Below are descriptions of the various trips offered during the Hidden Coast Paddling Adventure, along with directions to launch points and take-outs, with a link to a map of each paddle.
This material was provided by the Hidden Coast Paddling Adventure organization and is used with permission.
Spoil Island Overnight Primitive Camping, 5.0 Miles Experience camping overnight on the Florida's Saltwater Circumnavigational Paddling Trail by joining a group paddling a 2.5 mile open water crossing from the Bird Creek Park to a Barge Canal spoil island Pitch your tent beneath the scrub which frame a stunning open vista of the Gulf. Fishing is excellent in this area Remember your fishing gear, binoculars, and a camera. Prepare for bugs if the wind drops. You must be gear/food/water independent. Please note this is primitive camping. There are no grills picnic tables, water or bathrooms available. Leave your car overnight at Bird Park.
BIRD CREEK PARK: 8000 Highway 40W. Drive 6.5 miles west on SR 40 to the end of the road. Park entrance is on the right. Click here for map.
Lower Withlacoochee Paddle, 4.7 Miles Set up a shuttle from Bird Creek Park to Winding Rivers Garden. From there you will begin your paddle down the Withlacoochee. After paddling a short distance past Yankeetown, the river turns into the wilder and more saltwater influenced portion of the tannic river. Exit the river and paddle to your takeout at Bird Creek Park on the right.
BIRD CREEK PARK: 8000 Highway 40W. Drive 6.5 miles west on SR 40 to the end of the road. Park entrance is on the right.
WINDING RIVERS GARDEN PARK: Drive 2.6 miles west on SR 40 to 56th Street, take a left. The park is at the end of the road on the river. Click here for map.
Felburn Park/ Dam Paddle, 6.2 Miles Launch from the HWY 19/Barge Canal ramp at Felburn Park and paddle up the Barge Canal to the Withlacoochee River, then another mile and a half up to the Inglis Dam. Current in the river section will depend on recent rainfall.
FELBURN PARK RAMP: Drive 1.8 miles south on Highway 19. Take a left across Highway 19, continue on the side road that runs back to the barge canal. The ramp is straight ahead past the FWC Office. Click here for map.
Sunset Paddle, 2.0 Miles Depart from Bird Creek Park for a short paddle out to watch the sun set, and return to Bird Creek Park.
BIRD CREEK PARK: 8000 Highway 40W. Drive 6.5 miles west on SR 40 to the end of the road. Park entrance is on the right. No Map.
Spoil Islands Circumnavigation, 9.2 Miles Launch from the beach at Bird Creek Park and head to the Barge Canal Spoil Banks, then out to the to the western tip and return. If there is time, stop for a break on a spoil island Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail campsite.
BIRD CREEK PARK: 8000 Highway 40W. Drive 6.5 miles west on SR 40 to the end of the road. Park entrance is on the right. Click here for map.
Withlacoochee River Paddle, 9.7 Miles Set up a shuttle from Bird Creek Park to Buddy Risher Park. Paddle down the tannic waters of the Withlacoochee from the Inglis Lock, of the now defunct Cross Florida Barge Canal, to the mouth of the river, passing by the towns of Inglis and Yankeetown along the river's north bank. Exit the river and paddle to Bird Creek Park on the right.
BIRD CREEK PARK: 8000 Highway 40W. Drive 6.5 miles west on SR 40 to the end of the road. Park entrance is on the right.
BUDDY RISCHER PARK: Follow SR 40E out of Yankeetown for 3.8 miles, 8350 SR 40E, Inglis 34449 Click here for map.
Bennett’s Creek Loop, 6.4 Miles Launch at Bird Creek Park and head toward East Pass and up Bennett’s Creek, which opens back into the Withlacoochee for our paddle back. This is a great creek for birding and observing wildlife, so bring your binoculars and camera.
BIRD CREEK PARK: 8000 Highway 40W. Drive 6.5 miles west on SR 40 to the end of the road. Park entrance is on the right. Click here for map.
