Lake Miccosukee

Lake Miccosukee is a shallow prairie lake of about 6,257 acres. It forms the border between Jefferson and Leon counties in north Florida. Most of the lake lies in Jefferson County, and its northwest corner is in Leon County, near the community of Miccosukee. U.S. Highway 90 crosses its south end about 6.5 miles west of Monticello. In the past the lake drained through sinkholes and sometimes went nearly dry. An active sinkhole at the north end connects it to the Floridan Aquifer. In 1954 an earthen dike, a concrete spillway and a gate were built around the northern sinkhole, and a wooden weir was built at the southern end to hold water in the lake. The lake once connected to the St. Marks River at its south end, but that link now runs underground. The lake's drainage basin covers 147,861 acres.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) maintains the Lake Miccosukee South ramp on U.S. 90. Other public launches include Hopkins Landing, Cypress Landing and Reeves Landing. Reeves Landing is a Leon County site whose ramp is open 24 hours a day. During the regular duck season, state rules ban internal combustion engines of more than 10 horsepower on the lake. During that season, waterfowl hunting there is allowed only on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

After the lake level was stabilized, plants came to cover as much as 80% of its surface. During the 1999 drought, part of the lake was drained, some areas were dug out and part of the bottom was burned. Another drawdown followed in 2012. In 2026 the FWC held public meetings about managing the lake during a natural dry-down that was underway.