Withlacoochee Kayak Trip

As promised, here is more on the Withlacoochee!  There are actually two rivers by this name in Florida.  One, the Withlacoochee (South) starts in the Green Swamp between Tampa and Orlando and flows NORTH to the Gulf of Mexico.  The other one, the Withlacoochee (North) starts in south Georgia and flows into the Suwanee River in Florida.  We paddled the Withlacoochee (South) last week for an amazing day on the water.

Thanks to Carlene and Bruce, who have 2 and borrowed 2 more small (9-10ft) sit-inside kayaks, we were able to launch for about a 3.5 hour leisurely 10 mile trip. We dropped the kayaks at the boat ramp at Silver Lake which is very close to I-75, about an hour north of Tampa. It has a camping area, bathrooms and picnic tables as well.  I went with Cindy in her truck and we met Carlene and Bruce there.  They had all 4 kayaks loaded in their truck with straps to keep them all in. 

Carlene takes it easy down the river

We left Bruce at Silver Lake, watching the boats and people, while we drove up to Nobleton, FL to drop off Carlene's truck at the ramp on the east side of the river, just north of CR 476  This way we could load the boats back into Carlene's truck when we were done.  Then Cindy and I drove Carlene back to Silver Lake. It did't take too long and both sites are pretty secure with plenty of people around.  There is a two dollar per person fee at Silver Lake. 

The river is pretty wide at the lake as we passed under the interstate, headed north and downstream.  We passed a designated Canoe Camp on the left, which can be accessed from the Florida Trail (loop) in the Croom Tract of the Withlacoochee State Forest.  I camped here once before with a group of Boy Scouts we had on a backpacking trip in preparation for our big trip to Philmont, NM. I remember it well as it was my birthday and I packed in a box of those astronaut ice cream sandwiches which disappeared in a flash!  

Cindy Shaw paddles the Withlacoochee

The river gently narrows as you approach Iron Bridge, another boat ramp and day use area with picnic tables at the location of an old railroad bridge very close to what may have been a wooden bridge as well (we saw the metal pilings just downstream from the wooden ones).  There are large boulders of limestone across the river here, so you have to take care navigating this section. 

The river then enters a dark section of the forest that is so unlike the Hillsborough River near me in Tampa.  This must be a faster moving river or one that comes out of its banks more or both. There is a lot less undergrowth on this river than the Hillsborough and you can really see the trees as deep into the woods as the eyes will let you. The alligators we saw today were not nearly as big or plentiful as the Hillsborough River and that may be due to hunting, better access by boats, or just that this river is wider and shallower.

Beautiful trees and sky greet Bruce

There is another canoe camp called Hog Island  that requires veering to the right behind a very long narrow island.  We stayed left in the main channel. Hog Island has camping, bath houses and a boat ramp. I used to car camp here with our Cub Scout Pack as it has a great group site and has a short nature trail.  By the time we passed the island, we had missed all of those things and remained treated to a true wilderness experience.  

The houses started to show up on the right bank after that and finally on both banks as we neared CR 476.  After passing some teenagers making an impressive display of jumping out of a giant oak tree (back flips, etc), we passed under the only other bridge since the interstate and pulled off to the right at the ramp. 

Unknown teen doing a back flip out of an oak tree.
A young lady on the shoreline looks on!

You can also pull off to the left at the River Ratz Cafe and Nobleton Canoe Outpost but we did drive over there after loading all the kayaks in Carlene and Bruce's truck.  Cindy and I had some monster salads (I highly recommend the spinach salad with hot bacon dressing) and Carlene and Bruce both had Cubans, which they said are as good as the ones in Ybor City (the Cuban section of Tampa).  We sat along the water and since it was after 2pm, we were hungry!  We relived the day's events before all four of us hopped back in the truck to return to Silver Lake to get Cindy's truck and say goodbye. 

I highly recommend this river trip for canoe or kayak. It is part of a state designated canoe trail and I can't wait to paddle more sections of it. One day, I want to paddle the entire length, stopping only to camp and eat along the way. The trick is carving out the week or more I would need to paddle all 110 miles of it!  I was inspired by Jane Durocher's talk at a Florida Master Naturalist Conference to make an epic voyage like she did on the St. John's River.  One day I will do it!  I have all the maps and campsites marked. I just need the time to go play outside some more!  

The Author on the Withlacoochee

Many thanks to my friends for inviting me along on this peaceful and relaxing day.  Everyone was into the nature and to keeping the river clean.  I was amazed at how clear the water was in parts and loved the way Bruce added to his bobber collection, salvaging every one he could find.  He even recovered a kid's Spider-Man rod and reel!  Thank you Cindy, Carlene and Bruce!  Playing outside is always better with friends.  

Canoe Trail Map