Paddling Marion County Florida
Five main waterways wind through Marion County in North Central Florida, from the inviting turquoise waters of the Rainbow River to the dark jungles of the Silver River. Each offer a memorable paddle experience, unique and different from the next. Paddle on Marion County’s waterways to explore Florida’s wilder-side.
The Rainbow River
Bright, bubbly and exuberant, the spring-fed Rainbow River sparkles and glistens like a young child. The inviting crystalline water beckons like a playmate looking for fun: “Come splash, come swim: let’s play!” It may just be the reason why this river is a popular tubing destination, filled with friends and families during the warmer months.
Although the head spring is located in Rainbow Springs State Park, numerous other freshwater springs bubble up along the river, giving the gentle current an extra friendly push along the 5.6 mile run. There are places along the river to stop and swim, and also a couple of side trails to explore.
The turquoise blue of the Rainbow flows into the tannin stained waters of the Withlacoochee River near Chaplin A. Dinkins III Memorial Park – known to locals as ‘city beach’ in the small town of Dunnellon, Florida.
The Paddle Trip:
Feeling energetic? Put in at the KP Hole County Park and paddle 1.5 miles up-river to the head springs at Rainbow Springs State Park. There’s a landing dock to tie up at in the state park. $2 fee per person can be paid in the honor system box at the dock.
Stretch your legs on the trails at the park, take a dip in the swimming area, use the restroom, or grab a snack at their snack bar on the hillside before heading downriver.
From Rainbow Springs State Park, paddle/float 1.5 miles back downstream to the KP Hole for another break or to end your paddle trip, or continue with the current for 3.3 miles to the take out point at Blue Run Park, just under the 484/E. Pennsylvania Ave bridge in Dunnellon.
A return shuttle can be arranged from the KP Hole to pick you up at the 484 tuber take-out point during the tubing season (May-September), or you can leave a second vehicle in the parking area there.
Things to Know:
- The KP Hole is located at: 9435 SW 190th Avenue Rd, Dunnellon, FL 34432. Parking. Toilets/changing rooms. Concessions. Swimming area. Tubing (seasonal). Kayak launch/boat ramp. $5 per person. Shuttle extra.
- Blue Run Park is located at: 19680 E. Pennsylvania Ave, Dunnellon, FL 34432. Parking. Toilet. Hiking/biking trails. Kayak launch. No fees.
- The Rainbow River is a non-disposable river. Use reusable water bottles and remove all wrappers/papers from your food. Store in Tupperware type containers. This river is patrolled by the police on pontoon boats, and there are plenty of people with stories about getting a ticket- don’t be one of them.
- Right before you get to the 484 Bridge, you’ll pass Swampy’s Bar & Grille. They have a dock out front where you can tie up, and outdoor seating.
Read More: Kayaking Florida’s Rainbow River
Juniper Run
Filled with unpredictable twists and turns, the narrow 7-mile Juniper Run sends you careening off on a wild ride through the Juniper Prairie Wilderness in the Ocala National Forest. Just when you think the paddle trip has become a relaxing float, in comes a hairpin curve, downed trees to duck under and even a ride down rapids.
Considered an intermediate paddle, it can be a rough ride, and you’ll need to rely on navigation and steering skills and learn as you go. Juniper Run is a wild, unforgettable ride worth the effort.
The Paddle Trip:
A ranger will see you off on your launch onto Juniper Run and the start of your 4-5 hour journey into the wilderness.. The creek starts narrow, shallow & clear, fed by the springs in the swimming hole area. Tight turns and twists. And the current will pick up speed. Watch for low hanging trees and stumps and logs in the water.
You will need to duck under some trees- lean forward, not to the side, or you will flip. You’ll pass through dark canopy and open wetland prairies. Turtles & the occasional gator sunning on banks. You’ll hear the rapids before you reach them. Point your craft forward and keep to the right. There’s a sandy bank after the rapids to stop and empty any excess water from your craft. Just don’t stop if a gator got there first.
There are some areas where the river will split. A couple of these simply rejoin later. Two of them have arrows on the trees pointing the direction to go.
Go under the SR 19 bridge and take out is at Juniper Wayside Park immediately to the right.
Things to Know:
- Juniper Run Paddle Trail is located in the Juniper Springs Recreation Area in the Ocala National Forest at: 26701 FL-40, Silver Springs, FL 34488. Springs Swimming; Camping; Hiking; Kayak & Canoe Rentals. Fee for the Juniper Run Recreation Area is $5.50 + tax per person. Shuttle back: $12.
