Alafia River

The river the town is named for

Riverview was founded on the Alafia in 1885, and the tannin-dark river is still the best thing about living here — preserves on its banks, paddling upstream, and live water data.

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Live water data

Alafia River at Lithia

—ft (gage height)

Source: U.S. Geological Survey real-time gauge 02301500.

The local angle

A working river with wild banks

The Alafia runs tannin-dark past Riverview's founding site, and the county has kept real nature on its banks: Alafia Scrub Nature Preserve's loop trails end at a river overlook, and Bell Creek Preserve protects 477 acres of the watershed. Upstream at Lithia, Alafia River State Park turned a reclaimed phosphate mine into some of Florida's best-known mountain-bike terrain, plus paddling and equestrian trails.

River levels swing with the seasons — the live gauge above is the same one paddlers check before committing to a run.

USGS Alafia River Gauge at LithiaReal-time stage and streamflow for the Alafia — check levels before paddling Alafia River State ParkPaddling, hiking, and renowned mountain-bike trails upstream in Lithia Alafia Scrub Nature Preserve80 riverfront acres in Riverview with loop trails and a river overlook Bell Creek Nature Preserve477 acres of scrub and flatwoods in the Alafia's Bell Creek watershed