Tag: <span>Florida Paddle Notes</span>

Tomoka River

Paddling the TomokaThe Tomoka River is a 19.6 mile, north-northeast flowing river, originating in Volusia County just West of Port Orange. It flows and empties into the Halifax River and the Tomoka Marsh Aquatic Preserve. The river is narrow and canopied upstream and opens up near Hwy 40 as it flows to the coastal marsh near Tomoka State Park…James

Suwannee River – Owens Spring to Patrician Oaks Boat Ramp

Ready for the Suwannee RiverThe Suwannee River is a federally designated wild blackwater river, flowing 246 miles from the Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia through Florida to the Gulf of Mexico. The river is characterized by its swamps, high limestone banks, hardwood hammocks, and marshes. The river’s limestone outcroppings and a drop in elevation create Florida’s only whitewater rapids at Little Shoals and Big Shoals located several miles upstream from the city of White Springs…James

Fort De Soto – Mullet Key Bayou

Sandbar at North BeachThis area was inhabited by the Tocobaga Native Americans and later Spanish explorers Panfilo de Narvaez and Hernando De Soto. This was the beginning of Spain’s conquest of Florida. In 1900 the fort was named after Hernando De Soto. Both Fort De Soto and Fort Dade, on Egmont Key contained batteries of artillery and mortars to protect Tampa Bay. In 1923 both forts were officially abandoned and in 1948 Pinellas County designated Fort De Soto and Mullet Key a recreational area…James

The Silver River – Below the Surface

Turtle swimming Silver RiverThe Silver River is famous for many things, among which are the numerous springs that feed the river, the abundant wildlife, diverse flora, artifacts, and shipwrecks. Unless you have had the opportunity to enjoy a tour on one of the several glass bottom tour boats, these underwater sights often go unnoticed and unseen as we paddle the surface of this beautiful, scenic river…James

Suwannee River – Rock Bluff Spring

Rock Bluff SpringRock Bluff Spring is located in Gilchrist County just northwest of Bell, Fl. Once only accessible by boat, the Spring is now part of the A. H. Anderson Jr. Memorial Park, opened at the end of May 2019. This 2nd Magnitude Spring has several vents and is characterized by the beautiful Cypress trees around the spring pool as well as the larger Cypress along the spring run…James

South Cumberland Island – Dungeness Ruins

Cumberland Island, GaCumberland Island has a long history dating back 4,000 years and the Native American Mocama inhabitants belonging to the Timucua tribe. After the Revolutionary War, Nathanael Greene founded most of the southern island. Ten years after his death in 1786, his wife Catherine married Phineas Miller and together they built a four-story tabby mansion and named it Dungeness, surrounded by 12 acres of gardens. The Millers planted Sea Island cotton and helped Eli Whitney develop the Cotton Gin….James