For Highlands County anglers, Kissimmee River Public Use Area - Bluff Hammock Canoe/Kayak Access (CAUTION: Not usable during low water, see comments) is a go-to freshwater ramp on Kissimmee River. The surrounding water rewards early starts, and this launch keeps you close to the action without a long idle out to the good stuff. As of the last FWC inventory update, launching is free here.
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At a glance
- County
- Highlands
- City
- Lorida
- Waterbody
- Kissimmee River
- Water type
- Freshwater
- Ramp type
- Hand Launch Only
- Ramp surface
- Ditch Bank
- Dock
- No Docks
- Parking surface
- Not Paved - Grass/Loose Soil/Sand
- Restroom
- No Toilet
- Fee required
- No
- Managed by
- South Florida Water Management District
- Status
- Open for Business
- Hours
- Daytime Use Only
Address: Bluff Hammock Road, Lorida, FL, 33857 · Coordinates: 27.498655, -81.210903
Get directions on Google Maps →
Where it is
Live NEXRAD radar from Iowa State Mesonet — past ~65 minutes animated. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Ramp location from the FWC boat ramp inventory. Not for navigation.
On-water restrictions nearby
No mapped state manatee-protection or boating-safety zones were found within 500 m of this ramp in the current FWC dataset. This does not mean the area is unrestricted — posted signs and other local, state, or federal rules may still apply.
Restriction zones: For general awareness only — not for navigation or legal determination. Florida Administrative Code and posted on-water signs prevail. Other local, state, or federal restricted zones may exist that are not shown here. Source: FWC manatee protection & boating-safety GIS layers. Zone data as of .
What to know before you launch
- Clean, drain, and dry your boat between freshwater launches to help stop the spread of invasive plants like hydrilla.
- Parking and lane space can be tight on weekends; have your gear staged and your plug in before you back down.
- There are no restrooms on-site, so plan accordingly before you head out.
- Always check current tides, wind, and marine forecasts before you launch — Florida afternoons can turn stormy fast.
Tides at the nearest station
The closest NOAA tide station is Fort Myers, about 71 miles away. Here are today's predicted highs and lows (referenced to MLLW):
Boater discussion
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