Ichetucknee Springs State Park - Ichetucknee River

• ▸Ichetucknee combines iconic spring scenery with unusually important operational details - entrance capacity, launch closing times, shuttle logistics and strict river-protection rules.

• North Boat Launch down to Dampier's Landing

  Beginner
  One way (shuttle)· Shuttle required· Timing matters

  Put in at North Boat Launch, take out at Dampier's Landing.

  Why it is rated this way

  • –Continuous downstream drift on shallow, clear spring water
  • –No motorised craft anywhere on the river
  • –Narrow enough that a bank is always close

  Duration: Governed by the launch closures rather than paddling speed

  The North Boat Launch closes at 3 p.m., Dampier's Landing at 5 p.m., and everyone must be off the river by 6 p.m. The clock, not the water, decides whether this run is possible.

  Distance between these two specific launches is not stated by the park and must not be inferred from the river's overall length DESK RESEARCH 2026-08-26: still no distance. Two sourced mile markers conflict - one places Dampier’s Landing at the 2-mile mark, while the park places the South Entrance at Mile 3.0 with the Dampier’s Landing trail a quarter mile from it, which would put the landing nearer 2.75. The conflict is preserved rather than averaged. The park does state that a 3.5-mile run takes about two hours, which describes the full river rather than this segment.

  Help verify this route

  Have you paddled North Boat Launch down to Dampier's Landing?

  • How far was this route if you tracked it?Report the distance — How far was this route if you tracked it?
  • How long did it take you, and at what pace?Report the time — How long did it take you, and at what pace?

• Dampier's Landing out-and-back

  Not yet rated
  Out and back· Timing matters

  Put in at Dampier's Landing.

  Duration: Shorter option; not separately timed

  Dampier's Landing closes at 5 p.m. and the river must be cleared by 6 p.m.

  The Directory's Route Type names out-and-back variants without describing them. Recorded so the variant is not lost, with everything unestablished flagged.

  Help verify this route

  Have you paddled Dampier's Landing out-and-back?

  • How difficult did this route actually feel?Rate the difficulty — How difficult did this route actually feel?
  • What made this route easy or hard — current, distance, wind, navigation?Say what made it hard — What made this route easy or hard — current, distance, wind, navigation?
  • How far was this route if you tracked it?Report the distance — How far was this route if you tracked it?
  • How long did it take you, and at what pace?Report the time — How long did it take you, and at what pace?

Exposure

Sheltered spring-fed river with steady downstream flow

Seasonal

High visitation can close the park even for visitors with rental reservations or digital day-passes. Midpoint Tube Launch is closed for repairs, but paddling remains available from North and Dampier's.

Best time of day

Morning preferred, especially for North Launch and longer routes

Reservations & permits

Entry is first-come, first-served; advance payment does not guarantee entry. Concession rentals/shuttle subject to daily limits and availability.

• Strong current

  Downstream current

• Other

  park-capacity closures

• Other

  strict river-item rules

• Deadfall and strainers

  takeout/shuttle logistics

• Wildlife

  wildlife

Plan the takeout before launching and comply with strict river-protection rules: no disposable items, food or coolers on the river. Do not rely on advance payment to guarantee park entry during capacity closures.

• Paddling Adventures at Ichetucknee Springs

  Rentals
  High confidence

• Treat route variants as separate future PaddlePin routes. Current official materials differ on the exact North-to-South mileage, so do not lock a single distance until reconciled or field-validated.

  High confidence

• Best Time of Day: Morning preferred, especially for North Launch and longer routes

  High confidence

• Safety Notes: Plan the takeout before launching and comply with strict river-protection rules: no disposable items, food or coolers on the river. Do not rely on advance payment to guarantee park entry during capacity closures.

  High confidence

1. Primary source — Florida State Parks, read August 26, 2026
2. Secondary source — Florida State Parks, read August 26, 2026

• Florida Spring Runs: Which One Fits Your Group?

  Seven Florida spring runs compared by route shape, published distance, access rules and season, so you can pick the paddle that fits your group and your day.