Using This Guide

This guide is divided into 13 sections. Each Latitude and longitude lines are indicated in 12 section is approximately 5 miles long. The white (see next page for complete legend). detailed maps contain mileage figures and GPS points. Distances on the map are approximate. Charted oyster bars and shoals are indicated Your results may vary. with dashed lines.

Each section contains interpretive information Phone icons note locations where you might find about the rich cultural and natural history of emergency help. the region you are passing through. Water droplet icons note where you can GPS coordinates are provided for campsites and replenish water supplies and how much to side trips. obtain.

Photos of navigational aids are included where Campsites are indicated with a tent icon. helpful. Legend for map panels

13 1 - Econfina River

The Aucilla River is an appropriate embarking point for the Saltwater Paddling Trail. It is scenic, Proceed downstream from the untamed and teeming with life. Aucilla ramp about 3 miles to the mouth of the river. Turn SE and In winter, you may encounter follow the coastline about 4 miles numerous anglers trying to catch to the entrance light of the redfish and trout. These and other Econfina River. Turn NE and Gulf fish seek refuge in the river proceed upstream about 2 miles. during cooler months. As the Aucilla widens and spills into Look for a campsite sign on the the Gulf of Mexico, the trail veers west side of the river. Or you may Native people, too, once came here southeast along seemingly endless paddle upstream another 0.4 miles to fish, navigating the river and 14 vistas of salt marsh and cabbage to the Econfina Boat Ramp. Walk coast in dugout canoes. In fact, the palm hammock. In October, you to the store to get information Aucilla Sinks, an area upstream might spot monarch butterflies about the private campground. If where the river channel disappears fluttering overhead on their you have time, paddle up the and reappears in a series of southerly migrations. Flocks of white beautiful Econfina River on a high sinkholes, is where ’s oldest pelicans often zoom past in winter tide, or try one of the park's hiking human artifacts have been found. months, and great egrets, white as trails. Be sure to leave Econfina Through underwater archaeological snowflakes, dot marshy expanses with 2 gallons of water per excavations, we have learned a year-round. person; next re-supply is at Spring great deal about Florida’s Paleo- Warrior Creek. Indians, the people who lived here ten thousand to fourteen thousand years ago. 15 2 Econfina River - Rock Island Campsite

Like the Aucilla, the Econfina is an warriors along the Econfina River, unspoiled blackwater river. killing thirty-seven, and then marched Decomposing leaves and swamp to confront the large Seminole Return to the Gulf (about 2.4 miles vegetation release tannins, which villages along the lower Suwannee downstream from the Econfina give the water its coffee-colored tint. River. Jackson’s raids later became Boat Ramp or about 2 miles from known as the First Seminole War. the Econfina Campsite); then If you paddle upriver, you’ll glide proceed SE along the coast about 8 beneath canopies of cypress, gum, After Jackson left, Creeks and miles to Rock Island, the larger of cedar and huge arching live oaks. In Seminoles reclaimed their Big Bend two small offshore islands. Look the warmer months, scan the coastal homes and vigorously fought for a narrow rocky cove on the shoreline for tall white flowers of to remain during the Second Seminole north shoreline to access the duck potato, iridescent swamp lilies, War of the late 1830s and 1840s. A camping area. purple spires of pickerel weed and fort was built on the Econfina River, 16 striking red cardinal flowers. You along with forts on the Fenholloway As a side trip you may wish to visit might also spot otters, wading birds, and Steinhatchee rivers, as part of the the Hickory Mound Impoundment alligators and white-tailed deer. United States war effort. Most of the (see inset). Seminoles were killed, relocated west, The Econfina River figured heavily driven south into the or in the Seminole Indian wars. In April dispersed into the backwoods; then, 1818, seeking to capture escaped white settlers moved in. slaves and to punish Seminoles for raids into Georgia, General Andrew Jackson marched through the region with more than three thousand militia and Creek Indian allies. He skirmished with chief Peter McQueen’s band of two hundred Cardinal flower 17