Withlacoochee (South) - #1
(Hwy 48 - Outlet River)
Cost:
$50.00 per person
(includes kayak or canoe, paddle, vest, shuttling and guide)
Using your Own Boat -
$35. (many
paddlers with their own boats like to join us to learn
more about the history, archaeology and natural history of these
rivers).
Group size:
1 - 24 paddlers
Trip time:
3.5 - 4 hours
Skill level: Great for beginners (and enjoyed by
experienced paddlers too)
Difficulty:
This stretch is very open in
places, so wind can be an issue, so strength and endurance are your most
important considerations. Like the lower Ocklawaha, there are many tempting side
channels
and the floating vegetation can be confusing, so you won't want to get
out of sight of the guide.
Dates
* See
calendar
for trips being planned.
Or,
Schedule your own
private
tour ($150
minimum).
Call Adventure Outpost for details
(386-454-0611)
Location
To see this river's general location, go to the River Locator Map
or
Click on link below for a local map and then use zoom and panning arrows to
explore the area.
Note: the red star is NOT our meeting place, but just a nearby town or landmark.
http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?formtype=address&searchtype=address&country=US&addtohistory=&address=&city=Floral+City&state=FL&zipcode=
Description
For much of it's hundred mile
length, the Withlacoochee carries itself with a subtle beauty that is unlike any
other Florida river. The section we'll be exploring on this trip is one of the
finest. Sandwiched between two fantastic wetlands, Wahoo Swamp to the south and
Tsala Apopka Lake to the north, time and civilization have never stood a chance
here.
In addition to being relatively devoid of human habitations, this part of the
Withlacoochee has a great diversity in appearance, ranging from relatively
narrow channels to broad expanses nearly a half mile wide. The low swamp forests
lining the bank are dominated by cypress with a nice mix of gum, ash and red
maple.
The river itself alternates between open expanses of water to large areas of
marsh, sometimes in the form of floating mats of water hyacinth, pickerelweed,
bur marigold and climbing hemp vine, other times as more permanent islands
of rooted vegetation. This abundance of aquatic vegetation means different
things to different people. To the motor boats, they're a nuisance, to the
first-time explorer, they're the source of heightened confusion in trying to
find the way, and to the nature lover, they're a virtual banquet of wildlife
watching opportunities. This is a lighter, more airy
river than many others in north-central Florida. The channel fluctuates
dramatically - sometimes spanning 50 - 60 yards, in other places
spreading to three or four times that width, creating small, in-channel lakes.
Marshes, swamps and small islands create a variety of habitats that are home to
many species of reptiles, insects and birds.
Cypress, ash, gum and red maple trees dominate the wetland forests that line the
shores. There are always plenty of water birds. There are also turtles, gators
and and other reptiles to keep things interesting, as well as my personal
favorites - the otters.
If you could only do one stretch of the Withlacoochee, I'd recommend this one.
History
As with most inhospitable
corners of wild Florida, the only people who have called Tsala Apopka Lake and
Wahoo Swamp home are those who didn't want to be found. In the early 1800's,
there was probably nobody who more desperately wanted to remain unfound than the
Seminole Indians. As friction between them and the ever increasing population of
white settlers increased, the Seminoles established villages deep in these
swamps. From here, they staged simultaneous raids on Ft. King (today's Ocala)
and a deadly ambush of American soldiers that would go down in history as the
"Dade Massacre". And it was in these villages they celebrated their triumph. The
villages remained undiscovered for a while, even though the Army was sure these
swamps were the Indians' main stronghold. Eventually, a series of battles,
including the Battle of Wahoo Swamp, drove the Seminoles south to an even larger
wetland, the everglades.
Highlights
This is a very scenic trip - photographers will find plenty of subjects to keep
their shutters shuttering. The lack of human encroachment and abundant wildlife
make this one of the finest sections of the Withlacoochee to get a full, heady
dose of nature.
Trip Notes & Recent
Conditions
(Interesting sightings or notes?
Let us know)
August 21, 2005 - Heavy rains earlier in the year are still seeping into the river, keeping levels elevated. Currently, levels are about 2 feet above average. Birds were a bit scarce, but overall conditions were good. Much of this part of the river is very open, which makes for some hot paddling at this time of year, but we had a nice, faint breeze which kept us comfortable.
Jan. 29, 2007 - With the recent breaching
of a small dam, water levels are lower than usual at this time. There's not
enough water to comfortably do this trip, so we'll be holding off doing this one
again for a while.
Sept 20, 2007 - The river is currently
about as low as it can be for decent paddling. Recent rains may bring it up a
bit. Watch the gauges.
March 06, 2008 - The heavy rains two weeks ago has brought good paddling conditions back to the Withlacoochee. This comes just in time to catch the spring bloom!
CURRENT WATER LEVELS
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/ahps.cgi?tbw&crmf1
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