This Florida Paddle Notes category, Withlacoochee River (S), is one of several rivers explored and documented by Florida Paddle Notes
We could not pass up the predicted excellent weather and so ventured out on a 12-mile section of the Withlacoochee River (S), launching just north of Hwy 40 at Spruce Public Boat Launch and paddling to Dunnellon to enjoy our reward at The Blue Gator Tiki Bar and Restaurant. Along this Florida Paddle Trail, we enjoyed temperatures in the 70s, sunny skies, an awesome breeze at our back, and a swift current! Couldn’t have been better…James
This was scheduled as part of a St. Patrick’s Day camping trip. We paddled a short 1.6 miles on the Withlacoochee, entered the Florida Barge Canal, paddled up to the Inglis lock, then all the way down the canal to Hwy 19 and our take-out. Not the most pleasant paddle I have been on. It was cool, cloudy, breezy, and short rain showers. While the Withlacoochee portion was scenic, the Barge Canal was, well it was the Barge Canal. This was one paddle I was glad to see the end!…James
The Outlet River was at one time a canal, dug in the 1800s to connect citrus growers and cattle ranchers along the Withlacoochee River to the railhead located in the town Lake Panasoffkee. Lake Panasoffkee, which is Indian for “Valley of Water” is the third-largest lake in Florida with a surface area of approximately 4100 sq ft. and a mean depth of 3′. The lake is designated an Outstanding Florida Waterway…James
The Rainbow River is located, in Dunnellon, Fl, about 20 miles southwest of Ocala, in Marion County. The headspring, Rainbow Spring, is a 1st magnitude spring that ranks 4th in the state for volume, discharging 400-600 million gallons of water a day! The spring is composed of numerous vents rather than one single vent…James
