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Little Manatee River - US 301 to 24th Street

Southwest Florida · Hillsborough County · Little Manatee River

RiverBeginner

An easy 10-mile paddling trail on the Little Manatee River near Tampa Bay, with several access points so you can run a short 6.5-mile trip to 24th Street or the full 10 miles to Wildcat Park.

High confidenceReviewed and approved

Last checked . What this means

Launch location

A close map of the verified put-in, and a link to open it in your maps app for directions.

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Why paddle here

  • A gentle, scenic Tampa-area river trail winding through Little Manatee River State Park's oak-and-palm banks - easy enough for newer paddlers, with access points that let you pick a short outing or the full 10-mile run.

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.

US 301 Bridge launch

Main launch
High confidence
Launch type
River put-in
Access
Public access
Put-in
27.67150, -82.35250· 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?

The upstream put-in at the US 301 bridge, the usual start of the Little Manatee trail.

Little Manatee River State Park launch

High confidence
Launch type
State park river access
Access
Public access
Put-in
27.67570, -82.37570· open in Maps
Fees

State park entry

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 river access within Little Manatee River State Park, an option to start or end mid-trail.

24th Street access

High confidence
Launch type
River access / common take-out
Access
Public access
Put-in
27.66470, -82.40220· 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?

The 24th Street access, a common take-out about 6.5 miles into the trail.

Wildcat Park launch

High confidence
Launch type
County park river take-out
Access
Public access
Put-in
27.67600, -82.43610· 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?

Wildcat Park, the downstream take-out for the full trail near mile 10.

Routes

Difficulty belongs to the route, not the location. One place can offer a beginner loop and an advanced crossing.

  • US 301 to 24th Street (shorter run)

    Beginner
    One way (shuttle)· 6.5 mi· Shuttle required

    Put in at US 301 Bridge launch, take out at 24th Street access.

    Why it is rated this way

    • The state paddling guide characterizes the Little Manatee trail as easy.

    A shorter one-way run of about 6.5 miles from the US 301 bridge to the 24th Street access - an easy introduction to the Little Manatee. Stay on the main river where side channels branch.

    Help verify this route

    Have you paddled US 301 to 24th Street (shorter run) (6.5 mi)?

  • US 301 to Wildcat Park (full trail)

    Beginner
    One way (shuttle)· 10 mi· Shuttle required

    Put in at US 301 Bridge launch, take out at Wildcat Park launch.

    Why it is rated this way

    • The state paddling guide characterizes the Little Manatee trail as easy.

    The full one-way trail of about 10 miles from the US 301 bridge to Wildcat Park. Easy current, but watch for side channels and identify your take-out ahead of time.

    Help verify this route

    Have you paddled US 301 to Wildcat Park (full trail) (10 mi)?

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 river
Seasonal
Paddleable year-round; higher water speeds the current. Summer heat, sun and storms.
Best time of day
Morning
Reservations & permits
None for the river; state park entry at the park launch; shuttle required

Hazards

  • Other

    Branching side channels and route-finding

  • Other

    occasional downed trees

  • Heat and sun exposure

    summer heat and storms.

The Little Manatee is easy-moving but braids into side channels where it is easy to wander off the main river; keep to the main flow and identify your take-out in advance. Summer heat, sun and afternoon storms apply.

Amenities and craft

Craft suited to this water

KayakCanoePaddleboard

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

little manateeus 301wildcat parktampa bayeasy river

Rentals and outfitters

No outfitter recorded here. Bring your own boat, or check nearby locations.

PaddlePin tips

  • This is one river with several put-ins and take-outs. A common shorter trip runs from the US 301 bridge to the 24th Street access, about 6.5 miles; the full trail continues to Wildcat Park near 10 miles. Side channels branch off the main river, so stay on the main flow and watch for the correct take-out.

    High confidence

  • Best Time of Day: Morning

    High confidence

  • Safety Notes: The Little Manatee is easy-moving but braids into side channels where it is easy to wander off the main river; keep to the main flow and identify your take-out in advance. Summer heat, sun and afternoon storms apply.

    High confidence

Been here? Help keep it accurate

PaddlePin is researched from official sources. Paddlers who have actually been are how it stays true.

I paddled hereShare what it was actually like and help the next paddler.Help verify this PaddlePinConfirm or correct launch, parking, conditions, difficulty, rentals, or other details.

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.

  1. Primary source — floridadep.gov, read

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