Florida Hikes

Hike Bike Paddle Camp Florida with authors Sandra Friend and John Keatley as your guides

River with line of palm trees against horizon

Recreation along Rivers in Florida

Places to paddle along rivers in Florida, from major ones like the St. Johns and Choctawhatchee to smaller ones like the Aucilla and Homosassa.

Hillsborough River State Park

Thonotosassa   13.4 miles

With footpaths and picnic grounds built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, this park delights with miles of scenic trails, a swinging bridge, and the froth of river rapids.

Hontoon Island State Park

DeLand   3.3 miles

Criss-crossed by a network of trails, this island in the St. Johns River is worth the short ferryboat trip to explore a landscape with ancient echoes of a past civilization.

Ichetucknee Springs State Park

Branford   3.4 miles

A swimming hole as a work of natural art, the deep gash in the earth that is Ichetucknee Spring glows an unearthly robin's-egg blue, cradled in a limestone bowl within a leafy glen.

Jonathan Dickinson State Park

One of South Florida's best backpacking destinations, Jonathan Dickinson State Park encompasses a vast mosaic of ecosystems along the wild and scenic Loxahatchee River.

Kayaking Oleta River State Park

Paddling within sight of downtown Miami? Kayak or SUP from Blue Moon Outdoor Center in Oleta River State Park to explore mangrove shorelines along Biscayne Bay

Koreshan State Park

Estero   2.1 miles

When Dr. Cyrus Teed founded a commune along the banks of the Estero River in 1894, he envisioned a utopia in the tropics. Koreshan State Park preserves that slice of history.

Lafayette Blue Springs State Park

Mayo   1.0 miles

A beauty spot along the western shore of the Suwannee River, Lafayette Blue Spring is both a swimming hole and a lesson in the curious nature of karst.

Little Manatee River State Park

Wimauma   20.9 miles

With sandy shores around every bend and a canopy of trees overhead, Little Manatee River State Park provides a beautiful destination for a family getaway.

Little-Big Econ State Forest

Geneva   52.4 miles

Spanning from Oviedo to Geneva and Chuluota, Little Big Econ State Forest encompasses more than 10,000 acres of diverse habitats.

Madison Blue Spring State Park

A long-time Old Florida swimming hole along SR 6 between the towns of Lee and Jasper, Madison Blue Spring is a sinkhole pouring out a first-magnitude spring into the Withlacoochee River.

Manatee Springs State Park

Showcasing the lower Suwannee River, Manatee Springs State Park centers around a clear blue spring, one of Florida's largest and most picturesque