Perdido River

Doc and canoe, with motor mount



The Perdido River forms in Western Escambia County Alabama. It flows south, down the Alabama/Florida border as a typical blackwater stream before ending up in Perdido Bay near Lillian, AL. The Perdido offers several challenges to float fishing and paddling, but can be a good fishing stream in the right places. Hurricane Ivan, along with heavy logging practices, has resulted in some substantial log jam areas along the upper Perdido. In past years, the river could be floated from CR 61 near Phillipsville, by launching on Dyas Creek. Based on visible log jams just downstream of Dyas Creek, and similar jams a good 16.5 miles downstream, I would estimate this section is virtually unfloatable at this time. There are two access points on the Florida side in this upper section that would be worth investigating. Three runs access. And, Waters Ferry Road access.

There are sections of this river that have fewer log jams. One such is between Barrineau Park and State Road 112. This section also sees significant recreational use during the summer. There are reports of log jams at I-10, and then a clear river, with motorboat traffic down to HW 90 and Ruby's Landing..

The future for the Perdido could be brighter. The Northwest Florida Water Management District, working with The Conservation Fund, will protect 5,533 acres in Escambia County along the Perdido River. The purchase safeguards about 15 miles of riverfront on this outstanding Florida waterway and Florida Forever priority land. For the first time in several decades, the Perdido River and Bay will be accessible to the public for resource-based recreational activities, especially for canoeists and kayakers, as the property will be incorporated into Escambia County’s Recreational Water Trail program. This key river corridor purchase complements additional state, federal and private conservation lands downstream along the Perdido River and Bay.