Florida has 2 designated Wild and Scenic Rivers protecting 42.8 miles across 18 segments administered entirely by the National Park Service. The Wekiva Wild and Scenic River runs 38.1 miles through Orange, Lake, and Seminole counties in Central Florida, while the shorter Loxahatchee Wild and Scenic River covers 4.7 miles in Palm Beach County near Jonathan Dickinson State Park. Together they represent Florida’s entire contribution to the federal Wild and Scenic system — a subtropical pocket in a heavily developed state where spring-fed blackwater and tannic cypress runs hold surprising ecological value. Click any segment on the map for classification and agency details.
Wild and Scenic Rivers in Florida at a Glance
Florida’s two designated rivers reflect the ecological poles of the state: the Wekiva system in the Central Florida karst highlands, fed by springs that maintain a steady 68°F year-round, and the Loxahatchee in the subtropical southeast, a tannic blackwater tributary of the Loxahatchee Slough within Jonathan Dickinson State Park. Both were designated under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, with the Loxahatchee among the earlier eastern designations and the Wekiva system added later as urban pressure in the Orlando corridor intensified. The National Park Service administers all 18 segments across both rivers, working in close partnership with Florida State Parks and the St. Johns River Water Management District to protect the springs and wetland corridors that define each system.
Classification Breakdown
| Classification | Segments | Protected Miles |
|---|---|---|
| Wild | 7 | 26.8 |
| Scenic | 5 | 8.4 |
| Recreational | 6 | 7.6 |
Wild segments dominate Florida’s designated mileage, covering the most remote and least-accessed reaches of both rivers where shoreline vegetation is largely undisturbed and canoe access replaces road access. Scenic and Recreational segments are found closer to park entry points and launch sites, where limited development or road crossings are present but the overall corridor character remains natural.
Managing Agencies
| Agency | Segments | Miles |
|---|---|---|
| National Park Service | 18 | 42.8 |
The National Park Service manages both rivers in coordination with Florida state agencies. The Wekiva system sits within the Wekiva River Protection Area, a state-designated buffer that limits impervious surface development across a broad surrounding watershed. The Loxahatchee is administered through the South Florida Natural Areas office and forms the core water feature of Jonathan Dickinson State Park, which surrounds it on both banks.
Longest Designated Rivers in Florida
| River | Miles | Segments | Classification | Agency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wekiva Wild and Scenic River | 38.1 | 14 | Recreational / Scenic / Wild | NPS |
| Loxahatchee Wild and Scenic River | 4.7 | 4 | Recreational / Scenic / Wild | NPS |
Visiting the Designated Reaches
The Wekiva Wild and Scenic River is best accessed by canoe or kayak from the Wekiwa Springs State Park put-in north of Apopka, or from the Rock Springs Run entry north of the main spring. The 14-segment system includes Rock Springs Run and its tributaries, which flow through a mosaic of subtropical hardwood swamp, sandhills, and spring-run habitat. Paddlers report seeing river otters, wading birds, and Florida black bears along the more remote Wild segments. The Loxahatchee is reached via canoe trail from Jonathan Dickinson State Park near Hobe Sound; guided river tours are available from the park outfitter, and the upper tannic reach above the Trapper Nelson homestead site is classified Wild for its undisturbed cypress and cabbage palm swamp. Both rivers support populations of Florida bass, bluegill, and, in the Wekiva system, a remnant run of striped mullet that use the spring-fed corridor as thermal refuge in winter.
Maps for Neighboring States
Florida shares borders with two states, both of which have designated Wild and Scenic rivers: Alabama (Sipsey Fork of the West Fork) and Georgia (Chattooga). For the full national picture, see our US Wild and Scenic Rivers map covering all 249 rivers across 42 states and Puerto Rico.
Data Sources
River segment geometry, classification, mileage, and managing-agency attributes come from the US Forest Service Enterprise Data Warehouse, specifically the National Wild and Scenic River Segments dataset jointly maintained by the USFS, NPS, BLM, and US Fish and Wildlife Service. Source service: USFS EDW Wild Scenic River Segments. Authoritative national index: rivers.gov. State recreation and fish-management context: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida State Parks, and the South Florida Natural Areas NPS office.
