Steinhatchee River - Steinhatchee Falls to the Coast
Central Florida & Springs · Taylor County · Steinhatchee River
A 6-to-7-mile paddle down the tannic Steinhatchee River from Steinhatchee Falls to the coastal town, with boat-ramp take-outs at Steinhatchee and Jena where the river meets the Gulf.
Launch location
A close map of the verified put-in, and a link to open it in your maps app for directions.
- Open launch map — Steinhatchee Falls launch29.74609, -83.34239
- Open launch map — Steinhatchee Boat Ramp29.67145, -83.39046
- Open launch map — Jena Boat Ramp29.67014, -83.38910
Why paddle here
- A Big Bend river run from the limestone shoal at Steinhatchee Falls down to the Gulf-coast fishing town, ending at easy boat-ramp take-outs at Steinhatchee or Jena on opposite banks of the river mouth.
Launches, parking and access
Where you actually put the boat in, how far you carry it and over what. This is the part official sources are worst at, so it is the part we say most plainly — including where we do not know yet.
Steinhatchee Falls launch
Main launch- Launch type
- River put-in at the falls
- Access
- Public access
- Put-in
- 29.74609, -83.34239· open in Maps
- Fees
None
High confidence- Parking
- High confidence
- Carry to the water
- Carry not yet measured
Nobody has checked this yet.Report the carry — How far did you carry your boat from the parking area to the water?
- How hard that carry is
- Not yet assessed
Nobody has checked this yet.Rate the carry — How hard was that carry with a loaded boat?
- Ground you cross
- Not yet recorded
Nobody has checked this yet.Describe the ground — What did you cross on the way — pavement, sand, stairs, loose trail?
- Boat cart
- Not yet assessed
Nobody has checked this yet.Report cart use — Could you use a boat cart the whole way, or did you have to carry?
- Unloading
- Not yet assessed
Nobody has checked this yet.Report unloading — Could you unload beside the water before parking, or carry the whole way?
- Restrooms and rinse
- Not yet measured from the launch
Nobody has checked this yet.Report facilities — How close are the restrooms and showers to this launch?
The upstream put-in at the limestone shoal of Steinhatchee Falls.
Steinhatchee Boat Ramp
- Launch type
- Town boat-ramp take-out
- Access
- Public access
- Put-in
- 29.67145, -83.39046· open in Maps
- Fees
None
High confidence- Parking
- High confidence
- Carry to the water
- Carry not yet measured
Nobody has checked this yet.Report the carry — How far did you carry your boat from the parking area to the water?
- How hard that carry is
- Not yet assessed
Nobody has checked this yet.Rate the carry — How hard was that carry with a loaded boat?
- Ground you cross
- Not yet recorded
Nobody has checked this yet.Describe the ground — What did you cross on the way — pavement, sand, stairs, loose trail?
- Boat cart
- Not yet assessed
Nobody has checked this yet.Report cart use — Could you use a boat cart the whole way, or did you have to carry?
- Unloading
- Not yet assessed
Nobody has checked this yet.Report unloading — Could you unload beside the water before parking, or carry the whole way?
- Restrooms and rinse
- Not yet measured from the launch
Nobody has checked this yet.Report facilities — How close are the restrooms and showers to this launch?
A town boat-ramp take-out near the river mouth.
Jena Boat Ramp
- Launch type
- Alternate boat-ramp take-out
- Access
- Public access
- Put-in
- 29.67014, -83.38910· open in Maps
- Fees
None
High confidence- Parking
- High confidence
- Carry to the water
- Carry not yet measured
Nobody has checked this yet.Report the carry — How far did you carry your boat from the parking area to the water?
- How hard that carry is
- Not yet assessed
Nobody has checked this yet.Rate the carry — How hard was that carry with a loaded boat?
- Ground you cross
- Not yet recorded
Nobody has checked this yet.Describe the ground — What did you cross on the way — pavement, sand, stairs, loose trail?
- Boat cart
- Not yet assessed
Nobody has checked this yet.Report cart use — Could you use a boat cart the whole way, or did you have to carry?
- Unloading
- Not yet assessed
Nobody has checked this yet.Report unloading — Could you unload beside the water before parking, or carry the whole way?
- Restrooms and rinse
- Not yet measured from the launch
Nobody has checked this yet.Report facilities — How close are the restrooms and showers to this launch?
A boat-ramp take-out on the Jena bank opposite Steinhatchee, an alternative terminal.
Routes
Difficulty belongs to the route, not the location. One place can offer a beginner loop and an advanced crossing.
Steinhatchee Falls to the Coast
Not yet ratedOne way (shuttle)· 6–7 mi· Shuttle requiredPut in at Steinhatchee Falls launch, take out at Steinhatchee Boat Ramp.
A 6-to-7-mile one-way run from Steinhatchee Falls to the coast, taking out at the Steinhatchee or Jena boat ramp. The lower river is tidal - check the tide, wind and gauge.
Help verify this route
Have you paddled Steinhatchee Falls to the Coast (6–7 mi)?
- How long did it take you, and at what pace?Report the time — How long did it take you, and at what pace?
- How difficult did this route actually feel?Rate the difficulty — How difficult did this route actually feel?
What conditions do here
How much each factor typically governs a trip at this location.
These are not live conditions. This describes how much each factor typically governs a trip here. Always check the current forecast, tide table and river level before you launch.
- Wind
- Plan around it
- Current
- Not yet assessed
- Tide
- Plan around it
- Boat traffic
- Plan around it
Planning
- Exposure
- Sheltered upper river to tidal, wind-exposed lower river near the Gulf
- Seasonal
- Tannic flow year-round; tide and wind govern the lower river. Check the gauge - low water near the falls, wind near the coast.
- Best time of day
- Morning, with a favorable tide
- Reservations & permits
- None; shuttle required
Hazards
Tidal timing matters
Tidal current and Gulf wind near the mouth
Oyster bars / shallows
exposed rock/shoal near the falls at low water
Motorboat traffic
boat traffic near the ramps.
The lower Steinhatchee is tidal and open to Gulf wind near the mouth; time your trip with the tide and check the river gauge. Rock and shoal are exposed near Steinhatchee Falls at low water.
Amenities and craft
Craft suited to this water
Bringing your own boat: Yes
Amenities
- Restrooms — not recorded
- Showers — not recorded
- Picnic area — not recorded
- Food nearby — not recorded
- Drinking water — not recorded
What you will see
Rentals and outfitters
No outfitter recorded here. Bring your own boat, or check nearby locations.
PaddlePin tips
Put in at Steinhatchee Falls and take out at the Steinhatchee or Jena boat ramp, about 6 to 7 miles down. The lower river is tidal, so check the tide and wind and the river gauge before you go - low water exposes rock near the falls and a rising tide slows the final stretch.
High confidenceBest Time of Day: Morning, with a favorable tide
High confidenceSafety Notes: The lower Steinhatchee is tidal and open to Gulf wind near the mouth; time your trip with the tide and check the river gauge. Rock and shoal are exposed near Steinhatchee Falls at low water.
High confidence
Been here? Help keep it accurate
PaddlePin is researched from official sources. Paddlers who have actually been are how it stays true.
Contributions are reviewed before anything on this page changes. PaddlePin stays the researched directory — your report is evidence we check, not an edit to it.
Sources
Where this information came from, and when we last read it.
- Primary source — floridadep.gov, read
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