Posting photos of your paddle or hike is very much encouraged!
Loxahatchee River
The upper portion of the Loxahatchee River (NW Fork) between Indiantown Road and Trapper Nelson's winds its way through a scenic cypress swamp. Before the 1950s, Loxahatchee Slough and Hungryland Slough drained into the Loxahatchee River in the area that is now Riverbend Park. Drainage projects and other development have altered much of the natural water flow, most notably the C-18 canal (built in 1958).
The Dams
In the 1920s, the citrus-farming Lainhart family constructed a weir dam on the Loxahatchee to help maintain upstream water levels during dry season. A few years later, the Masten family built a weir dam of their own farther downstream. Over the years, the dams fell into poor condition. SFWMD rebuilt them in the late 1980s to help maintain water levels on the upper part of the river as part of an ongoing effort to repair the damage done to the Loxahatchee watershed. Some old brickwork from the original Lainhart Dam can be seen under the boardwalk there.
Even with the dams, the water level on the upper part of the river can fluctuate wildly based on the time of year and recent rainfall. Portions of the river between the dams can be only ankle deep during periods of drought while heavy summer rains can lead to water levels being almost equal on both sides of the dams. The river is almost totally different at the extreme variations of water level.
Kayaking/Canoeing
Lainhart is the first dam you will encounter just past the Indiantown Road bridge, about 15 minutes after beginning your paddle at Riverbend Park. Masten is the second dam, about an hour farther downstream. Water nearly always flows over Lainhart Dam; during especially high water a strong paddler can even paddle upstream over the dam. Masten usually has a drop of a few feet, but this varies more than Lainhart. Boardwalks are provided at both dams to portage your boat. Most people will ride their kayak or canoe over Lainhart Dam; Masten is more difficult, but many people enjoy the thrill of riding the artificial rapids if water level permits.
Downstream from Masten Dam, the river becomes tidally influenced. Deadfalls become more common past Masten and are cleared less frequently so some portages are likely in that area.
A popular paddle is from Riverbend to Masten and back (about 3 hours roundtrip depending on current, plus time spent at Masten). If the water level is right, more intrepid souls will make a one-way trip downriver to Trapper Nelson's and eventually the boat ramp at Jonathan Dickinson State Park (about 9 miles taking 6+ hours). A roundtrip from Riverbend to Trapper's takes at least 8 hours and can be very difficult depending on the current and water level.
Expect to see lots of turtles and probably a few gators.
Hiking
The Florida Trail's orange-blazed Ocean To Lake (OTL) follows the west side of the river, but usually not within sight of the water and without access to either dam.
The blue-blazed Italian Farms Trail east of the river does have access to Masten Dam and this cache. That route may require at least one water crossing depending on recent rainfall, but other times is completely dry.
Permission
Cache placed with permission from SFWMD. They manage the Loxahatchee River corridor between Riverbend Park and JDSP. If you wish to place a cache on SFWMD-managed land please fill out their online form which includes their additional guidelines for cache placements.
Notes
1/3/13: Unfortunately, the west end of Masten Dam breached some time in late 2012, possibly due to some extremely heavy rainfall. Water is flowing around the dam rather than over it. SFWMD will presumably conduct repairs at some point in the future.
12/21/14: Masten Dam is still breached on the west end.