Apalachicola River Blueway (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. Occasional 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 largely 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: The USGS gauge near Sumatra should be below 5.5 feet for best paddling and camping conditions.

For more information about the river and paddling, we recommend the following websites:

Apalachicola Riverkeeper: The Riverkeeper is the managing entity for the Apalachicola Blueway and coordinator of the annual Apalachicola RiverTrek each October.

Northwest Florida Water Management District: Website has several articles about the Apalachicola Basin.

Apalachicola Paddling Trails System in lower Apalachicola Basin: Nearly 100 miles of wilderness paddling trails on scenic creeks, side streams and small bays.

Recommended gear and safety equipment: This information is primarily for an overnight or multi-day trip on the river.

Trip tips and safety information: This information is applicable for day and overnight trips.

Wildlife viewing tips

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

% %

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

£¤90

£¤231

£¤319

£¤27§̈¦10

!(65

!(20

!(267

!(12

!(20

!(267

!(267

!(71

!(73

!(71

!(69

!(71

!(22

£¤98

£¤98£¤319

£¤98

!(12

!(71!(2

!(273!(77

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

!y

I-10 Bridge

Aspalaga Boat Ramp

Aspalaga Blue Springs Run

Torreya State Park

£¤90

Apala

chicola River

§̈¦10

!y

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

4567271

45672864567269

ÆV!³ ÆW

Æ_I*

ÆW!yÆQI*

poÆQ!y

SneadsChattahoochee

0 0.6 1.2 1.8 2.4 30.3 Miles

¯

% 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

Croo

ked Creek

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 Rd

Apalachicola Bluff & Ravines Preserve

Apalachicola Bluff & Ravines Preserve

Torreya State Park

Torreya State Park

Sweetwater CreekGraves Creek

Beaverdam Creek

Harry Donar Rd

Redd's Landing

Harry Donar Landing

Alum Bluff low sandbar

Rock Bluff

Blue Spring Run to Alum Bluff

2/7

Apala

chico

la Riv

er

U

69

Sweetwater Creek

U12

Ocheessee Lan ding Rd

U

L i ttle Sweetwa ter Creek

270

270

286

0 0.75 1.5 2.25 3 3.750.375 Miles

RoadsRiversFlorida Conservation Lands

Apalachicola River POIPoints Of InterestBoat Launch/Landing

Designated CampgroundHiking Trail

RestroomsU Primitive Campground

%

%

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

d Slou

gh

ÆQU

456769 456712A

4567333

456712

ÆV!³ ÆW

ÆV!³ ÆWpo I*!y

I*po !yÆQU

Bristol

Blountstown

0 0.75 1.5 2.25 3 3.750.375 Miles

¯

% 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

!|

!(71

!(73

Old Panama Hw y Lake

Grove Rd

G U

Parke

r Rd

Riv er Rd

Iola R

d

C hipola

R iver

Apa l a chico

la Riv

er

Lots Mill C reek

Eq ua loxic

CreekÆQ

U

ÆQU

ÆQU

ÆV!³

Flor i

da R i

ver

Iamonia Lake

456722

456773A

456769

4567379

4567333

4567275

4567392

I*po !yÆQU

!yI*po!yI*ÆQpo

Orange

Wewahitchka 0 1 2 3 4 50.5 Miles

¯

% 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

r Can

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

4567386

4567379

45673814567381A

9:;180A

9:;180

9:;172

9:;113

9:;123

9:;115

9:;123

9:;171

9:;102

9:;123A

!(71

po !yI*ÆQ

po !yI*po !yI*ÆQ

Dalkeith

Honeyville

Wewahitchka

0 1 2 3 4 50.5 Miles

¯

% 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 Slough

6/7Apalachicola River WMA

Apalachicola River Wildlife &Environmental Area Tate's Hell

State Forest

Hickory Landing Campground

De von Creek!|

^

Howard Creek

!(65

Bearm

anCr

eek

Deep

Creek

Bloody Bluff Rd

B rickyard Rd

WrightLak e

Rd

O ld Bay City R d

Devon Creek

Apala

chico

laRiv

er

Ow lCree

k

ÆQ!y

Brothers River

ÆQU

I*

Brick

yard Cutof

f

4567387 9:;124

4567381

9:;129C

9:;129A

Van Horn Landing

ÆQ!y

Copyright:© 2014 Esri0 0.6 1.2 1.8 2.4 30.3 Miles

¯

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

StMar ksRive 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 (check with Torreya State Park to see if open)

N30.6248 W84.9030

East side of river

98 POI, PC (small site)—Aspalaga blue springs run

N30.6141 W84.9247

West side of river; can hike to spring 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 W85.0400

East side of river, camping allowed; large sandbar across river is also a good 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 (note: check first to see if site has reopened from Hurricane Michael)

N29.9884 W85.0141

1.5 miles up Owl Creek on right. U.S. Forest Service campground; no electricity.

19 POI, B—Prospect Bluff Historic Sites (note: check first to see if site has reopened from Hurricane Michael)

N29.9383 W85.0122

East side of river; site of 1816 battle between United States and free blacks, runaway slaves and Seminole Indians.

16 PC, PI—Van Horn Landing; call 850-265-3676 for free camping permit.

N29.8958 W85.0117

East side of river

15 POI, PI, PC—Bloody Bluff Landing; call 850-265-3676 for free camping permit.

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 23186 Blue Star Hwy,

Medical Center 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