- For the shuttle back: If you have your own kayaks/canoes, you pay your (1) fee and then have to follow the shuttle with your own vehicle to Juniper Wayside Park, where you will park and take the shuttle back to the Rec area- before you launch. This ensures when you are done with your paddle, you aren’t waiting for them to pick you up. It also save on multiple shuttle fees. If you rent kayaks from them, you will have to wait for their shuttle at the endpoint.
- Juniper Wayside Park is located at 4065 FL-19, Fort McCoy, FL 32134. Parking. Toilet. No Fee.
- Juniper Run is a non-disposable river. Pack your food- wrapper-free in containers and use reusable water bottles. The ranger at the launch point will check your coolers/bags before you launch.
Read More: Paddling Juniper Run in the Ocala National Forest
The Silver River
The 5.5 mile Silver River runs strong and unstoppable aided by a daily discharge of 550 million gallons of fresh water flowing from one of the largest artisanal springs in the world. The Silver River is by far the strongest current of all the waterways in Marion County. The main spring is helped along the way by over 100 smaller springs on the 5.4 mile journey to join the Ocklawaha River.
Abundant with wildlife, Cormorants and Anhinga birds dive after schools of fish darting through the eel grass in the 72F clear water. Alligators and turtles sun themselves on logs and a colony of rhesus macque monkeys whose origins in the region date back to the 1930’s swing from the trees, watch visitors with open curiosity.
The Paddle Trip:
This 5.4 mile trip will take you on a fast ride down the river. Be prepared for a couple of whirlpool currents on the curves that will turn your craft 360. Put in at Silver Springs State Park launch site and paddle under the bridge to reach the main spring. The park offers glass bottom boat rides over the main springs, so be prepared to share the water with them. They have the right of way. Follow the river’s current and you will see the turquoise springs along the way.
Alternate route: Turn on the channel to the right before the bridge to paddle Fort King Waterway. Ft. King is a narrower- shallower channel- you will miss the main springs on this path, but also will avoid the glass bottom boat traffic. This joins up with the main river a mile down river.
The Silver River starts out wide but will eventually narrow. There is a mid-point site- you’ll see the metal ramp on the right where you can pull up. Toilet. Picnic table. And place to stretch your legs.
Put in again to resume your trip. The canopy is thicker/greener in this area. Keep an eye out for monkeys in the trees.
The channel to Ray Wayside Park is clearly marked on the left. Paddle up this channel. It opens to a boat basin. Take out is on the right.
Things to Know:
- Silver Springs State Park is located at 5656 E. Silver Springs Blvd, (State Road 40), Silver Springs, FL 34488. Hiking/Biking; Glass Bottom Boat Rides. Restrooms. Camping. Museums. Concessions. Entry fee for park is $2 per person. Private craft launch: $6 Rentals are available on site. You can also reserve a shuttle back to the park at the launch site.
- Ray’s Wayside Park is located at 9560 NE 28th Lane (State Road 40), Silver Springs, FL 34488. Parking. Restrooms. Boat Ramp. Playground. There is a $5 charge per vehicle. Money is honor system in a drop box, so bring change.
- Silver Springs Kayaking offers a 4.5 hour guided tour on the Silver River. They also offer a shorter 2-hour tour around Fort King Waterway.
Read More: The Wild Life- Kayaking on Florida’s Silver River
The Ocklawaha River
Experience how Florida used to be on the forgotten Ocklawaha River. Once a popular steamboat route in its heyday, the advancement of transportation left this winding waterway to the wild. Marshes, cypress swamp, thick canopy. This 110- mile river slides along the eastern border of Marion County in the Ocala National Forest before joining the St. John’s River.
When Rodman Dam was built during the era when the Florida Barge Canal project was underway, and the dam stopped the natural run of the Ocklawaha River, flooding forest and killing off trees and vegetation. The Florida Barge Canal Project was scrapped, but Rodman dam remains.
The Paddle Trip:
One of the most popular paddles on the Ocklawaha is from Ray’s Wayside Park to Gores Landing. This 10 mile paddle trip takes 4.5 to 5 hours to complete.
