Kissimmee River Public Use Area

Managed in cooperation with South Florida Water Management District.

Kissimmee River PUA consists of more than 30,000 acres along the Kissimmee River from SR 60 south to Lake Okeechobee. Portions of the area are in Glades, Highlands, Okeechobee, Osceola, and Polk counties. Access is primarily by boat and is facilitated by a number of boat ramps within the area. This land is part of the Kissimmee River restoration project authorized by the U.S. Congress in 1992. Kissimmee River restoration is a critical piece in the restoration of Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades. When completed, this project will restore 40 square miles of the river and its accompanying floodplain.

Deer hunting is expected to be excellent on this area, and hog and turkey hunting are expected to be good. Horses and camping are permitted on certain portions of the area only with a special-use license from the South Florida Water Management District (866) 433-6312.  Children under the age of 16 are required to wear a helmet when horseback riding on public lands. All horseback riders must have proof of current negative Coggins Test results for their horses when on state lands. Bicycles are allowed without permit. 

A portion of the Florida Trail traverses the area. Wildlife on the area include white-tailed deer, alligators, wild turkeys, gopher tortoises, and many species of wading birds.