Pithlachascotee River - James E. Grey Preserve - Nicks Park
Southwest Florida · Pasco County · Pithlachascotee River
A 6-mile point-to-point on the Pithlachascotee (Cotee) River from the ADA-accessible kayak launch at James E. Grey Preserve down to Nick's Park, with optional shorter turnarounds at Francis Avenue and Sims Park.
Map position was derived from this record’s sources and is awaiting confirmation against the research directory.
Why paddle here
- Florida DEP calls this six-mile trail suitable for beginners, and the City of New Port Richey's James E. Grey Preserve launch is ADA-accessible with restrooms, a playground and free parking and launching.
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.
James E. Grey Preserve kayak launch
Main launch- Launch type
- ADA-accessible kayak launch (James E. Grey Preserve)
- Access
- Public access
- Fees
Free (city: free park entry, parking and boat launching)
Medium confidence- Parking
- Medium 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?
City of New Port Richey confirms an ADA kayak launch, restrooms, playground, shaded picnic tables, and free park entry, parking and launching. COORDINATE UNDER REVIEW: DEP 28.2364,-82.6999 vs City facility 28.2369956,-82.7022013; both held in coordinate-review, not collapsed.
Unconfirmed at this launch — can you help?
- Where exactly do you put the boat in the water here?Pin the launch — Where exactly do you put the boat in the water here?
- Were the posted launch hours accurate?Confirm hours — Were the posted launch hours accurate?
Nick's Park
- Launch type
- River take-out (Nick's Park)
- Access
- Public access
- Parking
- Medium 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?
Take-out named by DEP as the downstream end of the six-mile trail. No official coordinate recorded; needs a launch pin and a field check.
Unconfirmed at this launch — can you help?
- Where exactly do you put the boat in the water here?Pin the launch — Where exactly do you put the boat in the water here?
- Was there parking, and had it filled up by the time you arrived?Report parking — Was there parking, and had it filled up by the time you arrived?
- What did you actually pay to launch here?Report fees — What did you actually pay to launch here?
- Were the posted launch hours accurate?Confirm hours — Were the posted launch hours accurate?
Routes
Difficulty belongs to the route, not the location. One place can offer a beginner loop and an advanced crossing.
Pithlachascotee River six-mile trail - James E. Grey Preserve to Nick's Park
BeginnerOne way (shuttle)· 6 mi· Shuttle requiredPut in at James E. Grey Preserve kayak launch, take out at Nick's Park.
Why it is rated this way
- Florida DEP describes the six-mile Cotee River trail as suitable for beginners
- Optional shorter turnarounds at Francis Avenue (about mile 1.5) and Sims Park (about mile 3)
- Sheltered river inside the preserve reach
Distance, beginner rating and turnarounds from DEP's Pithlachascotee River paddling guide. Duration not given and left unknown.
Help verify this route
Have you paddled Pithlachascotee River six-mile trail - James E. Grey Preserve to Nick's Park (6 mi)?
- How long did it take you, and at what pace?Report the time — How long did it take you, and at what pace?
- How much did wind, current or tide shape this route on the day?Report conditions — How much did wind, current or tide shape this route on the day?
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
- Not yet assessed
- Current
- Not yet assessed
- Tide
- Not yet assessed
- Boat traffic
- Not yet assessed
Hazards
Deadfall and strainers
Submerged logs in dark water
Motorboat traffic
Increasing motorboat traffic below the preserve, especially weekends and holidays
Tidal timing matters
Tidal influence on the lower river
The lower river carries increasing motorboat traffic and tidal influence. Rowan Avenue Bridge is not a viable access point even if an older map shows it.
Amenities and craft
Craft suited to this water
Bringing your own boat: Yes
Amenities
- Restrooms
- Showers — not recorded
- Picnic area
- 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
You can shorten the trip with take-outs at Francis Avenue (about mile 1.5) or Sims Park (about mile 3). Watch for submerged logs and, below the preserve, more motorboats on weekends.
Medium confidenceSafety Notes: The lower river carries increasing motorboat traffic and tidal influence. Rowan Avenue Bridge is not a viable access point even if an older map shows it.
Medium 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 — floridadep.gov, read
- Secondary source — cityofnewportrichey.org, read
Nearby paddling
Southwest Florida · Pasco County · Gulf salt marsh and tidal creeks
Calm salt-marsh, mangrove and tidal-creek paddling on the Pasco Gulf coast, with a park launch open to private kayaks and canoes and rentals on site.
Caladesi Island State Park - Mangrove Paddling Trail
Beginner routeSouthwest Florida · Pinellas County · Caladesi Island bayside mangroves / seagrass flats
A boat-access-only Gulf Coast island paddle with a 1-mile beginner loop and a 3-mile mangrove route to historic ruins.
Weeki Wachee Springs State Park - Spring Run
Beginner routeCentral Florida & Springs · Hernando County · Weeki Wachee River
A 2.8-mile crystal-clear spring run with a managed launch, return shuttle, beginner-friendly rentals and frequent wildlife sightings.