Connecting Paddlers to Florida's Water Trails
Welcome to the Florida Paddling Trails Association (FPTA). We are the steward of Florida's paddling trails. FPTA's mission is to develop and maintain water trails, protect the environment along those trails, serve as a resource and voice for paddlers, and promote paddling safety." Read more
Our website has information on most water trails in the state including the longest paddling trail in the continental United States, the Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail (CT). You can find details on day paddles, campsites, launches, sights to see, and facilities along the trails by clicking on the Paddling Trails link on the top menu bar, under Paddling.
Trail of the Month
Cedar Creek / Deer Point Lake
Submitted by Steve Cournoyer, Region C Co-Director
Cedar Creek / Deer Point Lake Paddle Details
Description: Cedar Creek flows into Deer Point Lake, a 5,000 acre dammed impoundment located 7 miles north of Panama City off US 231 and SR 77 at Southport. It supplies more than 760 million gallons of fresh water daily to Panama City and the surrounding ar-eas. Cedar Creek starts off fairly wide and gradually tapers to a narrow steam, ending in a swampy cypress area. For the more adventurous in small boats, you can paddle to the left and right of the swampy area another 1/4 mile or so each way. There are a few scattered homes once up the creek. Eagles are commonly seen on the creek, as well as wading birds and migratory waterfowl during the winter months. Gators are occasionally seen. The first part of the paddle is through scenic cypress stumps, and patches of hydrilla. This end of the lake is the most scenic.
Skill Level: Novice/Intermediate
Distance/Approximate Time: 6.1 Miles/ 3 Hours
Launch Site: Deer Point Lake - Bayhead North Ramp
Takeout Site: This is an out and back paddle
Special Considerations: Be careful when paddling in the cypress stumps because there are many just under the surface, and it’s easy to paddle right up on top of them.
Trip planning: In addition to weather, planning for your trip should include tide and wind forecasts. When Trip planning, please see our Paddling Resources > Planning Tools page - https://www.floridapaddlingtrails.com/planning-tools
For more information: go to: https://www.floridapaddlingtrails.com/s3epdpl-day-paddles