Another excellent Month of Florida Parks and Rivers in March of 2026! Linda and I headed south to meet up with friends from all over to paddle subtropical spring-fed rivers and visit interesting state and national parks. It was an enjoyable, fun time with beautiful scenery, warm weather, great friends, and good times on and off the water!
This year we paddled in the three regions circled in red: Rivers around Tallahassee (upper left), around Ocala (central), and South Florida (lower). Map from:
https://floridadep.gov/parks/ogt/content/floridas-designated-paddling-trails
Our adventures began at the Rodman Campground near Ocala. In six days we paddled six rivers, mostly within an hour of our campground "home." Favorites included the Silver, Rock Run, and Juniper Rivers, with plenty of birds and other wildlife along the way
This vulture is having a big alligator meal at Salt Springs
Bridges across the ravine at Ravine Gardens State Park, Palatka, FL
Here's a gator chillin' at Alexander Springs
Amy and Lori with three "cavorting" manatees in Silver Springs State Park
This manatee leads the way down the Silver River
Paula, Phil, and Russ at Rock Springs Run
An Ibis rookery along Rock Run
The crystal-clear Juniper Creek, one of my Florida faves
Mary, Karl, and Russ on the Juniper
Sand Cliff along the Ocklawaha
Linda and I then headed to the far south of Florida to spend a week in a few of the national parks there. Biscayne National Park is mostly a marine park, with 95% of it being underwater; the rest of it is mainland shoreline and forty two keys (coral islands just off the mainland). The Everglades National Park and the Big Cypress National Preserve protect a huge portion of the Everglades, a huge and fascinating ecosystem in South Florida.
Alligators along the Anhinga Trail, Everglades National Park
A big old croc along a back country waterway tour. The southern Everglades is one of the only places in the country where alligators and crocodiles share a habitat
See the crocodile next to the law enforcement boat? Everglades National Park
A pod of baby alligators at Shark Valley, Everglades National Park. These little guys are hatchlings, born from one mother. FYI, a group of unrelated alligators is called a congregation
The lighthouse at Boca Chita Key in the Biscayne National Park was built for ornamental purposes only. The entire key was developed as a luxurious island getaway for the rich and famous; the owner, Mark Honeywell, sold it after the sudden death of his wife. It was eventually donated to the National Park Service
A view from the lighthouse
View from the shoreline, Boca Chita Key
Paddling through a mangrove tunnel was a trip highlight! Turner River, Big Cypress National Preserve
At the end of the second week, Linda headed home and I rejoined the paddling group around Tallahassee, to explore a few more rivers, this time in the panhandle (western) part of the state. There are more blackwater streams in the panhandle (compared with mostly clearwater streams in the peninsula); the scenery is just as gorgeous
View on top of the Bluffs of St Theresa, Ochlockonee River
On the Ochlockonee with (l-r) Sherry, Lori, Doug, Rick, and Nan
An abandoned canoe along the lower Sopchoppy River
Sopchoppy Shoreline
The Upper New River
The Upper New
The Upper New
The Aucilla River shoreline
The Aucilla River
Aucilla River
All in all, a pretty great time in Florida, with good weather, beautiful rivers and great friends. We also had the pleasure of visiting with Doug & Patti in South Carolina and Carol and Norm in Orlando on our way down and back. Thanks to all who helped to make this a great trip, and a huge shout-out to Lori, who did an incredible job of organizing the whole thing and keeping all the moving parts going in the right direction!
More pics and stories about the individual weeks here:
Ocala Area Rivers:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/i49KEvXLPyuFU2Z76
Florida's National Parks:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/PNMjNqoe57GEVpDv7
Tallahassee Area Rivers:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/siBQKeQs6AcuJ17J8
Comments
Post a Comment