Campground LA = Laundromat W = Water
L = Lodging I = Internet computer PO = Post Office
R = Restaurant S = Shower G = medium/lg supermarkets
B = Bathroom PI = Put‐In g = convenience/camp stores
River
Mile #
Type of amenity GPS #
(decimal‐
degrees)
Directions
106 POI—Jim Woodruff Dam N30.7088
W84.8639
Approach dam with caution
105
PI, B, W, C—Clyde Hopkins Park; R and
g on Highway 90 .3 miles from landing;
nearest motel 1 mile east on Hwy 90;
PO .6 miles east.
N30.7007
W84.8575
In Chattahoochee, turn south off
Highway 90 onto River Landing Road
just east of the Apalachicola River
Bridge. The road will wind down to the
landing after a short distance.
105 C, L, R, B, W, g—future site of
Chattahoochee Landings
N30.6913
W84.8614
East side of river; look for dock and
sign.
103 POI, PI—Abandoned Jackson County
Port
N30.6749
W84.8773
West side of river; marked by large
wood loading dock and pilings. Ramp
on side channel before port.
103 POI—Scholz Power Plant N30.6687
W84.8863
West side of river; smokestacks, plant,
intake canal and outflow visible
100 POI—I‐10 Bridge N30.6336
W84.9043
100 PI—Aspalaga Ramp N30.6248
W84.9030
East side of river
98 POI, PC (small site)—Aspalaga blue N30.6141 West side of river; can hike to spring
springs run W84.9247 where a large alligator lives
96 PC—high sandbar N30.5925
W84.9462
east side of river
95 POI—Gregory House/Torreya State
Park
N30.5786
W84.9494
East side of river; historic house and
narrow clearing in front of house visible
94 PI, PC—Ocheesee Landing N30.5820
W84.9651
West side of river
90.5 POI—Sweetwater Creek N30.5253
W84.9883
East side of river; good flow
89 PI, PC—Redd’s Landing N30.5197
W84.9942
West side of river along canal. Great
river view!
88 PI, PC—Harry Donar Landing N30.5152
W84.9914
East side of river
84 PC—Alum Bluff low sandbar N30.4713
W84.9878
West side of river—may not be visible
at high water; Alum Bluff across river—
no legal access
80 PI, B, W—Bristol Landing; L, R, PO
about .6 miles from access road to
Hwy 20; G another .6 east on Hwy 20.
N30.4403
W84.9865
East side of river
79 POI—Hwy 20 Bridge N30.4371
W85.0010
78 POI—Sutton Lake and Bayou N30.4323
W85.0218
West side of river
77 PI—Neal Landing N30.4235
W85.0324
West side of river
77 PC—long high sandbar N30.4125
W85.0286
East side of river. Another sandbar .5
on west side and at mile 74 on east
side.
71 POI—Old River N30.3785
W85.0333
West side of river
63 PI, B, W, PC—Estifinulga County Park N30.3083 East side of river, camping allowed;
large sandbar across river is also a good
W85.0400 primitive campsite. If this one is under
water, a higher site is a quarter mile
downstream on east side.
58 POI—Mary Slough/Lake Iamonia N30.2729
W85.0631
West side of river; potential side trip
55 PC—high sandbar N30.2481
W85.0796
east side of river
47 PC—high sandbar N30.1780
W85.1361
east side of river
45 PI—Iola Landing N30.1629
W85.1412
West side of river a short ways up
slough
43 POI—Florida River N30.1434
W85.1310
East side of river
42 PI, B, W—Gaskin Park, Wewahitchka N30.1318
W85.1423
West side or river
41 POI—Chipola Cutoff N30.1289
W85.1466
West side of river. It is a total of almost
6 miles to Dead Lakes Campground.
41A L—Dead Lakes Sportsman’s Lodge N30.1270
W85.1744
3 miles up Chipola Cutoff on right bank
just before Chipola River (850‐639‐
5051)
41B POI—side channel entrance to Dead
Lakes Park Campground
N30.1418
W85.1768
Left side of main channel; large cypress
marked with ribbons and reflectors
41C C, W, B, PI—Dead Lakes Park
Campground
N30.1360
W85.1993
Keep right in side channel but avoid
first slough on right; about 1.5 miles to
campground ramp. Secure kayaks and
walk to campground. First‐come, first
serve for camping, although capacity
has never been a problem.
39 PC—high sandbar N30.1141
W85.1431
East side of river; another sandbar
about .5 miles on west.
36 POI—Sand Mountain N30.0926
W85.1531
West side of river; largest of the spoil
disposal sites from dredging
35 POI—River Styx N30.0871
W85.1364
East side of river
29 POI—Battle Bend N30.0176
W85.1003
East side of river
26 POI—Chipola River N30.0125
W85.0885
West side of river
26 POI—Kennedy Creek N30.0045
W85.0623
East side of river
24 POI—Brushy Creek N29.9902
W85.0405
East side of river
22 POI—Owl Creek N29.9719
W85.0246
East side of river; leads 1.5 miles to
Hickory Landing Campground. Scenic
creek worth exploring along with
Devon Creek (N29.9799 W85.0186),
which branches off to the south.
22A C, PI, W, B—Hickory Landing
Campground
N29.9884
W85.0141
1.5 miles up Owl Creek on right
19 POI, B—Ft. Gadsden Historic Site N29.9383
W85.0122
East side of river; site of 1816 battle
between United States and free blacks,
runaway slaves and Seminole Indians.
15 POI, PI, PC—Bloody Bluff Landing N29.8733
W85.0109
East side of river; site of another 1816
battle between American soldiers and
blacks and Indians.
14 PC—high sandbar N29.8634
W85.0149
West side of river
13 POI—Humphreys Slough N29.8536
W85.0209
East side of river; part of Apalachicola
Paddling Trails System (FWC)
12 POI—Brothers River N29.8453
W85.0330
West side of river
10 POI—St. Marks River N29.8243
W85.0204
East side of river; empties into East Bay
6 POI—Jackson River N29.7790
W85.0505
West side of river; leads to Lake
Wimico
4 PI—Box‐R Wildlife Management Area N29.7684
W85.0433
West side of river; limited hours
4 POI—Acorn lake Creek N29.7660
W85.0291
East side of river; part of Apalachicola
Paddling Trails System (FWC)
0 PI—Apalachicola Battery Park; R, L, G
nearby in downtown.
N29.7235
W84.9819
Hug western shore; just past Hwy 98
Bridge, turn right into canal to landing
Emergency Contacts for Apalachicola River region
Police/Medical emergencies: 911 Medical 24 Hour Emergency Services:
County Hospital Phone & Address
Calhoun Calhoun Liberty
Hospital
20370 North East Burns Avenue
Blountstown, FL 32424
) 674‐4519
Franklin
Weems Memorial
Hospital
135 Avenue G
Apalachicola, FL 32320
850‐653‐8853
Jackson
Jackson Hospital 4250 Hospital Dr
Marianna, FL, 32446
850‐526‐2200
Gadsden Capital Regional
Medical Ctr
23186 Blue Star Hwy,
Quincy, FL 32351
850‐875‐6000
Gulf
Sacred Heart Hospital 3801 E Hwy 98
Port St Joe, 32456
850‐229‐5600
Law Enforcement:
Franklin County Sheriff: 850-670-8500
Gulf County Sheriff: 850-227-1115
Calhoun County Sheriff: 850-674-5049
Liberty County Sheriff: 850-643-2235
Gadsden County Sheriff: 850-627-9233
Jackson County Sheriff: 850-482-9624
Report wildlife violations: Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Hotline: 1-888-404-3922 or dial #FWC or *FWC on cell phone