(Keywords: Paddling - Florida)

Ichetucknee

Featuring:
Clear Springs and Cypress Swamps

Paddling the etherea ichetucknee river Experience ethereal Florida while floating on the crystal clear waters of the Ichetucknee. From the head spring to the its confluence with the Santa Fe River, the Ichetucknee flows 6 miles, averaging 20 feet wide and 8 feet deep, through pristine wetlands, hardwood hammock and limestone outcrops.

The entire length of the Ichetucknee lies within the boundaries of Ichetucknee Springs State Park, where visitors can enjoy tubing, canoeing, swimming, picnicking, hiking, wildlife viewing, and snorkeling. Certified cave divers can SCUBA dive in the Blue Hole October through March.

Click on the binoculars to see a Google Earth image of the entire length of the Ichetucknee and surrounding area.
GoogleEarth_Image.jpg (Approx. 70 KB) opens in a new window.

GPS Map

Download the free GPS Map in GPS eXchange (.gpx) file format, which can be read and transferred to your GPS using free GPS software. (The .gpx file will appear in a new window where you can File > Save as... on your computer)

GPS Map Details

File Name: ichetucknee.gpx (38 KB)
Revised: 14 August 2008
Datum: WGS84
Class A1 Data Classification
Tracks: water trail, float trip within ISSP boundaries.
Waypoints: Twelve (12) points of interest (rentals, park entrance, put-in, take-out, springs)

Suggested Itineraries

Ichetucknee Headspring to South Park - 4-miles, 2 hours
Entire length of the Ichetucknee plus 6-miles on the Sante Fe - 12 miles, 5 hours
Hwy 27 Bridge to Hwy 129 Bridge - 7-1/2 mile, 4 hours

More Info

Picnicing is permited in the Ichetucknee Springs Start Park, but food, drinks, and tobacco products are not permitted on the river. In season, arrive early as the number of visitors is limited. I recomend the off-season ( from Tuesday after Labor Day thru the Friday before Memorial Day ) when the crowds are gone.

Ichetucknee Family Canoe & Cabins rents canoes, kayaks, canoes, and tubes. Located 1/4 mile west of the park's north entrance, IFCC store has picnic supplies in case you forget sun screen.

References

Special thanks to Bill Collins for supplying local knowledge for this trip. Bill grew up near the Ichetucknee and has many great stores about working on the family's central Florida farm and cooling off in the many nearby swimming holes.