Wacissa River - Wacissa Springs to Nutall Rise
Panhandle · Jefferson County · Wacissa River / Aucilla River
The full 15-mile Wacissa River paddling trail from crystal Wacissa Springs down through Goose Pasture and the wild Slave Canal to Nutall Rise on the Aucilla - a remote, navigation-heavy Big Bend classic.
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 — Wacissa Springs launch30.34020, -83.99110
- Open launch map — Goose Pasture Recreation Area launch30.20310, -83.96920
- Open launch map — Nutall Rise Landing30.14750, -83.96890
Why paddle here
- One of Florida's wildest spring-fed trails: from the clear boils of Wacissa Springs the river braids 15 miles through swamp and the hand-dug Slave Canal to Nutall Rise, ending on the tannic Aucilla in deep Big Bend wilderness.
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.
Wacissa Springs launch
Main launch- Launch type
- Spring-run put-in
- Access
- Public access
- Put-in
- 30.34020, -83.99110· 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 clear spring-run put-in for Wacissa trips, from short out-and-backs to the full through-paddle.
Goose Pasture Recreation Area launch
- Launch type
- Mid-trail river access
- Access
- Public access
- Put-in
- 30.20310, -83.96920· 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 mid-trail access at Goose Pasture, used to shorten the trip or stage the Slave Canal section.
Nutall Rise Landing
- Launch type
- Terminal take-out on the Aucilla
- Access
- Public access
- Put-in
- 30.14750, -83.96890· 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 terminal take-out on the Aucilla River at the downstream end of the Wacissa trail.
Routes
Difficulty belongs to the route, not the location. One place can offer a beginner loop and an advanced crossing.
Wacissa Springs to Big Blue Spring and back
Not yet ratedOut and back· 1 mi each wayPut in at Wacissa Springs launch.
The short outing from the headsprings: paddle down the clear spring run to Big Blue Spring, a popular swimming hole, then come back to the same launch - no shuttle needed. The state paddling guide places Big Blue about a mile downstream from the put-in. It is off the main channel on your left going downstream, through a short side run with two large cypress trees at the entrance.
Help verify this route
Have you paddled Wacissa Springs to Big Blue Spring and back (1 mi)?
- 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?
- How difficult did this route actually feel?Rate the difficulty — How difficult did this route actually feel?
Wacissa Springs to Nutall Rise
Not yet ratedOne way (shuttle)· 15 mi· Shuttle requiredPut in at Wacissa Springs launch, take out at Nutall Rise Landing.
A 15-mile one-way trail from Wacissa Springs through Goose Pasture and the narrow, braided Slave Canal to Nutall Rise Landing on the Aucilla. Navigation is demanding and tide matters near the end - carry a map, GPS and compass and start early.
Help verify this route
Have you paddled Wacissa Springs to Nutall Rise (15 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
- Minor factor
Planning
- Exposure
- Sheltered spring-run to remote swamp and tidal lower river
- Seasonal
- Spring-fed flow year-round; the Slave Canal can be low, blocked or hard to follow. Summer heat, insects and storms; check water levels before a through-trip.
- Best time of day
- Early morning start
- Reservations & permits
- None; shuttle required for the through-trip
Hazards
Easy to get lost
Complex navigation and route-finding in the Slave Canal
Tidal timing matters
tide near the lower river
Other
downed timber
Limited cell service
heat, insects and remoteness with limited bailouts.
This is a remote, navigation-intensive trip. The Slave Canal braids through swamp and is easy to lose; downed timber and low water can block the way, and tide affects the lower river. Carry a map, GPS and compass, tell someone your plan, and allow plenty of daylight. Nutall Rise Landing is the terminal take-out on the Aucilla.
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
- Rentals
Kayak, canoe, paddleboard and clear-kayak rentals, open every day from sunrise to sunset. They launch rental boats at the headwaters and pick them up there after your paddle, and every rental comes with life jackets, paddles and a whistle.
High confidence
PaddlePin tips
For a short first paddle, go from the headsprings down to Big Blue Spring and back. The state paddling guide places it about a mile downstream and calls it a favorite swimming hole. Look for it on your left going downstream, through a short side run with two large cypress trees at the entrance.
Medium confidenceRenting is optional. Wacissa Springs County Park is a public launch, so you can bring your own kayak, canoe or paddleboard. If you would rather rent, Jesse's Canoe & Kayak Rental is one local option; they launch and pick up rental boats at the headwaters.
High confidenceThe full trail is a committing 15-mile point-to-point ending at Nutall Rise Landing on the Aucilla. The Slave Canal section is narrow, braided and easy to lose - carry a map, GPS and compass, watch the tide near the lower end, and start early. Goose Pasture, at mile 10, is the access point that splits the trip.
High confidenceBest Time of Day: Early morning start
High confidenceSafety Notes: This is a remote, navigation-intensive trip. The Slave Canal braids through swamp and is easy to lose; downed timber and low water can block the way, and tide affects the lower river. Carry a map, GPS and compass, tell someone your plan, and allow plenty of daylight. Nutall Rise Landing is the terminal take-out on the Aucilla.
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
- Jesse's Canoe & Kayak Rental - rentals and headwaters launch — wacissariverrentals.com, read
- Jesse's Canoe & Kayak Rental - owner phone call with PaddlePin (24 September 2026) — Jesse's Canoe & Kayak Rental, read
Nearby paddling
Panhandle · Jefferson County · Wacissa River
A hand-launch river access and primitive campground at mile 10 of the Wacissa River Paddling Trail, run by the Suwannee River Water Management District: the downstream take-out for trips from Wacissa Springs and the start of the Slave Canal run to Nutall Rise.
Wakulla River - Upper Bridge to Lower Bridge
Beginner routePanhandle · Wakulla County · Wakulla River
A clear, spring-fed wildlife paddle below Wakulla Springs with gentle current, two public launch choices and an easy 4-mile designated trail between Upper and Lower Bridge.
Panhandle · Wakulla County · Ochlockonee River
Two defined loops of about seven and a half miles each, the Dead River and Sopchoppy loop and the Bear Creek loop, through a tidal creek and estuary environment.