Johns Creek Paddle, 7.5 Miles Launch from the beach at Bird Creek Park and paddle a little ways up the Withlacoochee River then head south to the pristine Johns Creek. On your way back, if the tides are high enough, take a southern connector creek from Johns Creek to Trout Creek and return down Trout Creek.
BIRD CREEK PARK: 8000 Highway 40W. Drive 6.5 miles west on SR 40 to the end of the road. Park entrance is on the right. Click here for map.
Covas Creek to Vassey Creek Paddle, 3.7 Miles Launch at Allen Park and paddle down Covas Creek far enough to see the open Gulf. Then round Hodges Island and paddle along the marsh up Vassey Creek and under the Allen Park Road bridge to the take out. At the take out, there is a 1/4 mile hike back down Allen Park Rd. to get your vehicle.
ALLEN PARK RAMP: Drive 3.2 miles west on SR 40 to the stop sigh. Take a right and an immediate left on the Lime Rock Road. Go to the ramp at the end of the road. Click here for map.
Bird Creek Loop, 3.0 Miles Launch at Bird Creek Park and paddle a short distance up the Withlacoochee. Enter Bird Creek and wind through the small cedar hammocks and under the HWY 40 Bridge. From there it will be a short trip along the coast back to the Park.
BIRD CREEK PARK: 8000 Highway 40W. Drive 6.5 miles west on SR 40 to the end of the road. Park entrance is on the right. Click here for map.
East Pass Paddle, 3.3 Miles Launch from Bird Creek Park and head up river to East Pass. From there we'll continue along the open Gulf to the Spoil Banks of the Barge Canal and around Chambers Island. There's a nice place to take a break on the west side of Chambers Island.
BIRD CREEK PARK: 8000 Highway 40W. Drive 6.5 miles west on SR 40 to the end of the road. Park entrance is on the right. Click here for map.
Chambers Island Circumnavigation, 2.4 Miles This is a short but sweet paddle starting at Bird Creek Park, down East Pass, around Chambers Island and back to Bird Creek Park.
BIRD CREEK PARK: 8000 Highway 40W. Drive 6.5 miles west on SR 40 to the end of the road. Park entrance is on the right. Click here for map
Lake Rousseau Paddle, 7.6 Miles Launch at Dessie Smith Park and paddle the western end of scenic Lake Rousseau which was formed in 1909 when Florida Power built a hydroelectric dam on the Withlacoochee River. There are usually plenty of birds on this body of water, so bring your binoculars and camera. Watch out for the tree stumps!
DESSIE SMITH PARK: Drive 3.2 miles south on Highway 19. Turn left on West Riverwood Drive. Go 3.5 miles. The entrance to the park is on your left. Click here for map.
Upper Withlacoochee Paddle, 5.2 Miles Set up a shuttle from Winding River Gardens to Buddy Risher Park. From there you'll paddle down the tannic waters of the Withlacoochee from the Inglis Lock, of the now defunct Cross Florida Barge Canal, to Winding River Gardens, passing by the towns of Inglis and most of Yankeetown along the river's north bank.
BUDDY RISCHER PARK: Follow SR 40E out of Yankeetown for 3.8 miles, 8350 SR 40E, Inglis 34449
WINDING RIVERS GARDEN PARK: Drive 2.6 miles west on SR 40 to 56th Street, take a left. The park is at the end of the road on the river. Click here for map.
Waccasassa River Trail Paddle, 5.3 Miles This Paddle starts at the end of CR 326 in Gulf Hammock and proceeds down river to a circumnavigation of Staffords Island, and back to the ramp. Typical plant habitat is hydric hammock with a transition into salt marsh as you get closer to the Gulf.
CR 326 IN GULF HAMMOCK: Enter SR 40 W (That Dream Parkway). Turn left onto US 19 N/US-98N. Turn left onto CR 326. Travel to the end of CR 326 (200 County Road 326, Inglis, FL 34449) Click here for map.
These descriptions, directions and maps were adapted from material produced for the Hidden Coast Paddling Adventure and are used here with permission.
