O: Peace/Kissimmee

O: Peace/Kissimmee

Several state designated paddling trails such as the Wekiva River / Rock Springs Run and Econlockhatchee River are included in the upper part of this region. Below Orlando, the interconnected Kissimmee Chain-of-Lakes mark the beginning of the Everglades system.

31: Peace River

The Peace River originates at the juncture of Saddle Creek and Peace Creek northeast of Bartow in Polk County and flows south through Fort Meade (Polk County) Hardee County to Arcadia in DeSoto County and then southwest into the Charlotte Harbor estuary at Punta Gorda in Charlotte County. It is 106 miles long.

The Peace River is a popular destination for both paddlers and fossil hunters who dig and sift the river gravel for fossilized shark teeth and prehistoric mammal bones. There were many Pleistocene and Miocene fossils found throughout the Peace River area, eventually leading to the discovery of phosphate deposits. Several campgrounds and canoe rental operations cater to fossil hunters, with Wauchula, Zolfo Springs, and Arcadia being the main points of entry.

Econlockhatchee (19 miles)

Florida Cities: Lakeland, Polk City, Auburndale, Winter Haven, Bartow, Wauchula, Arcadia

Contact: Contact our Region O Director or Trailkeeper for more information by clicking here.

Launch Sites

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Day Paddles and Overnight Camping Trip Maps

Areas

Multiday Trail Maps None at Present

Emergency Contacts

32: Kissimmee Chain of Lakes and Kissimmee River

Emerging from busy Orlando, the tannin-tinted Shingle Creek marks the beginning of the Everglades system. It feeds into the massive Lake Toho, the first of several lakes that are connected by either canals or natural passageways. Eventually, the lakes feed into the Kissimmee River and then Lake Okeechobee and the "River of Grass."

Osceola County has been spearheading development of the 1,000-plus acre Shingle Creek Regional Park. Besides hiking and biking trails and historic buildings, the Shingle Creek Paddling Trail will eventually allow paddlers to access Lake Toho and the publicly-owned Makinson Island. Long distance paddlers may wish to begin a multi-day trip all the way to Lake Okeechobee and beyond from Shingle Creek, camping at fish camps and on public land. The routes haven't been fully scoped out for long distance paddlers, but the opportunities are there. Reedy Creek and other area waterways offer other promising opportunities for paddlers.

Florida Cities: Kissimmee, St. Cloud, Lake Wales, Avon Park, Sebring, Celebration, Davenport

Contact: Contact our Region O Director or Trailkeeper for more information by clicking here.

Launch Sites

Emergency Contacts

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N: Orlando