FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sept. 17, 2014
STEINHATCHEE RIVER
DESIGNATED FLORIDA’S 50TH STATE PADDLING TRAIL
 Paddler enjoying the Steinhatchee River. Photo Credit: Steve Cournoyer
PERRY – With the addition of the Steinhatchee River, Florida now has 50 state paddling trails. The Florida
Department of Environmental Protection’s Office of Greenways & Trails designated
the Steinhatchee River during the Taylor County Commission meeting on Sept.
16. The Florida Paddling Trails Association also presented signs designating
the communities of Keaton Beach and Steinhatchee as “Blueway Communities.”
“We are proud to add the Steinhatchee River as
our 50th designated state paddling trail,” said Florida State Park
Director Donald Forgione. “Designation of the river creates well-deserved
recognition of this excellent destination for paddling, fishing and wildlife
viewing and will promote sustainable tourism and boost the economy for the local
communities.”
The scenic
Steinhatchee River is the latest of Florida’s outstanding waterways to be designated
a state paddling trail. The river’s spring-fed,
tea-colored water meanders through a shady corridor of moss-draped trees
flanking the river. It widens gradually as it flows through the
colorful fishing villages of Steinhatchee and Jena before joining the Gulf of
Mexico. The roughly eight-mile designated portion begins just below the historic
Steinhatchee Falls, which has been an accessible river crossing for countless
travelers through the ages.
Wagon ruts can still be seen today where Native
Americans, Spanish explorers and early settlers crossed the shallow limestone
shelf that creates the low, cascading waterfall. Steinhatchee Falls offers a pleasant picnic area and
hand-launch access for small fishing boats, canoes and kayaks. There is also a three-mile,
multi-use trail that can be enjoyed by hikers, off-road cyclists and
those seeking vibrant seasonal wildflowers and wildlife.
Fishing from a boat or kayak is an interesting
prospect for anglers, as both freshwater and saltwater species may be
encountered depending upon the stretch of river. Delicious “pan fish” abound in
the upper stretches of the Steinhatchee, while saltwater species appear as the
river mingles with the Gulf waters. Improved boat ramps on both sides of the
river in the towns of Steinhatchee and Jena mark the lower end of the paddling
trail and provide good access for all types of boaters.
Visitors are urged to bring binoculars and a
camera to capture photos of the wildlife frequently seen along the river
corridor and the Gulf coastline. In the fall, colorful monarchs and other
butterflies feed upon wildflowers as they migrate southward. Spectacular flocks
of white pelicans and other migrating birds are supported by vast tracts of
public conservation land that bracket the Steinhatchee River, providing
critical habitat for an array of wildlife species inland and along the
coastline.
For maps and information about the new paddling
trail click here.
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