Canoe Kayak Trips in Florida

  Homepage | Contact  

 

ADVENTURE OUTPOST

 

 

 

 

 

Calendar



2010g


Scroll down for 2010 dates

(NOTE: Trips with the symbol ** already have the minimum number of people signed on, so the trip will definitely be going unless bad weather or other unforeseen problems.)


January (2010)
Many January dates are still OPEN!  Any suggestions? (Most of our trips are the result of customer suggestions.)

1 (Fri) ....................  Silver River (Our almost-annual New Years Day paddle)
2 (Sat) ...................  Crystal River "Manatee Encounter"  
3 (Sun) ..................  Gum Slough 


   OPEN DATES - Any suggestions?  (Most of our trips are the result of customer suggestions.)


9 (Sat) ...................  Chassahowitzka  
10 (Sun) ................  Crystal River "Manatee Encounter"


   OPEN DATES - Any suggestions?  (Most of our trips are the result of customer suggestions.)

16 (Sat) .................  Crystal River "Manatee Encounter"
17 (Sun) ................  Suwannee River Wilderness Trail
18 (Mon) ...............  Rock Springs Run    Private tour: For your own private tour call (386) 454-0611.
20 (Wed) ...............  Wekiva River (N. of Orlando)  Private tour: For private tour call (386) 454-0611.
21 (Thurs) ..............  Lake Norris/Blackwater Creek  Private tour: To schedule your own private tour call (386) 454-0611.

22 (Fri) ...................  Manatees of the St. Johns   -  Hontoon Island / Blue Springs S.P.  Private tour: For your own private tour call (386) 454-0611.
23 (Sat) ..................  Crystal River "Manatee Encounter"
24 (Sun morn) .........  HIKE - Paynes Prairie: Lore & History of the Great Savanna. Led by Lars Andersen, author of Paynes Prairie: A History and Guide (Pineapple Pres, 2001. 2nd ed. 2004)  Private tour: To schedule your own private tour call (386) 454-0611.
24 (Sun aft.) ............  Cross Creek   Private tour: To schedule your own private tour call (386) 454-0611. 
25 (Mon) ................  Wild Florida Chronicles - Lower Suwannee: Chapman's Lost world of the Ivory-bill.  On our "Wild Florida Chronicles" series of tours, we follow the routes of some famous Florida explorations. We've focused on voyages for which there was good documentation about the environment, including plants and animals the explorers saw. The areas we paddle  look much as they did when the explorers came through. On this day's tour, we'll revisit the still-uninhabited, bottomland forests and swamps of the lower Suwannee River, explored by famed naturalist Frank M. Chapman in the late 1800's. Many of the species he described are still here. However, the Carolina parakeet and ivory-billed woodpeckers he saw, were among the last reported in Florida. 

27 (Wed) ................  Suwannee River Wilderness Trail:   Private tour: For private tour call (386) 454-0611.
28 (Thurs) ...............  Ichetucknee & Santa Fe Rivers  Private tour: For private tours call (386) 454-0611.

29 (Fri)  ..................  Cedar Key  Private tour: To schedule your own private tour call (386) 454-0611
30 (Sat) ...................  HIKE - Paynes Prairie: Lore & History of the Great Savanna. Led by Lars Andersen, author of Paynes Prairie: A History and Guide (Pineapple Pres, 2001. 2nd ed. 2004).  
 31 (Sat) ..................  Cross Creek   Private tour: To schedule your own private tour call (386) 454-0611 


February (2010)
Many February dates are still OPEN!  Any suggestions? (Most of our trips are the result of customer suggestions.)

01 (Mon) ................... Weeki Wachee (manatee paddle) 
02 (Tues) ...................  Santa Fe   (Hwy 27 - Hwy 47)   Private Tour.

   OPEN DATES - Any suggestions?  (Most of our trips are the result of customer suggestions.)

