Uploaded February 2017 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago
Two Florida Trail Association chapters planned to hike the newly opened Choctawhatchee River Section of the Florida National Scenic Trail together on January 14, 2017. About the turn of the new year, rains came and the Choctawhatchee River rose over flood stage. The trail crosses Cypress Creek that backs up when the river floods. The Panhandle Chapter hike leader postponed the hike to February 4. The Choctawhatchee Chapter hike leader watched the flood level reports that appear each morning and night and decided the hike was on.
I hiked through the forest, across the longleaf pine restoration area, up to the creek and over the boardwalk with hikers on both dates. The first hike featured green pines and water over the boardwalk. The second hike featured burned pines and a dry boardwalk. In making a video weaving these varying conditions together into a single CRS hike, I started with comparisons of the same places on different days.
Based on these hikes, I'd say the Cypress Creek boardwalk is 4" under water when the river flood stage is 13'. The boardwalk is 2' above water when the river flood stage is 11'. See measurements of the Choctawhatchee River level which is frequently updated.
See the compared photos, hydrographs of the two dates, and a map of the 1.6 miles that I did, of the 8.3-mile hike. Also there are links to related pages about the CRS.
wholeo.net/Trips/Travel/Florida/panhandle/uncities/ScenicTrail/CRS/crs10.htm
Two Florida Trail Association chapters planned to hike the newly opened Choctawhatchee River Section of the Florida National Scenic Trail together on January 14, 2017. About the turn of the new year, rains came and the Choctawhatchee River rose over flood stage. The trail crosses Cypress Creek that backs up when the river floods. The Panhandle Chapter hike leader postponed the hike to February 4. The Choctawhatchee Chapter hike leader watched the flood level reports that appear each morning and night and decided the hike was on.
I hiked through the forest, across the longleaf pine restoration area, up to the creek and over the boardwalk with hikers on both dates. The first hike featured green pines and water over the boardwalk. The second hike featured burned pines and a dry boardwalk. In making a video weaving these varying conditions together into a single CRS hike, I started with comparisons of the same places on different days.
Based on these hikes, I'd say the Cypress Creek boardwalk is 4" under water when the river flood stage is 13'. The boardwalk is 2' above water when the river flood stage is 11'. See measurements of the Choctawhatchee River level which is frequently updated.
See the compared photos, hydrographs of the two dates, and a map of the 1.6 miles that I did, of the 8.3-mile hike. Also there are links to related pages about the CRS.
wholeo.net/Trips/Travel/Florida/panhandle/uncities/ScenicTrail/CRS/crs10.htm
