Kayaking Florida's Magical Rivers and Springs

The Trip

“A string of counties studded with emerald-like gulf waters, deep springs and rivers, stretching along the same Florida coast.”

This is how Sierra Club founder and naturalist John Muir described The Nature Coast in 1867. Much of the area has remained unchanged from its original appearance: brackish creeks run through a forest of towering pines and shady oaks where bald eagles build their nests; nature trails take you through a habitat that is over a century preserved; crystal-clear, spring-fed rivers and springs beckon you to explore them; and historical Florida enchants you as a place trapped in time.

The 980,000-acre stretch known as Florida’s Nature Coast is home to 19 endangered species, wildlife parks, preserved antebellum homes and pioneer homesteads, and countless waterways to paddle.

Cedar Key, The Rainbow River, The Chassahowitzka River, and Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park are some of the areas that we will explore on this outing.

Florida has 174 award-winning state parks, trails, and historic sites. Silver Springs State Park combines the charm of a historic Florida attraction with the crystal-clear waters of one of the last uninhabited spring runs in the state. Rainbow Springs State Park includes Florida’s fourth-largest spring and offers the chance to paddle right up to and explore the headsprings area. Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park showcases Florida wildlife, including manatees, black bears, bobcats, American alligators, American crocodiles, and river otters. The Chassahowitzka River, or “The Chaz" as locals call it, is a five-mile-long first magnitude spring-fed river that empties into the Gulf of Mexico, and has numerous tributaries to paddle and explore. In addition, 31,000 acres in the area have been designated as The Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge provides habitat for hundreds of species of birds, dolphins, otters, and manatees.

With a population of roughly only 700 people, Cedar Key is a quaint, old-fashioned fishing village and tourist center that’s short on traffic lights and long on relaxation and recreation. John Muir visited Cedar Key in 1867 on his historic walk from Kentucky to Florida. A historic marker located at Cedar Key Museum State Park commemorates his visit. There is a cluster of 13 islands near the mainland designated as Cedar Key National Wildlife Refuge. Established in 1929, the refuge provides a safe haven for wildlife and recreation for people. We’ll get to explore the refuge both by kayak and on a boat tour, and hopefully enjoy an amazing Cedar Key sunset as well.

The Ocala National Forest, established in 1908, is the oldest national forest east of the Mississippi River and the southernmost national forest in the continental U.S., encompassing approximately 383,000 acres. The Ocala National Forest is known for having over 600 natural lakes and ponds and lies between the Ocklawaha and St John’s Rivers. The forest is riddled with slow moving rivers and wet prairies: blackwater rivers that support bald cypress floodplain forests, and spring-fed rivers and springs that support hammocks of evergreen and hardwood trees. The forest supports a variety of wildlife, including American alligators, Florida black bear, white-tailed deer, wild boar, bats, gray and red fox, bobcat, North American River Otter, gopher tortoise, nine-banded armadillo, and much more. Many hiking trails, including part of The Florida Trail, run through the forest, and water plays an important role in a variety of recreational activities. The twisting, cool, clear, spring-fed springs of the forest are the perfect place for a group of kayakers to spend the day paddling, swimming, and exploring!

Day 1: We will meet and start the outing at 4 p.m. at our Dunnellon, Florida lodging location. We will make introductions, assign rooms, go over the itinerary, and enjoy a huge welcome dinner.

Days 2-6: The trip leaders will give paddling and safety instructions and get everyone geared up for an incredible week of kayaking. Rather than have a set itinerary, we will wake up to a new adventure each day, depending on weather, tides, and other factors. We will kayak and explore as many of these places as possible:

• Ocala National Forest, Alexander Springs, Juniper Springs
• Rainbow River, Rainbow River State Park
• Historic Dunnellon Village
• Silver River, Silver River State Park
• Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park
• Chassahowitzka River, Chassahowitzka NWR
• Weeki Wachee Springs
• Cedar Key, Cedar Key NWR, Atsena Otie Key, Cedar Key Museum State Park

Day 7: After having breakfast and bidding farewell to new friends, this Florida vacation will be officially over by mid-morning.

