Okeechobee Waterway Boating Guide

Lake Okeechobee is the second largest fresh water lake in the US. The lake covers over 730 square miles and is connected to both of Florida's coasts via the man made Okeechobee Waterway. The Lake is 33 miles wide from north to south, and 30 miles wide from east to west. 

The Okeechobee Waterway was built in 1937 by the Army Corps of Engineers after two floods caused by hurricanes destroyed the areas surrounding the lake. A series of 5 locks helps boats through the 152 mile long waterway. The canal depth of the waterway is approx. 8 feet, and the width of the canal varies from 80 to 100 feet.

Many cruisers access the waterway from the ICW through Stuart, shortening their trip to the west coast of Florida and bypassing the Florida Keys.

Fishing and Camping are among the most popular activities on the Lake. Largemouth bass, blue gill, Okeechobee catfish, and black crappie are some of the species of fish that can be found in the Lake. Birds, beautiful scenery and the water all combine to make this a nature lover's paradise, as well as a mecca for boaters.

Locks

Operating hours are from 6 am to 9:30 pm daily, unless otherwise noted in Coast Guard published "Notice to Mariners." Hail locks on Channel 13.

There are five locks on the waterway  (from east to west):

St. Lucie Lock            50 x 250 feet           772-287-2665

Port Mayaca Lock     56 x 400 feet            561-924-2858

Moore Haven Lock    50 x 250 feet          863-946-0414

Ortona Lock                50 x 250 feet l         863-675-0616

W.P. Franklin Lock     56 x 400 feet          239-694-5451

Distances

Atlantic Intracoastal to St. Lucie Lock          15.1 miles

St. Lucie Lock to Port Mayaca Lock            23.7 miles

Port Mayaca Lock to Moore Haven Lock

    Via open lake, route 1                             39.0 miles

    Via rim canal, route 2                              50.0 miles

Moore Haven Lock to Ortona Lock                15.5 miles

Ortona Lock to W.P. Franklin Lock               27.9 miles

W.P. Franklin Lock to Gulf Intracoastal         33.2 miles