06 (Sat) .....................  Wild Florida Chronicles: Bartram's Battle Lagoon  (St. Johns River & Alexander Spring Run).   On our "Wild Florida Chronicles" series of tours, we follow the routes of some famous Florida explorations. We've focused on voyages for which there was good documentation about the environment, including plants and animals the explorers saw. The areas we paddle  look much as they did when the explorers came through. On today's trip, we'll trace a segment of William Bartram's 1774 expedition. Here, the explorer/naturalist gave some excellent descriptions, not only of the species he encountered, but also his campsite which remains much as he described it. We'll also pass the site of one of the most famous (and controversial) events of his voyage - the gator attack in a bay he dubbed Battle Lagoon. Our route will carry us through a nice variety of environments, ranging from a wide open section of the St. Johns River to the narrower, more intimate world of a large spring run. 

07 (Sun) ..................  Crystal River "Manatee Encounter"
08 (Mon) ................  Chassahowitzka
10 (Wed) ................  Suwannee River Wilderness Trail:   Private tour: To schedule your own private tour call (386) 454-0611

11 (Thurs) ...............  Ichetucknee & Santa Fe Rivers  Private tour: To schedule your own private tour call (386) 454-0611

12 (Fri)  ..................  Cedar Key  Private tour: To schedule your own private tour call (386) 454-0611  

12 (Fri) ....................  Rally For The Rivers WeekendWilliam Bartram's St. Johns River: The Traders Hideout  (Paddle and Hike). This trip is one of our "Wild Florida Chronicles" series and is being offered as part of Putnam County's "Rally for the Rivers."  Everyone's welcome!! On our "Wild Florida Chronicles" tours, we follow the routes of some famous Florida explorations. We focus on voyages for which there was good documentation of the environment, including plants and animals the explorers saw. The areas we paddle on these trips look much as they did when the explorers came through.   Today, we'll explore the area of the St. Johns near the "lower Store", where the traders had to hide their wares (including Bartram's supplies) during Indian unrest. Along our route, we'll stop on an island visited by Bartram, where we'll identify and discuss the lore of some of the local plants and animals.

13 (Sat) ....................  Rally For The Rivers WeekendOcklawaha Reservoir (Florida's Pompeii)    On this trip we'll examine the history of ther failed Florida Barge Canal (of which this is a remant). As we paddle a section of the reservoir, we'll pass an old ford, the site of a Second Seminole War fort, and submerged sites of Blue Spring and Seminole graveyard. This trip is being offered as part of Putnam County's "Rally For The Rivers" ( http://www.pcecweb.org/ ) .  Everyone's welcome!! 

14 (Sun) ...................  Rally For The Rivers WeekendWild Lore of the Ocklawaha River #3  (Below the dam) .This trip is being offered as part of Putnam County's "Rally For The Rivers" ( http://www.pcecweb.org/ ) .  Everyone's welcome!!  

15 (Mon) ..................  Rally For The Rivers WeekendBear Creek  This trip is being offered as part of Putnam County's "Rally For The Rivers" ( http://www.pcecweb.org/ ) .  Everyone's welcome!!  

17 (Fri) ...............  Crystal River Manatee tour
17 (Wed) ............  Homosassa River *Manatee Encounter*
18 (Thurs) ...........  Chassahowitzka   Private tour: To schedule your own private tour call (386) 454-0611
 
19 (Fri) ................  Crystal River Manatee tour
20 (Sat) ...............  Ichetucknee & Santa Fe Rivers
21 (Sun) ..............  Chassahowitzka 
25 (Thurs) ............  Ichetucknee  - Guided HIKE for Elderhostel.   Private tour: To schedule your own private tour call (386) 454-0611

26 (Fri evening) ....  Moonlight Paddle  (Santa Fe River to Lily Springs) 
27 (Sat) ................  Crystal River "Manatee Encounter"
28 (Sun morn)  .....  HIKE - Paynes Prairie: Lore & History of the Great Savanna. Led by Lars Andersen, author of Paynes Prairie: A History and Guide (Pineapple Pres, 2001. 2nd ed. 2004)
28 (Sun aft.) .........  Prairie Creek 

   OPEN DATES - Any suggestions?  (Many of our trips are booked by customer suggestions.) 

March (2010)
Many March dates are still OPEN!  Any suggestions? (Most of our trips are the result of customer suggestions.)

