Blue Cypress Lake, Florida, USA

Also known as:  Lake Blue Cypress

Blue Cypress Lake, located on the Treasure Coast of Florida about 20 miles west of Vero Beach, covers 6,555 prime central Florida acres. Perfectly situated beneath celestial blue skies, the lake’s name comes from the bluish glow off the lake’s cypress trees, as the brilliant morning sun reflects off the lake’s surface. Tannin from the cypress trees darken the lake’s waters. Blue Cypress Lake is reportedly the…
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    • All About Blue Cypress Lake, FL

    Lake Locations: USA - US South Region - Florida - East Central Florida -

    Blue Cypress Lake, located on the Treasure Coast of Florida about 20 miles west of Vero Beach, covers 6,555 prime central Florida acres. Perfectly situated beneath celestial blue skies, the lake’s name comes from the bluish glow off the lake’s cypress trees, as the brilliant morning sun reflects off the lake’s surface. Tannin from the cypress trees darken the lake’s waters.

    Blue Cypress Lake is reportedly the headwater of the St. Johns River, which flows northward more than 300 miles to Jacksonville and the Atlantic Ocean. The St. Johns River Water Management District owns most of the 21-mile shoreline which is surrounded by 29,000 acres of marshes, swamps, and cypress forests. The lake is about 7 miles long and 3 miles wide. The area is part of the District’s 150,000-acre reclamation project to reverse decades of pollution and restore marshes. Blue Cypress Lake is one of the cleanest in the St. Johns District. Indian River County’s Blue Cypress Park on the lake’s west side provides 2 boat launches, a floating dock, parking, 2 covered pavilions, primitive camping, canoeing and hiking, and restrooms and showers.

    The lake’s average depth is only 8 to 9 feet, which allows for a good deal of water vegetation to grow. Though not ideal for swimmers, these aquatic conditions create terrific opportunities for outdoorsy types. As anglers will gladly tell you, Blue Cypress Lake is a fisherman’s paradise: some of the cleanest water in Florida makes the perfect home for bluegill, catfish, chain pickerel, crappie, largemouth bass, shellcrackers, and warmouth. Best known as a premiere destination for bass, the largest largemouth on record at the lake weighed in at an impressive 18 pounds, 2 ounces. Makes sense, as the lake’s shallow depths create prime conditions for lily pads, sawgrass, and submerged logs to weave amongthe cypress roots, the perfect homes for all the lake’s fish.

    Middleton’s Fish Camp is the only fish camp on Blue Cypress Lake and offers cabins, primitive tent camping, a bait shop, boat rentals, a boat ramp, picnic area, and public restrooms. Located in the hamlet of Blue Cypress Village (a small town with only three streets), Middleton’s Fish Camp is the ideal starting place for your Blue Cypress Lake adventures.

    Nature photographers are strongly advised to have a camera around their necks at all times so they may immortalize forever the beautiful flora and fauna at Blue Cypress Lake. Osprey sit on their nests, calling out gentle warnings to all who pass too close. Cypress trees, covered in emerald green moss, dot the aquatic landscape. Alligators, seemingly benign, stir at the lake’s shore, their powerful bodies demanding your attention. Majestic eagles swoop through the skies, diving gracefully for their next meal. And on nights of the full moon, keep an eye open for graceful deer along the lake’s edge.

    Kayakers will have a field day at the lake. 6,555 acres stretch out before you, waiting for every nook and cranny to be explored. Several trips will take you on moderate to difficult kayaking trips through the lake, introducing you to the 130 foot tall cypress. Wind your way through Moonshine Bay, at the northernmost tip of the lake. The cove provides protection from main channel winds and, while there is no place to beach your kayak, you will enjoy the site of gators sunning themselves at the back end of the bay. Blue Cypress Village is also a popular kayaking destination, with its quaint cabins and stilt homes surrounded by stunningly green flora.

    Clearly, Blue Cypress Lake is a premiere destination for those who like to get away from it all while enjoying the outdoors. It offers a little bit of relaxation for everyone.

    Things to Do at Blue Cypress Lake

    These are some activities in the Blue Cypress Lake, FL area visitors can enjoy:

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Boating
    • Swimming
    • Beach
    • Canoeing
    • Kayaking
    • Camping
    • Picnicking
    • Cabin Rentals
    • Hiking
    • Wildlife Viewing
    • Birding

    What Kind of Fish Are in Blue Cypress Lake?

    Blue Cypress Lake has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Bass
    • Black Bass
    • Bluegill
    • Catfish
    • Chain Pickerel
    • Crappie
    • Largemouth Bass
    • Pickerel
    • Pike
    • Redear Sunfish (Shellcracker)
    • Sunfish
    • Warmouth
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    Find Places to Stay at Blue Cypress Lake

    If you’re considering a Blue Cypress Lake lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

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    More Sites to Book a Blue Cypress Lake Vacation

    Our interactive Blue Cypress Lake lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

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    Blue Cypress Lake Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Natural Freshwater Lake, Not Dammed

    Water Level Control: St. Johns River Water Management District

    Surface Area: 6,555 acres

    Shoreline Length: 21 miles

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 23 feet

    Average Depth: 9 feet

    Blue Cypress Lake Map
    Local Weather Forecast

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    Clermont Chain of Lakes

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