Getting There

Orlando, Florida and Tampa, Florida offer the nearest major airports. They are both about a 90-minute drive to our lodging location in Dunnellon, Florida. We encourage carpooling to and from the lodging. We will also carpool to our daily kayak adventures and activities, and we will need volunteer drivers to make this happen. A participant roster and driving directions will be sent to all confirmed participants prior to the outing. Please do not make travel arrangements until the leader has confirmed you as a trip member.

Accommodations and Food

We will spend six nights in cabins in historic Dunnellon, Florida. Participants coming alone will share rooms and couples will room together. Participants will take turns helping the leaders prepare meals and clean up. The first meal will be dinner on day one of the outing, and the last meal will be breakfast on day seven of the outing. We will go out to dinner one time during the week; this dinner is not included in the trip price.

Trip Difficulty

Our kayak adventures will feature intermediate routes, averaging 5-10 miles in distance and 3-5 hours on the water each day on this Florida vacation. Walking will be short distances on fairly flat terrain. We will stop to take periodic breaks and eat lunch each day. You need not be an expert kayaker, but it is expected that you have some previous kayaking experience and that you are able to keep up with the group at a reasonable pace. Basic paddling and safety instruction will be given on the first day of the outing. Each participant should understand that this is a group outing and that you will be required to stay with the group while on the water and follow all instructions given by your guides. You should be flexible as plans and itineraries often change due to weather, group ability, tides, water levels, or other unforeseen reasons. We will carpool/caravan to our various destinations throughout the week. You will be asked to share (give or get) a ride with other trip members throughout the week.

Note: Please be aware that alligators, snakes, dolphins, manatees, and even sharks are a regular highlight on kayak adventures in Florida waters. They are not interested in kayaks or kayakers, but you should be comfortable paddling among this and other wildlife.

Equipment and Clothing

We will provide rental kayaks, paddles, and life jackets. You are also welcome to bring your own favorite paddle or life jacket. We will carpool/caravan to our various destinations throughout the week. We will need several vehicles and volunteer drivers to accomplish this. A full gear list will be sent to all confirmed participants prior to the outing.

References

• McCarthy, Kevin M., Cedar Key, Florida: A History. The History Press, 2007.
• Molloy, Johnny, Canoeing and Kayaking Florida. Menasha Ridge Press, 2007.
• Ohr, Tim, Florida’s Fabulous Canoe and Kayak Trail Guide. World PUBNS, 2006.
• Stratton, Michael, Florida State Parks. Mountaineers Books, 2000.
• Watson, Melissa, Touring the Springs of Florida. Falcon Guides, 2015.

Conservation

Is there such a thing as environmentally friendly tourism or are some of the places that we enjoy exploring being “loved to death?” Ocala National Forest and Florida’s Nature Coast receive millions of visitors annually. Whether visiting for a few days, a week, or several months, these visitors greatly impact the areas that they travel to.

Some regulations and safeguards have been put in place:

• Banning food or drink in its original disposable containers on certain waterways
• Limiting motorboat horsepower
• No-Wake Zones
• Limiting or banning parking near headsprings and having buffer zones along waterways
• Placing specialized containers near docks, boat ramps, and waterways to provide a place to discard and recycle used fishing lines

These programs have definitely had an impact. Something as simple as banning original food and drink containers on some waterways has been very effective and cut down on the amount of trash in these waterways by a huge amount. New environmental programs and technologies must continue to be put in place to help further protect these areas that we use. Something as simple as the sunscreen and insect repellant used by millions of visitors impacts the environment and water quality of the areas that we paddle and visit. We’ll talk about what’s being done and see if we can come up with any ideas of some new things that can be done. 

Sierra Club National Outings is an equal-opportunity provider and will operate under a permit from Ocala National Forest.