04 (Thurs) ............  Chassahowitzka   Private tour: To schedule your own private tour call (386) 454-0611

06 (Sat) ................  Suncoast Keys (Ozello). For "Wild Times Adventures for Women" group (from Virginia).  Others welcome!!
07 (Sun) ...............  Chassahowitzka  This is another one for the "Wild Times Adventures for Women" group from Virginia. Others welcome!!
08 (Mon) ..............  Ichetucknee River (short version)
11 (Thurs) .............  Ichetucknee  - Guided HIKE for Elderhostel.   Private tour: To schedule your own private tour call (386) 454-0611

12 (Fri)  .................  Wild Side' of St. Augustine  For the "Adventure Women's Group" from Gainesville. Others welcome!
13 (Sat) .................  Crystal River "Manatee Encounter"
14 (Sun) ................. Weeki Wachee (manatee paddle)  
15 (Mon) ...............  Silver River
18 (Thurs) ..............  Chassahowitzka   Private tour: To schedule your own private tour call (386) 454-0611


19 (Fri morn)  .......  HIKE - Paynes Prairie: Lore & History of the Great Savanna. Led by Lars Andersen, author of Paynes Prairie: A History and Guide (Pineapple Pres, 2001. 2nd ed. 2004)
20 (Sat) ................  Manatees of the St. Johns   -  Hontoon Island / Blue Springs S.P. 
21 (Sun) ...............  Crystal River "Manatee Encounter"
23 (Tues) ..............  Silver River 

25 (Thurs) ............  Ichetucknee  - Guided HIKE for Elderhostel.   Private tour: To schedule your own private tour call (386) 454-0611.


    OPEN DATES - Any suggestions?  (Most of our trips are the result of customer suggestions.)

26 (Fri evening) .....  Moonlight Paddle  (Santa Fe River to Lily Springs) 
27 (Sat) ................  Crystal River "Manatee Encounter"
28 (Sun aft.) ..........  Cross Creek  "The World of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings." This one's being offered as part of the Gainesville Environmental Film and Arts Festival - http://www.gainesvilleenvironmentalfilmandartsfestival.org/


   OPEN DATES - Any suggestions?  (Most of our trips are the result of customer suggestions.)



April (2010)

Many April dates are still OPEN!  Any suggestions? (Most of our trips are the result of customer suggestions.)

01 (Thurs) ..........  Ichetucknee & Santa Fe Rivers

03 (Sat) ..............  Crystal River "Manatee Encounter"
04 (Sun) .............  Wild Lore of the Ocklawaha River #3  (Below the dam)
05 (Mon) ............  Chassahowitzka 
06 (Tues) ............  Crystal River "Manatee Encounter"  **
07 (Wed) ............  Ichetucknee & Santa Fe Rivers  **
08 (Thurs) ...........  Chassahowitzka   Private tour: To schedule your own private tour call (386) 454-0611

09 (Fri) ...............  Santa Fe   (Hwy 27 - Hwy 47)   
10  (Sat) ..............  Crystal River "Manatee Encounter"


    OPEN DATES - Any suggestions?  (Most of our trips are the result of customer suggestions.)


17 (Sat) ................  Crystal River "Manatee Encounter"  **
18 (Sun) ...............  Suwannee River Wilderness Trail:  **  On this trip we'll explore a section of the new Suwannee River Wilderness Trail (SRWT). We'll also discuss some of the history of the nupper Suwannee River. You can find information about the SRWT at:  http://www.floridastateparks.org/wilderness/docs/Discovery_Pack.pdf  Your guide will be Lars Andersen, author of the new Paddlers Guide to the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail,  published in March of '09. 

