Sand-bottom blackwater rivers, coastal dune lakes and Gulf bayous.
12 locations, 5 with a beginner route.
Panhandle · Escambia County · Big Lagoon / Intracoastal Waterway
A calm-water Pensacola paddle through shallow Big Lagoon and tidal marsh at the official starting point of Florida's 1,515-mile coastal paddling trail.
Panhandle · Santa Rosa County · Blackwater River
A beginner-friendly Panhandle river famous for clear tea-colored water, brilliant white sandbars and easy outfitter-supported downstream paddles through protected forest.
Panhandle · Bay County · Lake Powell
A bring-your-own-boat paddle on Lake Powell, one of Florida's largest coastal dune lakes, from the North Trail launch at Camp Helen State Park near Panama City Beach.
Panhandle · Okaloosa County · Rocky Bayou
Protected bayou paddling in the Panhandle with canoe and kayak rentals at the park, noticeable tides and a wildlife-focused paddle close to the launch.
Panhandle · Jefferson County · Wacissa River
A hand-launch river access and primitive campground at mile 10 of the Wacissa River Paddling Trail, run by the Suwannee River Water Management District: the downstream take-out for trips from Wacissa Springs and the start of the Slave Canal run to Nutall Rise.
Panhandle · Washington County · Holmes Creek / Cypress Spring
A short spring-destination paddle on Holmes Creek: launch at Cotton Landing and paddle a few minutes to clear, blue Cypress Spring, one of the Panhandle's prettiest swimming and snorkeling springs.
Panhandle · Wakulla County · Ochlockonee River
Two defined loops of about seven and a half miles each, the Dead River and Sopchoppy loop and the Bear Creek loop, through a tidal creek and estuary environment.
Panhandle · Escambia County · Perdido River
A 4.3-mile beginner-friendly Panhandle river paddle from Fillingim Landing to The Pipes, with tea-colored water, white sandbars and undeveloped forest.
Panhandle · Bay County · Grand Lagoon / St. Andrews Bay
Paddle the calm, clear northern shoreline of Grand Lagoon through seagrass habitat inside one of Panama City Beach's signature coastal parks.
Panhandle · Jackson County · Upper Chipola River
A 4.5-mile point-to-point on the spring-fed Upper Chipola from Christoff Landing to Florida Caverns State Park, past limestone banks and the river's famous natural-bridge country.
Panhandle · Jefferson County · Wacissa River / Aucilla River
The full 15-mile Wacissa River paddling trail from crystal Wacissa Springs down through Goose Pasture and the wild Slave Canal to Nutall Rise on the Aucilla - a remote, navigation-heavy Big Bend classic.
Panhandle · Wakulla County · Wakulla River
A clear, spring-fed wildlife paddle below Wakulla Springs with gentle current, two public launch choices and an easy 4-mile designated trail between Upper and Lower Bridge.
