This week, we decided to paddle downstream from our launch at Bible Camp Road and head toward the Santa Fe Sink, located at O’Leno State Park. The sink is where the Santa Fe River goes underground for just over three miles before emerging at River Rise. Access to the sink is blocked at the park, a half-mile upstream, however, the two-mile paddle to the park and back was quite an adventure!…James
The last time I paddled the Upper Santa Fe River and Olustee Creek was back in February ( You can read about that paddle here ). The trees were still bare but it was a great first visit to this section of the river. Today Florida Paddle Notes revisited the same route on what started out a beautiful sunny summer day and finished with a typical Florida thunderstorm. A very enjoyable paddle! …James
Juniper Creek, the 7-mile paddle from Juniper Springs Recreation Area to Juniper Wayside ( Hwy 19 ) is always a treat and considered one of the top 25 waterways to paddle in America. That is only a part of this 10-mile creek’s story. Much less talked about, is the second half of Juniper Creek that continues on, past Juniper Wayside and flows another 3 miles to Lake George!…James
North Fork Black Creek originates as an outflow from Kingsley Lake and flows north and then east through Camp Blanding and Jennings State Forest, meeting South Fork in Middleburg, Florida. North Fork Black Creek has Yellow Water Creek and Big Branch as its main tributaries. The confluence of North Fork Black Creek and South Fork Black Creek 1.25 miles east of Middleburg form the main channel of Black Creek.
Deep Creek is a 12-mile creek, originating in the low, agricultural land 6.5 miles southeast of Hastings, Fl. and flowing in a westerly, then northwest, direction, to the St. Johns River. The basic navigable portion of the creek is from the Hwy 207 bridge, just east of Hastings to the St. Johns River. According to the St. Johns River Guidebook, the creek is thought to have been given its name due to its 18 – 20′ depth and was popular with fishermen boating in from the St. Johns River…James
Today we paddled close to home. One of the last remaining sections of the Ocklawaha River, that I have paddled but have yet to document. The entire Ocklawaha River – Bear Creek Loop, which begins at the Hwy 19 Bridge, goes East to the St Johns River, then back up Bear Creek, is about a 10-mile paddle. Today, however, we paddled a 6.5-mile loop, entering Bear Creek 3.5 miles down the Ocklawaha.
On the north shore of the Salt Springs basin is a wetland area known as Bear Swamp. Today’s side paddle takes us a 1/2 mile east of the launch at Salt Springs Marina and Landing. Here an unnamed tributary flows into Salt Springs Run…James
Today, despite a threat of rain, Donna and I headed on over to the Rainbow River expecting crowds and finding none! The weather was beautiful and we had a relaxing few hours, spending some time exploring beautiful Indian Creek and enjoying the paddle to the Rainbow head spring…James
If you’ve ever paddled the beautiful Rainbow River in Marion County near Dunellon, Fl, you have probably noticed, or even attempted to explore, a narrow spring run that flows into the river just a 1/4 mile North of K.P. Hole County Park. This is Indian Creek, that leads to Gissy Spring…James
Flagler County has opened the launch at Russell Landing in Haw Creek Preserve. My kayaking adventures have been quite a bit curtailed due to the Covid-19 virus, so we are being quite careful with our adventures for the time being. Today however, going solo, I decided to get a very early start and head over to Haw Creek. The weather was perfect and I felt getting an early start would have minimal other paddlers. I was not disappointed, I was all alone…James