19 (Mon) ...............  Silver River  **
20 (Tues) ...............  Ichetucknee & Santa Fe Rivers   Private tour: To schedule your own private tour call (386) 454-0611
21 (Wed)  ..............  Cedar Key   **
22 (Thurs) ..............  Prairie Creek / Potano Trail  **

23 (Fri) .................  Wild Florida Chronicles - Lower Suwannee: Chapman's Lost world of the Ivory-bill.  **  On our "Wild Florida Chronicles" series of tours, we follow the routes of some famous Florida explorations. We've focused on voyages for which there was good documentation about the environment, including plants and animals the explorers saw. The areas we paddle  look much as they did when the explorers came through. On this day's tour, we'll revisit the still-uninhabited, bottomland forests and swamps of the lower Suwannee River, explored by famed naturalist Frank M. Chapman in the late 1800's. Many of the species he described are still here. However, the Carolina parakeet and ivory-billed woodpeckers he saw, were among the last reported in Florida.   **

23 (Fri evening) ......  Moonlight Paddle  (Santa Fe River to Lily Springs)  
24 (Sat) ..................  Cross Creek  **
25 (Sun) .................  Black Creek   **


28 (Wed) ................ Horeshoe Crab Spawn survey: Shell Mound - On this series of two "research tours" we will be assisting the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission's horseshoe crab survey - http://research.myfwc.com/features/view_article.asp?id=18561 . These trips are timed to coincide with the prime time for the amazing annual spawn of these fascinating animals. This trip will be fun, easy (just giving a good, rough estimate of the numbers of crabs we see digging nests) and interesting. And, as always, we'll be checking out a lot of other wildlife and learning local history as we go.

29 (Thurs) ...............  Horeshoe Crab Spawn survey: Shired Island  (see above)


 

May (2010)
Many May dates are still OPEN!  Any suggestions? (Most of our trips are the result of customer suggestions.)

01 (Sat) ...............  Ichetucknee & Santa Fe Rivers 

02 (Sun) ...............  Steinhatchee

04 (Tues) ..............  Silver River 

08  (Sat) ...............  Wild Florida Chronicles - Lower Suwannee: Chapman's Lost world of the Ivory-bill.  **  On our "Wild Florida Chronicles" series of tours, we follow the routes of some famous Florida explorations. We've focused on voyages for which there was good documentation about the environment, including plants and animals the explorers saw. The areas we paddle  look much as they did when the explorers came through. On this day's tour, we'll revisit the still-uninhabited, bottomland forests and swamps of the lower Suwannee River, explored by famed naturalist Frank M. Chapman in the late 1800's. Many of the species he described are still here. However, the Carolina parakeet and ivory-billed woodpeckers he saw, were among the last reported in Florida.   **

09 (Sun) ...............  Chassahowitzka   

 15 (Sat morn)  ......  HIKE - Paynes Prairie: Lore & History of the Great Savanna. Led by Lars Andersen, author of Paynes Prairie: A History and Guide (Pineapple Pres, 2001. 2nd ed. 2004)

15 (Sat aft) ...........  Newnan's Lake & Potano Trail.

22 (Sat morn)  ......  HIKE - Paynes Prairie: Lore & History of the Great Savanna. Led by Lars Andersen, author of Paynes Prairie: A History and Guide (Pineapple Pres, 2001. 2nd ed. 2004)
22 (Sat aft) ............  Newnan's Lake & Potano Trail
23 (Sun) ................  Ichetucknee (short version)   Private tour: To schedule your own private tour call (386) 454-0611  
24 (Mon) ...............  Steinhatchee
25 (Tues) ...............  Steinhatchee  Private tour: To schedule your own private tour call (386) 454-0611  
27 (Thurs) ..............  Ichetucknee (short version)

28 (Fri) ..................  Cross Creek sunset paddle  "The World of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings." 
29 (Sat)  ................  Cedar Key 


  OPEN DATES - Any suggestions?  (Most of our trips are the result of customer suggestions.)

 June (2010)

Many June dates are still OPEN!  Any suggestions? (Most of our trips are the result of customer suggestions.)

1 (Tues)  ...............  HIKE - Paynes Prairie: Lore & History of the Great Savanna.  Private tour: To schedule your own private tour call (386) 454-0611

04 (Fri) .................  Chassahowitzka   
05 (Sat) ................  Suncoast Keys (Ozello).
06 (Sun)  ..............  Santa Fe/ River Rise Hike & Paddle: On this up-and-back paddle to River Rise, we'll explore the quieter, less-traveled stretch of the river and see the interesting "Rise" where the entire river emerges from underground. At the Rise, we'll get out of our boats and take a hike on the Natural Bridge and see a section of the ancient Bellamy Road (AKA, Old Spanish Trail, Mission Road, etc.) as we explore some wild lore of plants and critters.

