Paddling in Florida

Florida leads the way in paddling trails, with the Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail the longest continuous water trail along the coast of a single state.

Whether you prefer canoe, kayak, or SUP, our perfect weather for paddling in Florida guarantees year-round fun.

Explore our spring-fed rivers and streams, or take a trip through calm saltwater in the Florida Keys, Ten Thousand Islands, and our many bays with signposted blueways.

Resources

Our resources for paddlers 

 
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Favorite Paddling Trips

Among the waterways and routes we’ve paddled, these rank among the very best.

Paddling Juniper Run Paddling Juniper Run from Juniper Springs to the take out at SR 19 in the Ocala National Forest, a popular paddling trip along this sinuous, spring-fed waterway that winds through the Juniper Prairie Wilderness.

Indian Key Historic State Park On an island visible from the causeway between Lower and Upper Matecumbe Keys, walk into the past to discover the birthplace of Dade County.

Paddling Holmes Creek With a dozen launch points and more than 15 springs along its 16 mile length, Holmes Creek, a tributary of the Choctawhatchee River, is a must-do paddling trip along a remote waterway.

Rainbow Springs State Park A botanical and a geological delight, Rainbow Springs wraps the beauty of a first-magnitude spring with gardens and waterfalls once part of a classic Florida attraction.

Steinhatchee Falls The widest waterfall in Florida and a scenic stop in the Big Bend, Steinhatchee Falls is both geologically intriguing and an important piece of Florida history.

Alexander Springs Surrounding one of Florida's most picturesque first magnitude springs, Alexander Springs is a prime destination for a summer swim or snorkel.

Blackwater River State Park Stunning white sand beaches along the Blackwater River tempt swimmers during the warm months and paddlers and hikers all year to this state park east of Milton.

Suwannee River Wilderness Trail Showcasing springs, sandy beaches, waterfalls, and haunting swamp forests where manatees gather, the 170-mile Suwannee River Wilderness Trail is a paddling trip of a lifetime

You can find a place to paddle just about anywhere in Florida. Our interactive map shows you the location of parks and public launches.

Major Paddling Trails

Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail

Florida’s longest marked paddling trail spans from Pensacola along the Panhandle, down the Gulf Coast and around the peninsula, using the Intracoastal Waterway on the Atlantic Coast.

When it reaches the St. Marys River at the Georgia border, paddlers follow it upriver to portage to the Suwannee River to complete an astounding 1,515 mile loop.

Remote primitive campsites and section-by-section details and maps are provided by the Florida Office of Greenways and Trails.

Suwannee River Wilderness Trail

One of Florida’s oldest long-distance paddling routes, the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail is an integral part of the above circumnavigation.

It involves a wild ride or portage around Big Shoals, Florida’s only Class III whitewater, and passes more than two hundred springs.

Along its length are strategically placed River Camps. Part of Florida State Parks, these state-run campgrounds feature landings, screened shelters, tent sites, and restrooms with water.

Suwannee River Wilderness Trail Showcasing springs, sandy beaches, waterfalls, and haunting swamp forests where manatees gather, the 170-mile Suwannee River Wilderness Trail is a paddling trip of a lifetime

Choctawhatchee River Trail

Rising along the Alabama border, the Choctawhatchee River is nourished by many spring-fed tributaries in a vast floodplain easily affected by rainfall.

The 64 mile Choctawhatchee River Trail starts at SR 2 near the state border and ends at Cowford Landing between Bruce and Ebro, just north of Black Creek and Choctawhatchee Bay.

This is a landscape thought to be the as-of-yet unconfirmed last stand of the ivory-billed woodpecker, a puzzle of ancient cypress and dead rivers.

Eighteen access points for paddlers include county parks, water management campgrounds, and private launches in Vernon.

At the finale of the route, Cowford Landing has recently been transformed into a River Camp with restrooms and screened camping shelters. Call 850-892-8700 to reserve a shelter.

Apalachicola River Blueway

The Apalachicola River is formed by the confluence of the Flint and Chattahoochee Rivers, the Woodruff Dam constraining its source, forming Lake Seminole.

Flowing 107 miles to the Gulf of Mexico, the river is edged along its north end by some of Florida’s tallest bluffs through a rural region west of Tallahassee.

View of the river from Alum Bluff

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Floodplain forests of ancient cypress bound its lower extents before it reaches a vast estuary above Apalachicola Bay.

Paddlers use established campgrounds and riverside campsites. Apalachicola Riverkeeper provides a data book and maps.

They also assemble an annual RiverTrek, a supported end-to-end paddle, which you can apply to join.

Participants are asked to fundraise and raise awareness for the river, and in turn learn about its natural and cultural history from regional experts along their journey.

Florida Blueways

Blueways are marked paddling trails with signs and blazing to lead you through a series of interconnected waterways.

Florida has both freshwater and saltwater blueways, the saltwater ones being part of the Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail.

This list is not complete but includes some of Florida’s more lengthy blueways beyond the Apalachicola, Choctawhatchee, and Suwannee Rivers.

Paddling Articles

Pioneer Paddling Trail (5/11/2022) Amid mangrove swamps along an old pioneer route in Kings Park, the Pioneer Paddling Trail offers an intimate look at a forgotten wild corridor on Merritt Island.

Launching Into Paddleboarding (10/17/2021) After a lifetime of water sports on and around the Indian River Lagoon, John takes to paddleboarding to try something new and to connect with an old friend.

Bioluminescent Paddling in Titusville (7/23/2020) During the summer months, bioluminescence makes its appearance in the Indian River Lagoon and is especially strong along Merritt Island near Titusville. On my paddling trip, I saw the best glow I've ever seen.

Paddling the Thousand Islands (7/17/2019) One of the hidden natural treasures of Cocoa Beach, the Thousand Islands provide a fun paddle through a maze of mangroves on a marked trail through a conservation area.