The Econfina changes dramatically as it winds through upland forests and meanders downstream to the palm-fringed salt marshes of the Gulf of Mexico.

The river supports many species of wildlife and the quiet observer may glimpse bobcat, Florida black bear, gopher tortoise, swallow-tailed kite (spring and summer), wild hog, deer, turkey and squirrel. Turtles, otters, and blue herons, egrets and other wading birds are commonly spotted.

The Econfina is an angler's dream, offering both freshwater and saltwater opportunities. The upper half of the river is a favorite of local bank fisherman and those in small fishing boats seeking tasty freshwater fish. A couple of miles upstream from the Gulf, the Econfina River State Park provides an excellent, universally-accessible boat launch for those pursuing saltwater fish species found along the shallow coastline. Lush seagrass beds, protected within the 950,000-acre Big Bend Seagrasses Aquatic Preserve, provide critical habitat that supports a wide range of marine species.