12 (Sat) ................  Prairie Creek / Potano Trail  
13 (Sun)  ..............  Withlacoochee River  (Trails End) 

19 (Sat) ................  Santa Fe   (Hwy 27 - Hwy 47)   Private tour: To schedule your own private tour call (386) 454-0611.
20 (Sun) ...............  Gum Slough 

25 (Fri evening) .....  Moonlight Paddle  (Santa Fe River to Lily Springs)
26 (Sat) .................  Cross Creek  sunset paddle  
27 (Sun) ................   Orange Lake Full moon/Sunrise paddle  (5:45 AM): On this very special trip, we'll be able to paddle beneath a beaming full moon while also enjoyiong the magic of dawn and an Orange Lake sunrise!   


  OPEN DATES - Any suggestions?  (Most of our trips are the result of customer suggestions.)

 

 July (2010)

Many July dates are still OPEN!  Any suggestions? (Most of our trips are the result of customer suggestions.)

10 (Sat) .............  Wild Lore of the Ocklawaha River #3  (Below the dam)       

11 (Sun) .............  Prairie Creek / Potano Trail                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

13 (Tues) .............  O'leno History Hike - The Lore & History of O'leno SP     Private tour: To schedule your own private tour call (386) 454-0611    


17 (Sat) ................  Celebrating the Gulf:  Shell Mound   On this series of tours, we'll explore a variety of coastal habitats on  Florida's Nature Coast and examine some of the threats to their health. The oil spill is just the most recent in a list of  threats--both natural and human caused--to this beautiful region, and the effects are already very apparent.
18 (Sun) ...............  Celebrating the Gulf:   Suncoast Keys (Ozello)   See above
19 (Mon) ..............  Celebrating the Gulf:  Shired Island   See above


22 (Thurs) .............  Silver River  **

23 (Fri evening) .....  Moonlight Paddle  (Santa Fe River to Lily Springs) 
24 (Sat) .................  Santa Fe/Olustee Creek   (Santa Fe above I-75) 
25 (Sun 6 AM)  .....  Sunrise on Newnan's Lake 
25 (Sun 10:30 A) ...  Prairie Creek / Potano Trail                                                                                                                  

 22 (Tues) ...............  Rainbow River 

31 (Sat) .................  Silver River   Private tour: To schedule your own private tour call (386) 454-0611.  

August (2010)

Many August dates are still OPEN!  Any suggestions? (Most of our trips are the result of customer suggestions.)

01 (Sun) ...................  Steinhatchee    
 
03 (Tues) .................  Econlockhatchee River  

OPEN DATES - Any suggestions?  (Most of our trips are the result of customer suggestions.)

 

21 (Sat evening) .....  Moonlight Paddle  (Santa Fe River to Lily Springs) 

     

OPEN DATES - Any suggestions?  (Most of our trips are the result of customer suggestions.) 

September (2010)

Many September dates are still OPEN!  Any suggestions? (Most of our trips are the result of customer suggestions.)


OPEN DATES - Any suggestions?  (Most of our trips are the result of customer suggestions.)
 

11 (Sat) ................  Prairie Creek / Potano Trail  

18 (Sat) ...............  Ichetucknee & Santa Fe Rivers 


 OPEN DATES - Any suggestions?  (Most of our trips are the result of customer suggestions.)

25 (Sat morn) ........... Dawn / Full moon paddle on Newnan's Lake:   (6:30 AM): On this very special trip, we'll paddle beneath a beaming full moon while also enjoyiong the magic of dawn and a Newnan's Lake sunrise!  
25 (Sat afternoon)  ...  HIKE - Paynes Prairie: Lore & History of the Great Savanna. 
26 (Sun) ...................  Suwannee River Wilderness Trail:  **  On this trip we'll explore a section of the new Suwannee River Wilderness Trail (SRWT). We'll also discuss some of the history of the nupper Suwannee River. You can find information about the SRWT at:  http://www.floridastateparks.org/wilderness/docs/Discovery_Pack.pdf  Your guide will be Lars Andersen, author of the new Paddlers Guide to the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail,  published in March of '09.  

