Saturday Trips - November 1st

Hillsborough River – J.B. Sargeant Park to Trout Creek

This paddle is probably the most picturesque section of the Hillsborough River and most paddled by visitors and residents. The paddle starts at J.B. Sargeant Park boat ramp and proceeds down river about 7 ½ miles. Before we launch, we will arrange vehicles at the take out and shuttle drivers back to the park.

A lunch break at the Morris Bridge Wilderness Park will mark the mid point of the days paddle. Along this section of the river the channel is broad and the current is slow, occasional deadfall often restricts the passage to a small navigable channel on the first half of this paddle.

The tropical forest of cypresses, oaks, and palms canopies much of the river on this journey. Turtles and an occasional alligator are frequently seen sunning on the trunks of dead fallen trees or the riverbanks. Bird life is of abundance in this area. You should observe heron, egret, ibis, anhinga, vultures, and roseate spoonbills during this paddle.

Hillsborough River – Trout Creek to Riverhills Park

The paddle begins at the Trout Creek Wilderness Park launch area and proceeds down river about 10 miles. Before we launch, vehicles will be driven to the take out and drivers shuttled back to the park. A lunch break at the Rotary Park will mark the mid point of the days paddle. Along this section of the river the channel is broad and the current is slow moving. The tropical forest of cypresses, oaks, pines, and palms gives way to attractive residential homes along the banks of the river.

During this paddle you will pass by the edge of the University of South Florida campus and the community of Temple Terrace. Turtles and an occasional alligator can be seen sunning on trunks of dead fallen trees or the riverbanks. Bird life is of abundance in this area. You should observe heron, ibis, anhinga, vultures, and ospreys during this paddle.

Alafia River - Alderman's Ford to Lithia Springs Trip Full

Have you ever wanted to go down the rapids, but didn't have the guts to try. Well, how about trying some "riplets". You will want to bring your plastic boat to avoid multiple injuries to your boat. We launch from a small dock to paddle down this small and mostly natural (few houses) river. It's a nice quiet paddle of about 11 miles that meanders through beautiful oak and cypress woodland, occasionally the river banks are 4 to 5 feet high, but in most places the shoreline is shallow and sandy. The exciting thing is that there are about 10 places along the river were there are small riplets. You just line your boat up and go. The river is fairly shallow so come and have fun.

Little Manatee River 24th St SW up river and back

This is an easy paddle. We launch from a nice sandy beach along the river and will paddle down river for about a mile before doing "the loop" which loops back toward upriver. This loop is a winding, twisting small water trail which almost makes you think that you are lost in the Amazon. We re-emerge on the river to paddle back upstream on a nice natural, quiet river. There are several nice places to take out to have lunch.

Cockroach Bay Mangrove Trail Cancelled

This trip will paddle the Cockroach Bay canoe trails; the Snook canoe trail is a 2 mile loop going north from the Cockroach Bay boat ramp and the Horseshoe Crab canoe trail is a 2 mile loop going south from the boat ramp. Paddlers will be able to choose doing one or both loops. Both trails wind through a myriad of mangrove islands that line the south east shoreline of Tampa Bay. Each trail is well marked to help paddlers remain on the trail and know their relative location. This is an easy, leisurely paddle.

Braden River from Jiggs Landing to Linger Lodge (lunch) Cancelled

If you enjoy a 4 mile easy paddle followed by a nice lunch at a unique restaurant (Linger Lodge), this trip is for you. We launch from Jiggs Landing, a grass covered park of a new park. The Braden River flows thru Bradenton, passes a few houses and has some natural parts with some wildlife. Linger Lodge is a local, unique place with stuffed alligators, snakes and other reptiles. Yes you can have alligator tail for lunch there.

Night paddle Hillsborough River - Lowry Park to downtown Tampa (experienced paddlers only) Trip Full

This paddle starts at the Lowry Park boat ramp, since we are below the dam, this trip is subject to the tidal changes occurring in the upper Tampa bay; however, these currents are weak and not a factor. This is the same paddle trip as we did on Friday, except this is done under moonlight conditions. Everyone will be required to have an operating flashlight. We will proceed down river from the park to the city of Tampa, stop for a photo opportunity, and then paddle back to the park for takeout. Residences line both sides of the Hillsborough River throughout this paddle, but it is interesting to observe the differences in the homes between the park and downtown Tampa. Total paddle will be about 12 miles round trip.

Honeymoon/Caladesi Island - Beach Day

The three paddle trips listed below are for those that may want to spend their afternoon at the beach before returning to the campsite. The Honeymoon Island State Park is only 1/3 mile away. It has an $8.00 entrance fee and closes at darkness. The Park has life guard protected beach for swimming and sun bathing or about 3 1/2 miles of beach for shelling. The Park also runs a ferry across the channel to Caladesi Island that has a beach for swimming and sun bathing and about 3 miles of beach for shelling.

Three Rooker Bar - open water paddle (experienced paddlers w/kayaks only) Cancelled

The paddle leaves from the Dunedin Causeway goes out Hurricane Pass and turns north into the Gulf and follows the shoreline of Honeymoon Island for 4 miles. We will then cross a mile of open water to arrive at the shore of Three Rooker Bar. The bar has a bird sanctuary at both ends and the middle region has been raised by recent tropical storms, however, it is still a safe place to land and enjoy a very private beach suitable for swimming, sunning, and shelling.

We will take a rest break here, enjoy our lunch, and take a swim or whatever else you enjoy, before starting the trip back. On the return trip we will pass around the lower bird sanctuary as we proceed back to the put-in. This will be an 11 mile intermediate skills trip; you must have a spray deck for your kayak.

Circumnavigate Caladesi Island - open water paddle (experienced paddlers w/kayaks only)

This trip will leave from the Dunedin Causeway beach, then paddle out Hurricane Pass and turning south, paddle along the Caladesi Island beach to about the 3 1/4 mile mark. Here we will land, taking a rest break, and then portage our boats approximately 75 yards to the old Dunedin Pass channel. Once we are back in our boats we will paddle around the south end of the island and head east to one of the Spoil Islands for a lunch break.

The return leg of the trip will follow a path parallel to the string of spoil islands back to the causeway put-in. Time permitting we may stop to explore one or two of the spoil islands as we return to the causeway put-in. Usually on this trip herons, egrets and anhinga are seen in the mangroves and frequently dolphins are observed along the path we plan to take back to the causeway.

Caladesi Island canoe/kayak trail

This trip will depart from the Dunedin Causeway beach, cross the Hurricane Pass channel and paddle south along the east edge of Caladesi Island. At the island marina entrance channel, we will proceed into the marina area to begin the canoe/kayak trail. The trail winds south for 2 miles through mangroves that have grown up along the east shoreline of the island. For most of this trail, you are in a mangrove tunnel, well marked, with sufficient water depth even at low tide to paddle canoes and kayaks the entire trail.

Depending on prevailing conditions the return can be via the mangrove trail or by exiting the trail and swing east and then turning north we can paddle along the eastern edge of the mangroves to the north end of Caladesi Island. On this outside easterly leg you will probably observe egrets, herons, and anhinga in the mangroves. After reaching the north end of the island we will cross the channel and land back at the causeway beach.

Swap Shop, Activities and Notes

Swap Shop: open 5:00 until 8:00

7:00 p.m. Program: Ranger Dave will speak on Rivers of Florida

8:00 p.m. Evening campfire