Misty cypress swamps and sparkling aquamarine waters make up the wild counties of Florida’s Nature Coast—the state’s most remote coastal region north of the Everglades. Escaping the rapid development that is consuming the rest of the Sunshine State, it is a sleepy region of stunning natural beauty. The rivers and springs here can be paddled year-round, with each season offering something special.
If you have a week follow the blackwater Withlacoochee River South Paddling Trail from Green Swamp to the Rainbow River, ending at Rainbow Springs. Numerous access points and campsites make this a relaxing journey through scenic sandhills and cypress swamp. Outfitters: Paddle Florida is a Gainsville-based non-profit that organizes group tours on many scenic waterways, including the Withlacoochee; www.paddleflorida.org.
—Erin Leigh Rohan
Read about more Florida paddling trips here in the Spring 2014 issue of Adventure Kayak. Or download our free iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch or Android App.
