While on vacation recently the comment was made by a fellow traveller that when they thought of Florida they never thought of it as having any place to kayak. Instead they envisioned miles of endless white sand beaches and palm trees. Florida does indeed have endless miles of white sand beaches but the State's interior also has miles of some of the best kayaking destinations in the country.
Not only does Florida have thousands of miles of rivers, creeks, lakes and bays to explore but it has a wide variety. From tannin-colored rivers to crystal clear ribbons of azure blue, the waterways of Florida hold something special for every taste. Rivers may be slow and meandering in some places or contain fast flowing rapids on others. These rivers also cover a diverse range of terrain such as hardwood forests, limestone bluffs, cypress swamps, tropical forests, swamps, mangroves and more.
Florida's temperate climate allows for more paddling days per year and as such visitors won't find iced-over lakes and rivers here. In fact during the colder months the West Indian and Florida manatees come into the spring-fed rivers to overwinter in the state's warmer waters.
Best Kayaking Destinations in Florida
So where are the best places to kayak in Florida if visitors only have a few days? Well, it depends on what paddlers want to see. Want to see alligators, monkeys and birds? If so, check out Silver River near the city of Ocala. Nearby Juniper Creek, Alexander Spring Run and Salt Spring Run make this an excellent location for seeing several great places in a short period of time. Found 65 miles southeast near Apopka is the beautiful Wekiva River, one of two federally designated Wild and Scenic Rivers within Florida.
If manatees sound more tempting than toothy alligators then head down to King's Bay in Crystal River. Manatees are more abundant here during the winter months but a small herd likes to hang out in King's Bay year-round. Less than an hour away paddlers can check out Rainbow River, Chassahowitzka River and Homosassa River to round out their trip.
Adrenaline seekers may wish to test their mettle at Big Shoals and Little Shoal rapids north of White Springs on the famous Suwannee River that cuts across much of Florida. Although Florida doesn't boast much white water, Big Shoals weighs in at a Class III when water conditions are right. Another notable whitewater destination is Turket Creek, Jennings to Alapaha section above the town of Live Oak. This one mile section of whitewater also clocks in at a Class III.
So the next time someone asks if there's any place to kayak in Florida the answer is a resounding “Yes!” Check with local paddling clubs in almost any portion of the state to get an idea of where the best paddling is in the location where you'll be staying. They may be able to provide names of shuttle services and lodging as well as update travelers on current river conditions. Happy paddling.
Beverly Hill - Beverly is an outdoor adventure writer who owns and maintains Northwest Florida Outdoor Adventure.
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