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Patch of water hyacinth not quite in full bloom
And the "run away in a zig-zag" theory is total BS
Water moccasin in waterside branch
Water moccasin swimmingOcala National Forest, Silver Springs
The Ocala National Forest offers many kayaking (and canoeing) adventures as it contains approximately 600 lakes and ponds, several streams and has 2 rivers along its boundary.
There is no whitewater such as you would find in the mountains, but a variety of streams awaits your visit - although we did have a couple of rough patches which was a delightful surprise as most of our group were experienced paddlers and after a few hours of drifting along through stretches that were barely 6-ft wide or having to negotiate large obstacles such as fallen oak, cypress and palm trees - it was welcomed fun to speed through an 80-ft stretch of rough waters accelerating us to about 20mph.
The streams are easy enough for the beginner paddler, but there is enough variety and unexpected obstacles to keep it interesting for the experienced paddler.
Each stream has its own characteristics that make it unlike any other. Example: Alexander Spring Creek begins broad with slow moving water and then becomes narrow and deep downstream while Juniper Creek starts tight making it difficult to paddle since some sections are barely wider than your kayak and then later will end up more than a hundred feet wide and in some parts it was so shallow that we had to push ourselves through.
You can usually cover average of 2.5 miles per hour in open streams, assuming you periodically stop to rest or to enjoy the scenery. Juniper Creek took us just under 6 hours due to heavy debris and path blockage. In streams with obstructing logs you may only move about 1.5 miles per hour.
There were a few trees that had fallen into the water blocking the waterway and leaving us barely enough room to SLIDE under and we were experienced kayakers. We literally had to paddle around the area looking for a clear enough spot to squeeze through. A few people who had rented canoes from the park would get caught in the current which picks up around mid-point due to the small bends which turn rather sharply - and you can hear one of their collisions with another canoe in my video of our kayak trip.
(In my opinion - nothing over 14ft would be recommended and the park was renting 18ft canoes which were far too long for this narrow stretch. I had to dismantle my oar for the beginning stretch of Juniper Creek and paddle with a single oar for the first quarter stretch since the stream was so tight.)
"Please leave it like you found it!"
The waterways are kept in their natural condition. You may have to duck under low hanging tree branches or lift the canoe over partly submerged logs. The streams are left in these primitive conditions to provide a challenge and a sense of achievement, and to let visitors experience the quiet beauty of the unspoiled environment.
Be considerate of those who will kayak after you. Carry out all your trash so the river will look natural and try to collect any trash that you may find floating in the water or plant life along the shoreline.
Please leave flowers, cypress trees, shrubs and all other vegetation for others to enjoy! :)
Website for Ocala National Park: http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/florida/ocala/
