Florida Paddle Notes

FPN – Resources

graphic-paddlerLogo-aboutUsFPN – 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


 

Icon BasicsKayaking Basics…

Kayak GuideI’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! So 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

 

Icon FAQsFAQ’s…

Kayaking Photography with FAQs...

Icon ChecklistChecklists…

Here is my downloadable pdf basic checklist for recreational kayaking…

Icon-river resourcesWaterway 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

Icon Flora FaunaFlora & Fauna Field Guides…

The Florida Paddle Notes Flora Guide
Atlas of Florida Plants
Aquaplant
Aquatic and Wetland Plants in Florida
Field Identification Guide to Plants Used in the Wetland Assessment Procedure
Florida’s Nature

Icon Paddling WebsitesPaddling Websites…

Adventure Outpost
Church of the Double-Bladed Paddle
Florida’s Designated Paddling Trails
Florida Paddling Trails Association
Florida Kayaker
Ocklawaha Canoe Outpost & Resort
Paddle Florida (.net)
Paddle Florida (.org)
Santa Fe Canoe Outpost

Icon BlogPaddling Blogs & Forums…

Adventure Kayak Cocoa Beach
Dave’s Yak Tales
Florida Hikes
Florida Kayaker
Florida Kayaking
Florida Rambler
Green Wave Forum
Sea Kayak Florida
Visit Florida

Icon Paddle GroupsFacebook & Meetup Paddling Groups…

Adventures in Florida
Boll Green Aquaholics
Central Florida Kayakers
Florida Kayaker Community
Florida Paddling Trails Association
Florida Sea Kayak
Florida Sport Paddling Club
Kayak Junkies of Central Florida
Kayaking Groups near Orlando
Kayaking Groups near Tampa
Marion County Aquaholics
Marsh Creek Kayakers – St Augustine
North Florida Kayakers
Putnam Blue Ways and Trails
Seminole Canoe & Kayak Club
The Villages Canoe & Kayak Club

Icon Tours & RentalsPaddling 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 70’s. 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…

icon-kayak-launchLaunches…

• 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

Icon AppsPaddling Apps…

Paddle LoggerRead 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

                    KAYAKLOGRead 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 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.

Icon AccessoriesKayaks – Accessories – Gear…

Kayak Modifications and Accessory Installment – KayakModify.Com

My personnel accessories:

AQUA BOUND Aquabound Sting Ray Carbon Posi-Lok 2 Piece Kayak Paddle

Gear Head Mount Extender – Scotty

Flush Deck Mount with Rain Cap – Scotty

Portable Camera/Compass Mount – Scotty

Cup Holder – Scotty

Bait Board – Scotty

Pijio Coccyx Comfort memory Foam Cushion

Several Sealline Dry Bags and a Guide Gear Dry Duffle

See my rig Stumpknocker’ here…

Adventure Outpost ~ Scotty Paddle Sports ~ REI Kayak Accessories ~ Austin Kayak ~ YakGear ~ Sierra Trading Post ~ Black Creek Outfitters  ~  Campmor


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