The area within the park of salt marshes and tidal creeks provides a scenic backdrop for fishing, boating, paddling, and wildlife observation. The boating experience is extraordinary due to the 19,000 acres of tidal marshes and 20 miles of coastline that the preserve offers. The preserve is also home to manatees and sea turtles that use the sea grass beds as well as other marine communities in the preserve.

The Waccasassa River provides a unique experience for boating and paddling as it passes through the hydric hammock and the estuary before draining at the Gulf of Mexico. Public boat ramps can be found in Cedar Key to the west.