Florida · Fort White, FL

Ichetucknee River float season

Gauge 02322700 on the Ichetucknee Springs State Park north launch to US 27. Florida's most famous tube run glides through a state-park cathedral of cypress and crystal spring water where summer launches sell out by mid-morning.

tubingsupkayak Fullest: Aug–Oct Leanest: Nov–Jan
Ichetucknee River — typical flow through the year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 30 100 300 400
median flow for the date middle half of years (25th–75th percentile) most years (10th–90th)

Right now at this gauge

loading CFS

Checking the live gauge…

Live reading from the USGS gauge page for Ichetucknee River. Provisional data — subject to revision.

The year on this river

In a typical year at the Fort White gauge, the Ichetucknee River runs fullest Aug–Oct and leanest Nov–Jan. The swing is small by river standards — flows hold fairly steady through the seasons, which usually points to springs or dam releases doing the work. Half of all past September days at this gauge ran above 325 CFS; the December median is 301 CFS.

Median of daily flows in each month across this gauge's full record — half of past days ran above these figures, half below.
Month Typical flow (CFS)
January 302
February 307
March 319
April 302
May 307
June 303
July 305
August 309
September 325
October 310
November 306
December 301

Record context

This gauge has measured daily flow since 2002 — 24 years of record. The largest daily average ever logged here was 703 CFS, in June 2012. Rivers do that sometimes; it's why the safety panel above isn't decoration.

Planning dates? The trip-window checker shows what flows have historically looked like on any week you pick for this river, or see what a CFS actually looks like.

More Florida float rivers

Common questions

When is the Ichetucknee River usually at its fullest?

At the Fort White gauge, the fullest stretch of a typical year is Aug–Oct, with the single highest monthly median in September (about 325 CFS). The leanest months are usually Nov–Jan. This river holds unusually steady across the year, so the swing between those extremes is small.

What is a typical summer flow on the Ichetucknee River?

The July median at this gauge is about 305 CFS — half of past Julys ran higher, half lower. Check the ribbon chart above to see how summer compares with the rest of the year here.

Is the Ichetucknee River safe to float right now?

No flow number can answer that, and this site never labels a river safe. What the data can tell you is how today's reading compares with 24 years of this date's history — well above typical means pushier, colder, faster water. Pair that context with a PFD, a look at the river from the bank, and a call to a local outfitter before you commit.

Which USGS gauge does this page use?

USGS gauge 02322700 (ICHETUCKNEE R @ HWY27 NR HILDRETH, FL), chosen because it best represents the Ichetucknee Springs State Park north launch to US 27. Daily records here reach back to 2002.

Data: USGS gauge 02322700, approved daily records 2002–2026, retrieved 2026-08-07. Live readings are provisional and subject to revision. U.S. Geological Survey data is public domain.