October (2010)

Many October dates are still OPEN!  Any suggestions? (Most of our trips are the result of customer suggestions.)

07 (Thurs) ..............  Chassahowitzka    Private tour: To schedule your own private tour call (386) 454-0611.   

09 (Sat) ..................  Crystal River "Manatee Encounter"   

23 (Sat) ..................  Crystal River "Manatee Encounter"   

 November (2010)

Many November dates are still OPEN!  Any suggestions? (Most of our trips are the result of customer suggestions.)

13 (Sat) ...................  Crystal River "Manatee Encounter"  

21 (Sun) ...................  Crystal River "Manatee Encounter"  

28 (Sun) ...................  Crystal River "Manatee Encounter"   

 OPEN DATES - Any suggestions?  (Most of our trips are the result of customer suggestions.) 

December (2010)

Many December dates are still OPEN!  Any suggestions? (Most of our trips are the result of customer suggestions.)

 

04 (Sat) ...................  Crystal River "Manatee Encounter"  

18 (Sat) ...................  Crystal River "Manatee Encounter"  

OPEN DATES - Any suggestions?  (Most of our trips are the result of customer suggestions.) 

 ** (NOTE: Trips with the symbol  **  already have the minimum number of people signed on, so the trip will definitely be going unless bad weather or other unforeseen problems arise.) 


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Other upcoming trips   
(dates to be announced)

Alexander Spring Run

Alligator Lake 

Atsena Otie - Cedar Key  

Aucilla River

Bear Creek

Big Shoals - Depending on water levels and your skill (and daring) you can either shoot the rapids or take the easy portage around and watch the others. But, this trips not only about this 100 yard stretch of excitement, we'll also be paddling a few hours on a calm, beautiful stretch of the Suwannee.

Black Creek

Canaveral National Seashore 

Cedar Key

Chassahowitzka

Cross Creek  Sunset paddle

Crystal River Manatee Encounter 

Cumberland Island

Gum Slough

Hillsborough River

Homosassa River 

Hontoon Island 

Ichetucknee & Santa Fe Rivers

Ichetucknee (short version) - short & easy trip for beginners and seniors (2 hours)
Julington Creek

Juniper Run 

Lake Norris/Blackwater Creek

Moonlight Paddle

Newnan's Lake  Sunset Paddle12 (Sun)  

Sunrise on Newnan's Lake 

The Lore & History of Newnan's Lake (paddle tour)

O'leno History Hike - The Lore & History of O'leno SP

Ocklawaha #1  (Silver R. - Gores Landing)

Ocklawaha #2  (Goes Landing - Eureka)

Ocklawaha #3  (Below the dam)  

Ocklawaha    (Exploring the old channel in drawn down reservoir) - For Putnam County's "River Rally".  Everyone's welcome!!

Orange Lake Sunset paddle

Orange Lake Full moon/sunrise paddle 

Ozello and the Sun Coast Keys

Paynes Prairie (Alachua Lake).  

Paynes Prairie History Hike 

Pellicer Creek

Rainbow River

River Styx

Rock Springs Run  

San Felasco History Hike - The Lore & History of San Felasco SP

Wild Side' of St. Augustine   ( Concurrent with British Encampment reenactment -   http://www.staugustinechamber.com/scripts/chambercalendar/index.cfm?FuseCalendar_ID=2824&CurntDate=12/26/2004&FuseAction=ShowEvent 

Santa Fe   (Hwy 27 - Hwy 47)   Private Tour

Santa Fe up to River Rise: Explore a quieter, less-traveled stretch of the river and see the interesting "Rise" where the entire river emerges from underground. We'll then take a hike on the Natural Bridge and see a section of the ancient Bellamy Road (AKA, Old Spanish Trail, Mission Road, etc.) as we explore some wild lore of plants and critters.  

Santa Fe/Olustee Creek   (Santa Fe above I-75)

Santa Fe River, lower - Rum Island to Ira Bea's Oasis.  This will be a rare chance to explore the less traveled section of the Santa Fe, below Hwy 47. Several nice springs and a stop at the site of the original Ft. White, highlight this trip.