Put in at Ray Wayside Park and paddle out the channel. You will reach the Silver River, go left with the current. Farther ahead the Silver meets the Ocklawaha traveling north. Paddle under the (high) SR 40 bridge through swampy cypress areas. Watch for birds, turtles and alligators. Take a break and stretch your legs on the sandy banks by the high bluffs. Side creeks to explore. Channel to Gores Landing on the left.
Things to Know:
- Ray’s Wayside Park is located at 9560 NE 28th Lane (State Road 40), Silver Springs, FL 34488. There is a $5 charge per vehicle. Money is honor system in a drop box, so bring change.
- Gore’s Landing is located at 13750 NE 98th St, Fort McCoy, FL 32134. Toilet. Primitive camping. $5 per vehicle (honor box system). Additional $5 for camping.
- This is a swampy area, bring bug spray.
- Bring your own food and water.
- Be alligator aware.
- The Ocklawaha Canoe Outpost & Resort offer kayak/canoe rentals and shuttles to the various launch points (reservations required.) They will also help you plan an overnight camping/paddle trip on the river!
- Discovery Kayak Tours offer full day (5-hour) and half-day (3-hour) guided tours along the Ocklawaha River.
The Withlacoochee River
The sage, tannin-stained waters of the Withlacoochee River, known as the ‘crooked river’ run as a border between Marion and Citrus County. Giant cypresses flank the river, sentinels standing guard over time, silently watching, witnesses to a history older than man.
This 141 mile river does not draw the masses, in fact most of the time it gracefully runs in quiet contemplation, a river unmarred by time and unconquered by man. The river rises with the rains and falls in time of drought, and the fluctuations, noted by the water marks on the cypress trees, are so great, that it has kept any unwanted builders at bay. Shallow shoals and submerged trees discourage boaters as well.
Prolific with bass, the Withlacoochee draws hardy fishermen looking for solitude and the perfect catch. Isolation and peace are companions of the Withlacoochee River.
The Paddle Trip:
Short trip: Launch at Spruce Boat Ramp and head up river past Stumpknockers Restaurant and under the SR 200 bridge. River branches off, keep to the left. Continue up river to the shoals. 3 miles up there’s Citrus Blue Springs, a favorite swimming hole on the right. Stop for a stretch and float back to Stumpknockers for a meal before returning to the boat ramp.
Long haul: Launch at Spruce Boat Ramp and head with the current on the windy, twisting ‘crooked river’. It’s 11- miles to the Dunnellon Boat Ramp. Paddle through dark cypresses, black waters, opening up to lakes on either side along the way. There are times that the river gets confusing and even seems to disappear, and you’ll be paddling through a narrow channel. Bring a GPS or device with map to keep your bearings.
Once you see the Withlacoochee Trail Bridge, you’ll know you are near civilization. The Rainbow River will join from the right. You can paddle up stream on the Rainbow to Blue Run to take out- only if you don’t have any disposables with you (See Rainbow River section) or you can continue downriver with the current. Once you pass under the Highway 41 bridge, the Dunnellon Boat Ramp and takeout is directly on the right, but you may be swayed by the inviting ambiance of the Blue Gator Tiki Bar & Restaurant to stop for a well-deserved break. They have a dock and slips to tie up your craft.
Things to Know:
- Spruce Boat Ramp is located at 4863 E Spruce Dr, Dunnellon, FL 34434. Parking. Boat ramp. No fees.
- Dunnellon Boat Ramp is located at Centennial Park at 12189 South Williams Street off of Highway 41. Parking. Overflow parking around the corner. Restrooms. No fees.
- The Withlacoochee is a long and lonely river. Bring water & snacks & bug spray.
- Be alligator aware.
- Be watchful of the shallows and rocky areas. Some are marked with signs. Others are not. Also watch for logs in the water.
- Rainbow River Canoe & Kayak Outfitters offer kayak/canoe rentals and shuttles to Spruce Boat Ramp, where you can paddled back to their outpost on the river in Dunnellon.
Read More: Canoeing on the Withlacoochee River
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Alligators in Florida
Alligators are a part of life in Florida. Always be alligator aware when you are on the water. Feeding an alligator is illegal. Never paddle towards an alligator, and steer clear of the thick weeds, as they like to seek peace there, as do snakes. Stay safe and smart on these, and any outdoor adventures.
Read More on 10 Things You Need to Know About Florida Alligators
5-unique rivers, 5-inspirational paddles. Are you ready to tackle the top 5 waterways in Marion County, Florida?
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