Blackwater River

The Blackwater River is a 56.6-mile river that rises in southern Alabama and flows through the Florida Panhandle. Its drainage basin covers 880 square miles. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, its headwaters are in the Conecuh National Forest and 49 miles of the river lie in Florida. The river enters Florida in Okaloosa County and runs through Santa Rosa County to Blackwater Bay, an arm of Pensacola Bay. On the way it passes through Blackwater River State Forest and Blackwater River State Park, and it flows past Milton, the county seat of Santa Rosa County. The river has a sandy bottom, white beaches and large sandbars, and tannins color its water dark. It averages 2.5 feet deep and flows at 2 to 3 miles per hour. The water level can rise quickly after rain.

The Blackwater River Paddling Trail is a state-designated trail that covers 31 miles from Kennedy Bridge near Munson to Deaton Bridge in Blackwater River State Park. Its access points are Kennedy, Peadon, Cotton, Bryant and Deaton bridges and Johnson's Float. Cotton Bridge is a small county park with a hand-launch-only ramp, and its gates are locked one hour before sunset. Deaton Bridge is the end point for all trips because blockage downstream makes the river impassable below the bridge. Glass containers are prohibited on the river. On summer weekends the stretch between Bryant Bridge and the state park can become crowded with paddlers, tubers and swimmers. Public boat ramps on the upper river are at the state park and near Bryant Bridge. Ramps on the lower river are at Carpenter's Park and Russell Harber Landing in Milton and at a landing in Bagdad.

Anglers on the river catch largemouth bass, panfish and catfish. Fishing on the upper river depends on the water level, and high water makes it difficult to fish.