[1][2] Mud Lake Canal is about 3.9 miles (6.3 km) in length, and varies in width between roughly 10 and 30 feet (3.0 and 9.1 m).

Portions of the canal are significantly overgrown, but it is typically with plant life that differs from the surrounding area.

It runs generally southeasterly, with long straight sections interrupted by bends, mainly on account of the local topography.

[4] Early white settlers first brought existence of the canal to the attention of Smithsonian archaeologist Aleš Hrdlička in 1918.

It has been a subject of recurring archaeological interest since then, most significantly since the area became part of Everglades National Park.