Yellow River

The Yellow River, once known as the Chester River or the Middle River, starts in Covington County, Alabama. It runs southwest through Okaloosa and Santa Rosa counties in Florida and empties into Blackwater Bay, an arm of Pensacola Bay. Wikipedia gives its length as 118 miles. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission gives it as 92 miles, with 61 of those miles in Florida. The upper river drains the highest ground in Florida, so its current is faster than on most north Florida rivers. Limestone banks upstream give way to sand and gravel banks downstream, and the lower river deepens and slows through cypress and gum swamps. The Shoal River joins it near Crestview.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection manages a 54-mile designated paddling trail that runs from the CR 2 bridge near Oak Grove to the SR 87 bridge. Okaloosa County runs Milligan-Yellow River Park on Ellis Road near Baker, which has limited boat-trailer parking. The county also runs Guest Lake Park and Oak Grove Park. The Northwest Florida Water Management District runs Reedy Landing, Parkerville Ramp and Fisher Old Mill in the Yellow River Water Management Area. The district notes that the river at Reedy Landing may be shallow and suits only canoes, kayaks and small boats. Below US 90, much of the south bank belongs to Eglin Air Force Base. Visitors aged 16 and older need an Eglin permit and photo ID to use its landings, including Metts Bluff, Gin Hole, Carr, Basin Island and Broxson Branch. Below US 90, paddlers are more likely to meet powerboat traffic.

The river provides habitat for the green sturgeon, the Okaloosa darter and endemic mayflies. Milligan was the first county seat of Okaloosa County when the county was created in 1915.