Holmes Creek - Cotton Landing to Cypress Spring
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.
Launch location
A close map of the verified put-in, and a link to open it in your maps app for directions.
- Open launch map30.65593, -85.68082
Why paddle here
- A quick, rewarding out-and-back on tea-colored Holmes Creek to the clear boil of Cypress Spring - an easy destination paddle with a hand launch right at Cotton Landing and swimming once you arrive.
Launches, parking and access
Where you actually put the boat in, how far you carry it and over what. This is the part official sources are worst at, so it is the part we say most plainly — including where we do not know yet.
Cotton Landing hand-launch ramp
- Launch type
- Hand-launch ramp for canoes/kayaks
- Access
- Public access
- Put-in
- 30.65593, -85.68082· open in Maps
- Fees
None
High confidence- Parking
- High confidence
- Carry to the water
- Carry not yet measured
Nobody has checked this yet.Report the carry — How far did you carry your boat from the parking area to the water?
- How hard that carry is
- Not yet assessed
Nobody has checked this yet.Rate the carry — How hard was that carry with a loaded boat?
- Ground you cross
- Not yet recorded
Nobody has checked this yet.Describe the ground — What did you cross on the way — pavement, sand, stairs, loose trail?
- Boat cart
- Not yet assessed
Nobody has checked this yet.Report cart use — Could you use a boat cart the whole way, or did you have to carry?
- Unloading
- Not yet assessed
Nobody has checked this yet.Report unloading — Could you unload beside the water before parking, or carry the whole way?
- Restrooms and rinse
- Not yet measured from the launch
Nobody has checked this yet.Report facilities — How close are the restrooms and showers to this launch?
A hand launch for canoes and kayaks on Holmes Creek, a short paddle from clear Cypress Spring.
Routes
Difficulty belongs to the route, not the location. One place can offer a beginner loop and an advanced crossing.
Cotton Landing to Cypress Spring
Not yet ratedOut and backPut in at Cotton Landing hand-launch ramp.
A short out-and-back from Cotton Landing to Cypress Spring and back - a few minutes each way to the clear spring, with swimming and snorkeling once you arrive.
Help verify this route
Have you paddled Cotton Landing to Cypress Spring?
- How far was this route if you tracked it?Report the distance — How far was this route if you tracked it?
- How long did it take you, and at what pace?Report the time — How long did it take you, and at what pace?
- How difficult did this route actually feel?Rate the difficulty — How difficult did this route actually feel?
What conditions do here
How much each factor typically governs a trip at this location.
These are not live conditions. This describes how much each factor typically governs a trip here. Always check the current forecast, tide table and river level before you launch.
- Wind
- Minor factor
- Current
- Not yet assessed
- Tide
- Minor factor
- Boat traffic
- Minor factor
Planning
- Exposure
- Sheltered creek
- Seasonal
- Warm-season swimming; summer heat, sun and afternoon storms. Spring-shoreline restoration is underway - watercraft access remains.
- Best time of day
- Morning
- Reservations & permits
- None
Hazards
Heat and sun exposure
Summer heat and sun
Afternoon lightning
afternoon thunderstorms
Other
restored spring shoreline with posted access limits.
Holmes Creek is calm, but summer brings heat, sun and afternoon storms. Keep to the water along the restored spring shoreline and follow posted signs.
Amenities and craft
Craft suited to this water
Bringing your own boat: Yes
Amenities
- Restrooms — not recorded
- Showers — not recorded
- Picnic area — not recorded
- Food nearby — not recorded
- Drinking water — not recorded
What you will see
Rentals and outfitters
No outfitter recorded here. Bring your own boat, or check nearby locations.
PaddlePin tips
Launch at the Cotton Landing hand ramp and paddle a short way to Cypress Spring. The spring shoreline is under restoration, so keep to the water and follow posted signs; boat and swimmer access to the spring itself remains open. Bring water shoes for the spring.
High confidenceBest Time of Day: Morning
High confidenceSafety Notes: Holmes Creek is calm, but summer brings heat, sun and afternoon storms. Keep to the water along the restored spring shoreline and follow posted signs.
High confidence
Been here? Help keep it accurate
PaddlePin is researched from official sources. Paddlers who have actually been are how it stays true.
Contributions are reviewed before anything on this page changes. PaddlePin stays the researched directory — your report is evidence we check, not an edit to it.
Sources
Where this information came from, and when we last read it.
- Primary source — nwfwater.com, read
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