Steinhatchee Springs Wildlife Management Area occupies 20,909 acres along the Steinhatchee River that is owned by the Suwannee River Water Management District and jointly managed with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The Steinhatchee River flows 35 miles from swamps in Lafayette County, through Taylor and Dixie counties to the Gulf of Mexico. Just north of the town of Tennille, at the south portion of the Steinhatchee Springs WMA, the river goes underground and re-emerges about a half mile further south.

Most of the Steinhatchee Springs WMA is located in Lafayette County ... so not technically a part of Florida's "Nature Coast". For more details about Steinhatchee Falls and the Steinhatchee Rise Tracts - which are in Taylor and Dixie counties in the south portion of Steinhatchee Springs WMA, see the article devoted to those tracts.

Hunting is permitted within Steinhatchee Springs Wildlife Management Area, so it's important to check the dates for hunting seasons before venturing into the area off the marked trails. Some trails are suitable for off-road cycling as well as hiking. You may bring your dog on a leash. Horses must stay on the named or numbered roads.

There are numerous access points to the Steinhatchee Wildlife Management Area, primarily along SR51 between Mayo and Tennile. Other points of entry are available along CR357 and L.A. Bennett Grade in Lafayette County. Note that this wildlife management area is considered to be a "primitive tract" ... so there is no official visitor center. Our map and "Navigate" button below will take you one spot just north of Tennille where you can drive along a dirt road to the river. This access point, like many of the others, is an ungraded dirt/shell road (sometimes referred to as a "two-trail") that may not be suitable for all vehicles.Activities & Facilities

Picnic shelterDogs allowedShort hiking trailsLong hiking trailsMountain bike trailsHorse trailsRiver or lake kayakingHuntingFishing

• Suwannee River Water Management District website for Steinhatchee Springs
• Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission website for Steinhatchee Springs WMA
• Suwannee River Water Management District website for Steinhatchee Springs WMA
• Steinhatchee Springs WMA map (from Florida Fish & Wildlife)
• Steinhatchee Springs WMA map (from Suwannee River WMD)
• Steinhatchee Falls / Steinhatchee Rise map (from Suwannee River WMD)
• Steinhatchee River minimum flows and levels analysis (from Suwannee River WMD)
• Hunting regulations and map