Peace River
Polk / DeSoto Co. · 106 mi · Class I
176CFS/ 5.21 ft
Flood
→Stable
Optimal: 200–2000 CFS · USGS #02295637
⚡Flow data is live from USGS·Rapid classifications and CFS ranges need community verification··Know this river?
106 mi
Length
Class I
Difficulty
200–2000 cfs
Optimal
680 cfs
Avg Flow
612 cfs
Hist. Median
#02295637
USGS Gauge
Peace River Canoe Trail · Florida Designated Paddling Trail

Central Florida wilderness and one of the best fossil-hunting rivers in the world — prehistoric shark teeth, mammoth bones, and dugong fossils wash out of the Peace River's banks after every rain. A mellow Class I paddle through ranch country and cypress swamps.

Trip sections
Bartow to Bowling Green — 30 mi, upper Peace, narrow and intimate
Bowling Green to Arcadia — 40 mi, prime fossil-hunting stretch
Outfitters
Canoe Outpost — Peace River
Full-service canoe and kayak rentals, Arcadia
72-Hour Flow Forecast
NOAA NWPS
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10-Year Flow Patterns
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Data Quality

River conditions are community-verified. CFS ranges, difficulty ratings, and trip sections may not reflect every flow level or seasonal change. Always check current conditions, scout unfamiliar rapids, and paddle within your skill level. If you spot an error, use the Improve This River button at the top of the page — your local knowledge is what makes this atlas accurate.