Santa Fe River Cleanup - Adventure Outpost will be leading a cleanup of the Santa Fe River from Ginnie Springs to Hwy 47 Bridge. We will provide boat (canoe or kayak), paddle, vests, extended grabbing poles, garbage bags and everything else. All you need to do is show up, the rest is easy - paddle, pick up any floating garbage we see and enjoy the company of some fellow "good stewards" of our rivers. 

Silver River

Suwannee River History Paddle. (SFCC)

Suwannee Spring Hop

Suwannee River (For Elderhostel). 

Suwannee Spring Hop  (Hwy 51 - Mearson Spr)

** Sturgeons and Springs of the Suwannee!  The sturgeon fish have returned to the Middle Suwannee, so our regular "spring hop" tours have the added exciting element of seeing dozens of these magnificent fish (some over 100 lbs) leaping several feet out of the water. 

Steinhatchee 

Tomoka River 

Waccasassa and Wekiva Rivers

Wakulla Spring Run  (Concurrent with Stone Crab Fest & Butterfly Migration)

http://saintmarks.fws.gov/index.html

Weeki Wachee (manatee paddle)

Wekiva River (North of Orlando)

Withlacoochee River (North) - Blue Spring - Suwannee River SP

Withlacoochee River   (Hwy 220 - Dunnellon)  

Withlacoochee River  (Hwy 48 - Princess Lake)

* *  NEW TRIP * *   Waldo - Melrose Blueway.  ( Concurrent with Melrose Lake Fest - come join the fun at Melrose Bay).  Come out and enjoy information booths, live raptor program and music,. celebrating our local natural heritage and Lake Santa Fe. Then, in the afternoon, join us for a paddle on a segment of the fledgling "Waldo - Melrose Blueway". This exciting  project, a joint effort of the towns of Waldo and Melrose, along with Alachua County, will promote ecotourism in this area, focusing on the old steamboat route connecting the two historic communities. The route traverses two canals and skirts the edges of a few nice wetlands, (including swamps and marshes), while following the cypress lined shores of Lakes Santa Fe and Alto. Our tour this day will cross Melrose Bay and skirt the south side of Lake Santa Fe, including a visit to the secluded gem I like to call "Lost Lake" (Black Lake). Be sure to sign on before the event so we'll know to bring a boat for you.

Kayak Exploration For beginners (part 1)  Santa Fe  (Hwy 27 - Rum Is)

Kayak Exploration For beginners (part 2)  Cross Creek  

Weekend at the beach - Part 1: Tomoka River.

Weekend at the beach - Part 2: Wild Side' of St. Augustine  

Wild Florida Chronicles: Bartram's Battle Lagoon
On our "Wild Florida Chronicles" series of tours, we follow the routes of some famous Florida explorations. We've focused on voyages for which there was good documentation about the environment, including plants and animals the explorers saw. The areas we paddle  look much as they did when the explorers came through. On today's trip, we'll trace a segment of William Bartram's 1774 expedition. Here, the explorer/naturalist gave some excellent descriptions, not only of the species he encountered, but also his campsite which remains much as he described it. We'll also pass the site of one of the most famous (and controversial) events of his voyage - the gator attack in a bay he dubbed Battle Lagoon. Our route will carry us through a nice variety of environments, ranging from a wide open section of the St. Johns River to the narrower, more intimate world of a large spring run.

Wild Florida Chronicles - Bartram's Hontoon Island
On our "Wild Florida Chronicles" series of tours, we follow the routes of some famous Florida explorations. We've focused on voyages for which there was good documentation about the environment, including plants and animals the explorers saw. The areas we paddle  look much as they did when the explorers came through. Today's trip will take us to the uppermost section of the St. Johns, explored and documented by William Bartram.

Wild Florida Chronicles - Chapman's Lost world of the Ivory-bill
On our "Wild Florida Chronicles" series of tours, we follow the routes of some famous Florida explorations. We've focused on voyages for which there was good documentation about the environment, including plants and animals the explorers saw. The areas we paddle  look much as they did when the explorers came through. On this day's tour, we'll revisit the still-uninhabited, bottomland forests and swamps of the lower Suwannee River, explored by famed naturalist Frank M. Chapman in the late 1800's. Many of the species he described are still here. However, the Carolina parakeet and ivory-billed woodpeckers he saw, were among the last reported in Florida. 

