It becomes a clearly defined waterway after leaving Green Swamp in the Richloam Wildlife Management Area of the Withlacoochee State Forest, and flows north to the Gulf of Mexico at Yankeetown. The diversity of the vegetation and wildlife is a reflection of the constantly changing terrain of the river. Beginning in cypress and hardwood swamp, it progresses through upland hardwood and pine forests, past cypress ponds, palmetto hammocks and landscaped backyards. The Tsala Apopka Lake region is a miniature. Everglades with an abundance of birds and reptiles, hammocks of water weeds, and multi-faceted channels.
Fishing is excellent along the river but game animals are now scarce except in isolated pockets.
Certain sections of the river are easily accessible and are heavily populated during the warm months of the year. Other sections appear to have been abandoned to an occasional air boat and the canoeist. From Lacoochee, travel east on S.R. 575. Turn south on Lacoochee Park road and continue for about two miles to the entrance to the state forest. Continue for less than one mile to the river.