Skip to main content
LakeQuality
Two canoes crossing open water between forested points in the Boundary Waters

Updated August 2026

Best Kayaking Lakes in Florida

Top 50 kayaking lakes in Florida, ranked by Secchi clarity (clearer water makes for better paddling — you can see fish, plants, and the bottom).

  • Low nutrient and algae readings
  • No known access restrictions
  • 50–2,000 acres

Kayaking-friendly rankings prefer lakes with low motor-boat congestion, interesting shoreline, decent water clarity, and public access. Jacc Lake tops the Florida list.

Kayaking favors lakes with shoreline interest — bays, islands, undeveloped stretches — which tends to correlate with the larger, more remote Florida lakes rather than the small, residential ones.

RankLakeCountyStateClarityAreaDepth
1Jacc LakeWaltonFL9.3 ft--
2Jackson-Silver LakeJacksonFL25 ft-~40 ft est.
3Highlands-Tulane LakeHighlandsFL17 ft--
4Clc LakeWashingtonFL16.4 ft--
5Down LakeOrangeFL16.1 ft--
6Highlands-Sirena LakeHighlandsFL16 ft--
7Lake-SaundersLakeFL16 ft--
8Highlands-Pearl LakeHighlandsFL15.7 ft--
9Orange-Little Conway LakeOrangeFL15 ft--
10Miami-Dade-E LakeMiami-DadeFL15 ft-~36 ft est.
11Wauseon Bay LakeOrangeFL14.8 ft-~39 ft est.
12Dunl LakeWashingtonFL14.8 ft--
13Lake TulaneHighlandsFL14.8 ft--
14Orange-Down LakeOrangeFL14.5 ft--
15Orange-Conway South LakeOrangeFL14.5 ft--
16Mlc LakeWashingtonFL14.1 ft-~47 ft est.
17Volusia-Winnemissett LakeVolusiaFL14 ft--
18Lake-SellersLakeFL13.3 ft-~43 ft est.
19Orange-Conway North LakeOrangeFL13.2 ft--
20Orange-Baldwin LakeOrangeFL13 ft--
21Liberty-Mystic LakeLibertyFL13 ft-~50 ft est.
22Orange-Butler LakeOrangeFL13 ft--
23Butler LakeOrangeFL12.8 ft--
24Chase LakeOrangeFL12.5 ft--
25Bessie LakeOrangeFL12.5 ft--
26Orange-Bessie LakeOrangeFL12.3 ft--
27Conway Nw LakeOrangeFL12.1 ft--
28Lake-WoodwardLakeFL12 ft--
29Orange-Ola LakeOrangeFL12 ft--
30Lake Nona SouthOrangeFL11.7 ft--
31Orange-Olivia LakeOrangeFL11.5 ft--
32Putnam-Fanny LakePutnamFL11.5 ft-~51 ft est.
33Blanche LakeOrangeFL11.5 ft-~38 ft est.
34Little Sand LakeOrangeFL11.5 ft--
35Tibet LakeOrangeFL11.5 ft--
36Lake BurdenOrangeFL11.5 ft-~33 ft est.
37Orange-Underhill LakeOrangeFL11.3 ft--
38Conway M LakeOrangeFL11.2 ft--
39Huckleberry LakeOrangeFL11.2 ft-~53 ft est.
40Big Sand S LakeOrangeFL11.2 ft-~42 ft est.
41Collier-Quarry LakeCollierFL11 ft-~23 ft est.
42Lake-BeakmanLakeFL11 ft--
43Putnam-Broward LakePutnamFL11 ft--
44Clay-Lily LakeClayFL11 ft--
45Hillsborough-Carroll LakeHillsboroughFL11 ft--
46Marion-Mill Dam LakeMarionFL11 ft-~31 ft est.
47Lake-East CrookedLakeFL10.8 ft--
48Conway S LakeOrangeFL10.8 ft--
49Lake MizellOrangeFL10.8 ft-~45 ft est.
50Lake Nona NorthOrangeFL10.8 ft--

Get updates when Florida kayaking lakes change

New clarity and algae readings can move a lake on this list. Unsubscribe anytime.

All-states list →Minnesota version →Wisconsin version →Illinois version →All Florida lakes →

Where to stay near Florida kayaking lakes

Find cabins, campgrounds, and rentals near Florida's clearest paddling water — live availability and prices for your kayak trip.

Top-rated places to stay near Florida paddling lakes

Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.

Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.

Planning a trip to Florida paddling lakes?

Get lake water-quality updates plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Florida paddling lakes — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.