Wild Florida Chronicles - Bartram and the Traders Hideout
This segment of the "Wild Florida Chronicles" is being offered as part of Putnam County's "Rally for the Rivers" .  Everyone's welcome!! On our "Wild Florida Chronicles" series of tours, we follow the routes of some famous Florida explorations. We've focused on voyages for which there was good documentation about the environment, including plants and animals the explorers saw. The areas we paddle  look much as they did when the explorers came through. Today, we'll explore the area of the St. Johns near the "lower Store", where the traders had to hide their wares (including Bartram's supplies) during Indian unrest.
This is also a section of the new Suwannee River Wilderness Trail (SRWT). You can find information about the SRWT at: http://www.floridastateparks.org/wilderness/docs/Discovery_Pack.pdf  Your guide will be Lars Andersen, author of the paddlers guide to the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail, to be published in the summer of '08.

- Suwannee River Wilderness Trail: #1 (White Springs - Blue Sink). 
On this trip we'll explore a section of the new Suwannee River Wilderness Trail (SRWT). You can find information about the SRWT at:  http://www.floridastateparks.org/wilderness/docs/Discovery_Pack.pdf  Your guide will be Lars Andersen, author of the new Paddlers Guide to the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail,  published in March of '09.

- Suwannee River Wilderness Trail: #4 (Alapaha R. confluence to Suwannee River S.P.) On this trip we'll explore a section of the new Suwannee River Wilderness Trail (SRWT). You can find information about the SRWT at:  http://www.floridastateparks.org/wilderness/docs/Discovery_Pack.pdf  Your guide will be Lars Andersen, author of the new Paddlers Guide to the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail,  published in March of '09.

- Suwannee River Wilderness Trail: #7: (Blue Spring - Hardinburg).
On this trip we'll explore a section of the new Suwannee River Wilderness Trail (SRWT). You can find information about the SRWT at:  http://www.floridastateparks.org/wilderness/docs/Discovery_Pack.pdf  Your guide will be Lars Andersen, author of the new Paddlers Guide to the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail,  published in March of '09.

- Suwannee River Wilderness Trail: #8: (Hardinburg - Ruth Spring).
On this trip we'll explore a section of the new Suwannee River Wilderness Trail (SRWT). You can find information about the SRWT at:  http://www.floridastateparks.org/wilderness/docs/Discovery_Pack.pdf  Your guide will be Lars Andersen, author of the new Paddlers Guide to the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail,  published in March of '09.

- Suwannee River Wilderness Trail: #10: (Branford - Santa Fe River).
On this trip we'll explore a section of the new Suwannee River Wilderness Trail (SRWT). You can find information about the SRWT at:  http://www.floridastateparks.org/wilderness/docs/Discovery_Pack.pdf  Your guide will be Lars Andersen, author of the new Paddlers Guide to the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail,  published in March of '09.

- Suwannee River Wilderness Trail: #16: ( Fowlers Bluff - Town of Suwannee).
On this trip we'll explore a section of the new Suwannee River Wilderness Trail (SRWT). You can find information about the SRWT at:  http://www.floridastateparks.org/wilderness/docs/Discovery_Pack.pdf  Your guide will be Lars Andersen, author of the new Paddlers Guide to the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail,  published in March of '09.

- Suwannee River Wilderness Trail: #17 (Lower Suwannee Nat. Wildlife Refuge Canoe Trail).  On this trip we'll explore a section of the new Suwannee River Wilderness Trail (SRWT). You can find information about the SRWT at:  http://www.floridastateparks.org/wilderness/docs/Discovery_Pack.pdf  Your guide will be Lars Andersen, author of the new Paddlers Guide to the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail,  published in March of '09.

 

** (NOTE: Trips with the symbol  **  already have the minimum number of people signed on, so the trip will definitely be going unless bad weather or other unforeseen problems arise.) 

 (To see the complete list of our tours go to Guided Explorations.

 

Further information is available at 386-454-0611 or by e-mail at riverguide2000@yahoo.com