We recently had the opportunity to join the Sandy Oaks RV Park kayak group on a couple very nice paddles on sections of the Withlacoochee River near Dunnellon Florida.  We met the group while staying at the RV park in 2018.  They are a very active and friendly group.  We are learning much more about the kayaking adventures available.

The river courses from the Green Swamp to the Gulf of Mexico through a rare all natural area of the state.  Withlacoochee is a native American word meaning crooked river.

Our first trip this year was from a launch site near Dunnellon on the crystal clear Rainbow River down to the Withlacoohee, up the Withlacoochee to a lunch stop and back again.  A total of 6.3 miles.  There were 13 kayaks and 16 people.  The Rainbow has a pretty stiff current so the paddle back was a workout.

Our second trip was from a put-in at the end of Turner Camp Rd near Inverness.  This road dead ends deep in the wilderness at a nice ramp.  From there we paddled northwest 9.3 miles with a lunch stop at a spring bubbling up right alongside the river.  Crystal clear with bass and other fishes clearly visible.  The entire trip was downstream so while long, was a pretty easy paddle.  Again we had 13 kayaks and 15 people.  This trip was A to B so we had about a 50 minute shuttle to reunite cars and kayaks.  Great trip.  Many thanks to the Sandy Oaks Kayak Club.