FPN – Resources

Here are some of the paddling resources that I have come across over the past few years. There is a lot of good information out there and hopefully, this assortment of resources will help your next adventure. This list is an ongoing update.

Kayaking Basics ~ FAQs ~ Checklists ~ River Resources ~ Flora & Fauna Guides ~ Paddling Websites ~ Blogs & Forums ~ Paddling Groups ~ Outfitters ~ Launches ~ Paddling Apps ~ Gear & Accessories ~ The Marketplace

Kayaking Basics…

I’ll tell you, there are a lot of resources on kayaking basics, and rather than rewrite anything that’s already been written, there is a very good guide called the Quick Start Guide to Kayaking that is quite good, as well as, free! Not only did I download this booklet, but the authors state it is ok to share it as long as credit is given, can’t beat that! To view the guide to the left, thanks to the folks at Adventure Junkies!

Visit Florida paddling trails brochure titled Florida Paddling Trails: A Guide to Florida’s Top Canoeing & Kayaking Trails This is a very informative guide and well worth downloading!

• Guidelines for Creating Paddling Trails – Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

• Florida Kayaking Laws ( Rules & Regulations )

• National Paddlesports Instruction Program

• American Canoe Association (ACA) – Rules of the Road

FAQ’s…

Kayaking Photography with FAQs...

Checklists…

Here is my downloadable pdf basic checklist for recreational kayaking…

Waterway Resources…

• Suwannee River Water Management District’s site Real-Time River and Lake Levels.

• Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission – Paddling Trails
• Current Conditions for Florida: Streamflow…EXCELLENT for current Gauge heights and flows
• Florida – Rivers (U.S. National Park Service)

• Any Place America…A good source for free TOPO Quad sheets of numerous waterways

Paddling Outfitters…

• Adventure Outpost: Sales, Rentals & Accessories, guided kayak, and canoe tours on over 60 waterways throughout the region. Adventure Outpost 30 NW 1st Ave High Springs, FL 32643, (386) 454-0611, riverguide2000@yahoo.com

• Anderson’s Outdoor Adventures: Sales, Rentals & Accessories, guided kayak, and canoe tours. Anderson’s Outdoor Adventures currently serves the Lower Suwannee River and the middle Santa Fe River in North Central Florida. 11650 NW 115th St. Chiefland, Florida, (352) 507-0059, aoasantaferiver@gmail.com

• Black Creek OutfittersRentals, Classes, Tours, and more…10051 Skinner Lake Dr. Jacksonville, FL 32246

• Cedar Key Paddling: 12293 State Road 24, Cedar Key, Florida 32625, 352-665-1276. Bait.Tackle.Rentals & Fishing Guide

• Crystal River Kayak Company: Rentals & Tours, 1422 Building B, SE U.S. Hwy 19Crystal River, FL 34429, 352-795-2255, crkayakanddive@gmail.com

• Hunter Springs Kayaks: Rentals & Tours. 36 Northeast 4th Street, Counter A, Crystal River, FL 34429

• Juniper Creek Run Canoe & Kayak Rental: 26701 FL-40, Astor, FL 32102

• Kayak Amelia: Kayak/SUP Ecotours & Rentals. 3030 Heckscher Dr
Jacksonville, FL 32226

• Kayak Cedar Keys: Rentals & Tours. 6027 A St, Cedar Key, FL 32625, (352) 543-9447, kayakcedarkeys@aol.com

• Kayak & Stand Up Paddle Board St. Augustine: Rentals, Lessons, Tours. 442 Ocean Vista Ave, St. Augustine, FL 32080

• Kings Landing: Rock Springs Run & Wekiva River – Rentals and Shuttle. 5722 Baptist Camp Road, Apopka, Florida 32712, (407) 886-0859

• K P Hole – Rainbow River: $5.00 entrance fee. Rentals & Shuttle. 9435 SW 190th Avenue Rd, Dunnellon, FL 34432, (352) 489-3055

• Nature Coast Kayak: Canoe & Kayak Rentals 200 NE US-19, Crystal River, FL 34429

• North Guana Outpost: Rentals, tours, and meetups. 4415 Mickler Rd, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, 32082(904) 373-0306

• Ocklawaha Canoe Outpost and Resort: Rentals, tours, and accommodations. 15260 N.E. 152nd Place, Fort McCoy, FL 32134, 866-236-4606, ocklawahacanoeoutpost@gmail.com

• Paddling Adventures: – Rentals. Ft. White – 8294 SW Elim Church Rd. Fort White, Florida 32038, (386) 497-1113

• Paddles Outdoor Rentals Kayak Rentals Of Crystal River: 469 NE 1st St, Crystal River, FL 34429

• Rainbow River Kayak Adventures: Rentals. 11463 N Williams St., Dunnellon, Fl 3443

• Rum 138: High Springs – Rentals and shuttle for the Santa Fe River. This is my old stomping grounds. I used to live on Rum Island Road in the ’70s. 2070 SW CR 138, Fort White, FL 32038, 386-454-4247, info@rum138.com

• Santa Fe Canoe Outpost: Rentals, tours, shuttles, 21410 US-441, High Springs, FL 32643, (386) 454-2050

• Silver Springs State Park: Silver River. Inside the park at the boat ramp. Rentals only, no shuttle. 5656 Silver Springs Blvd. (SR 40), Silver Springs, FL (352)261-5840

• Suwannee Canoe Outpost: Spirit of the Suwannee Campground off US 129. Boat launch, rentals, and shuttle on the Suwannee River, 8524, 2461 95th Dr, Live Oak, FL 32060, (386) 364-4991

• Suwannee Canoe Rental: Tours, overnights, shuttles on the Suwannee and Withlacoochee Rivers, 4404 193rd Drive, Live Oak, FL 32060, HWY 90, 1-386-364-4185. Email: canoebarn@gmail.com

• The Kayak Shack: Weeki Wachee. Rentals, shuttles, tours, and accommodations. 5414 Darlene St. Spring Hill, FL 34607, (352) 610-4169

• Wild Florida Adventures: Cedar Key, Big Bend-Gulf Coast. Kayak Tours P.O.Box 626, Williston, FL 32696, (352) 215-4396 Email: Tours@wild-florida.com

I will continue to update this list as the website develops…

Launches…

• Suwannee River Water Management District: An interactive map showing Boat ramps and canoe launches for the upper and lower Suwannee River plus portions of the Alapaha, Santa Fe, and Withlacoochee rivers.

• Florida Go Fishing: Provides numerous launch locations for different sections of Florida

• Paddling.com: A nice map for Paddling sites and launches

• Florida Hikes: Launch Points

Paddling Apps…

Paddle Logger– Read my full review

I just switched to this app and have been impressed with it on my first two excursions.

Cost: $6.99

Compatibility: iOS

WhereAmIAt? – Read my full review

KAYAKLOG – Read my full review

Was my ‘go-to’ app to record all my paddling data i.e., weather conditions, route, paddle times, length of trip, and paddling speed. This was definitely a good app however over the summer they have been working on updating it and as a result, it has become VERY unreliable.

Cost: Free and paid

Compatibility: Android and iOS

WhereAmIAt? – Read my full review

One of the first apps I used was kayaking. It simply works! It provides me with my exact location ( Lat/Long ), provides an address of where I am as well as the approximate altitude. Does not track the paddle.

Cost: Free and paid

Compatibility: iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.