Hello from the Orlando area

[Yellowboat]

Wanted to first start by saying im sorry yellowcanoe.. not my intent to make my tag so close to yours...
Me and my wife enjoy paddling the local rivers, We have recently paddled about 85 miles of the Suwannee river wilderness trail and enjoyed every second of it. We have a Indian river 16ft fiberglass canoe that has been modified to make our trips easier on us (mostly the seats ) . I look forward to reading and learning more. Thanks for taking the time to read

 

[yellowcanoe]

We''ll be down in December. I wish we were paddling in a sort of way.. We are going to Disney World with the grandkids and the "Magic Kingdom"is what they are looking forward to. While I will have fun watching them my Magic Kingdom is just a little north east and west of Orlando. But there is no time to escape.

So we will be back in January and March for some paddling in your area. We like Blackwater Creek the very best. Rock Springs is fine. We need to do some more Suwanee. I have done lots of it but in bits and pieces.

You have come to the right modification forum. Show us your work. Sometimes I think the forum title is mislableled; better would be build, and fiddle with your canoe.. There are lots of talented builders and modifiers here.

 

[Yellowboat]

Thanks for your reply but i have to be honest i am not a builder at all. My modify is mainly adding kayak seats, i am planning on adding yokes for " just in case things " . I would love to be able to do more though if needed/
Ill be on the site a good bit, I really need to go back to Blackwater Creek again, last time i really didnt enjoy it as much as i wanted. I have paddled Rock Springs many times and is our " go to place " if we are just needing to get out and paddle. I highly recommend the Suwannee river wilderness trial if you are into canoe camping. We loved it so much we are thinking about going again, however Big Sholes is no joke so use caution ( we didnt go that far north ). If you are here and wanting to paddle let me know.

 

[yellowcanoe]

I've paddle a bit of the Suwanee but somehow missed Little River Springs.( Lafayette Blue to Branford) Have to go back. I like the section from Manatee Springs to the Gulf and also from Fargo GA to Suwanee Music Park. Big Shoals is indeed class 3 but with a beautiful portage trail. The foam that rapid churns is awesome. Yep there is whitewater in FL!

I have a really good map of the Suwanee somewhere but have to find it. Its got all the launches, campsites and mileages. I think I got it in White Springs at the visitor center. Two of us canoeists pestered the ranger who went and found a "secret stash", Not visible to the public.

 

[stripperguy]

Welcome, Yellowboat.
My Darling Bride is always saying we should expand our paddling to soft water come the winter months.
When our kids were little we would spend time at the various springs for my benefit, but now MDB and I might like to paddle the rivers, and the Suwannee looks pretty cool.
I did find this:

http://www.srwmd.state.fl.us/documentcenter/home/view/31

Since I'm lazy this AM, I'll ask -- What are the camping regulations along the way? First come, reservations, fees??

 

[yellowcanoe]

I've done camping from Fargo down to mile marker 148. First come first served. Sandbar camping. The map is handy because when the water is high the bars are gone and you want to climb the banks and camp on public property, not private. I have not camped at any of the established rivercamps which have built structures ..There may be a fee for those and you do have to reserve.

Northerners would do well to read about and recognize the fire ant. If you are unwitting...they WILL find you.
I find northern FL a bit chilly in January. Temps are often below freezing.

 

[cflcanoe]

Hello back from just around the block from you yellowboat. Glad to see more from Florida around here. Yes the temps may be below freezing at night but the water is not solid. Just come a little bit more south. But the best time for canoeing in Florida for me is just about ending for the year but will be back again in March and April. Will be out a lot all winter though.

 

[Yellowboat]

Welcome, Yellowboat.
My Darling Bride is always saying we should expand our paddling to soft water come the winter months.
When our kids were little we would spend time at the various springs for my benefit, but now MDB and I might like to paddle the rivers, and the Suwannee looks pretty cool.
I did find this:

http://www.srwmd.state.fl.us/documen...r/home/view/31

Since I'm lazy this AM, I'll ask -- What are the camping regulations along the way? First come, reservations, fees??

The river camps are free with a reservation and there are 5 shelters at each river camps, there is also primitive camping at the river camps. The next trip we take ( trying for Feb ) will be sandbar camping and its a first come basis. However sandbars are hard to find after Suwannee River State Park, the river gets wider in that area and "straighter" . You cannot pick up wood at any state park in Florida, but you can buy wood at the river camps and parks, kindling is hard also to get ( cant pick it up in parks either ). There are nice "cabins" at the state parks also for around $100 a night.
I hope this helped let me know if you need more info, the map you have is the best we found. The other thing about the trip is there is very little resupply areas. and ice (if you need it ) is limited. The water at the camps also are " florida well water" they have a sulfur smell to some of them. Being from here i am used to it but you may want to bring water to drink ( the water is safe to drink from the wells)

 

[Yellowboat]

Hello back from just around the block from you yellowboat. Glad to see more from Florida around here. Yes the temps may be below freezing at night but the water is not solid. Just come a little bit more south. But the best time for canoeing in Florida for me is just about ending for the year but will be back again in March and April. Will be out a lot all winter though.

Yes it is nice to see people from Florida, and to be honest we normally backpack during the winter months, however we have the paddle bug now and thinking about just paddling all year round.

 

[Yellowboat]

I've done camping from Fargo down to mile marker 148. First come first served. Sandbar camping. The map is handy because when the water is high the bars are gone and you want to climb the banks and camp on public property, not private. I have not camped at any of the established rivercamps which have built structures ..There may be a fee for those and you do have to reserve.

Northerners would do well to read about and recognize the fire ant. If you are unwitting...they WILL find you.
I find northern FL a bit chilly in January. Temps are often below freezing.

Oh yeah the fire ant, well we didnt have problems with them at the river camps, but they were horrible at the state parks.

 

[yellowcanoe]

Never stayed at a river camp.. Reserving means schedule and thats not what I want on the river. Is it possible to just walk in (paddle in?)

 

[Yellowboat]

Never stayed at a river camp.. Reserving means schedule and thats not what I want on the river. Is it possible to just walk in (paddle in?)

Im sure you can just show up there, there are " camp host " at the river camps, but when we went most the camps were hostless. During the weekday we were really the only ones at the sites. Im guessing that if the shelters arent full they are "fair game". If they are full then you can pitch a tent.