Kayak Club

The Kayak Club is a group of those interested in seeing and experiencing the beauty of the Central Florida wildlife and waterways in a direct way from a kayak or canoe.

Tours will be with local outfitters who can provide kayaks/canoes and all necessary and required equipment or you can bring your own.

We will have a Trip Leader on each paddle who will assist with information and directions. We use Evite for invites to the Trips, so if you are not on our member email list, please contact the trip leader or Club leaders listed below to get up-to-date information or register with them.

Make sure you look at our trip photos! Click on the "Club Photos" link in the upper left of this page and go to a drop down menu. You can pick the trip and look at the engaging photos of our kayakers! 

UPCOMING EVENTS

February 16, 2023. The Paddling Center at Shingle Creek. Looking towards a pleasant paddle into the head waters of the Everglades. Approximately a two hour paddle "up the creek" and back. With time to do the southern portion too. This is an Osceloa County Park. Canoes and Kayaks are available by their website (www.paddlingcenter.com) or calling 407-344-0881. A single kayak is $30 for two hours and the canoes and double kayaks are $43. Meet at 4266 W. Vine Street, Kissimmee, near Mile Marker 15 at 9 AM. Be on the creek by 9:15 or so. 

 

PAST EVENTS 

February 19, 2020.  Kings Landing to the Wekiva River.  It was not anywhere near the air temperature of our January trip, a nice temperate day with sprinkles on the way to the river gave way to sunny and mildly overcast. No hard sun for the trip with good current down the run. Lunched at Big Buck Camp, a campsite the Apopka Sportsman Club initiated when they owned the property back in the 1940s.  A few of our reptile friends lounged about as we paddled past. Altogether, the nine of us spent amost 5 hours on the river.

January 22, 2020.  Rainbow River, Dunnellon.  Some would say it was a brisk morning when 8 paddlers headed up to Dunnellon to kayak the Rainbow River and visit Rainbow Springs State Park. It was 39 degrees when we reached the vendor. Paddling upstream to the State park warmed us up and where we ate our lunches. We were joined by a new kayaker on this trip, on only his second ever paddle. Downstream was easy as the sun was shining and it warmed to 59 degrees. Another super pleasant day on a Florida scenic river.

December 11, 2019.  Hillsborough River.  In December, the Kayak Club participants experienced an incredible paddle on the Hillsborough River.  The weather was perfect for our 81/2 mile journey navigating the canopied winding waterway teaming with Florida wildlife.  We all enjoyed lunch together at the halfway point then continued paddling for two more hours through the Wilderness Park to a point where the vendor transported us back to the launch site.  Truly  a day to remember! 

November 6, 2019.  Weeki Wachee Springs State Park. Such a clear river coming from the headwaters of this historic spring!! Shallow, with plenty of underwater grass, mullet schools and the ocassional leaping of a mullet. Nine of us made the trip, no manatees this time, but pleasant weather and a stop along a sandbar for lunch. 

October 9, 2019.  Shingle Creek, Kissimmee. Cloudy skies met us at The Paddling Center at Shingle Creek, and for the seven of us paddling, that meant less Heat.  Temperatures were pleasant, the rains never came and a breeze picked up near the end. A very enjoyable morning on the creek with a lunch stop in Kissimmee at Big Johns Barbeque. 

April 18, 2019.  Kings Landing, Wekiva River, Apopka, FL.  Fifteen members left Kings Landing on a beautiful spring morning. Kings Landing feeds into the Wekiva River, a National Wild & Scenic River, an Outstanding Florida Water and thus is one of the most popular kayaking/canoeing rivers in Central Florida. We paddled 8.5 miles, with a lunch break at a primitive camp site and later some took a side trip up the Wekiva Springs Run to the state park. One couple was determined to see the bottom of their canoe, but dried out well enough by the end.  

March 20, 2019.  Juniper Springs Recreation Area, Ocala National Forest.  Twelve members of the Solivita Kayak Club traveled to Ocala National Forest to paddle the infamous Juniper Springs Creek.  The seven-mile trip, labeled as an intermediate run for skill level, was narrow and winding with cross currents that were challenging. There was a short set of rapids that provided a refreshing dose of the 72 degrees spring water.  The cypress and palms provided a shaded canopy and a chance to relax before facing the next adventure around the bend.  Perfect weather, beautiful scenery, camaraderie and exercise made the Juniper Springs trip a top destination for the club.

February 24, 2019.  Winter Haven Chain of Lakes. Twenty paddlers visited Lk Shipp, Lk Lulu, Lk Eloise and Lk Roy and returned on a warm, sunny and breezy day. Full distance was 7.25 miles and 4 hours on the open water. Increasing winds cancelled going into Lk Winterset. Launch point was: William Roe Park and Ramp, 2403 7^th Street SW, Winter Haven, FL 33880. 

December 12, 2018.  Hillsborough River.  We decided to repeat this wonderful Wilderness Park paddle.  In spite of the slightly cool weather, nine paddlers enjoyed the down river trip with a stop for lunch at the halfway point.  The vendor picked us up at the end of 8 ½ miles and transported all back to the launch site.  During our four hours of paddling we encountered roseate spoonbills, herons, egrets, ibis, cormorans, turtles, and a variety of flora.  An amazing canopied, winding paddle where only the river, the sights and the good company consumed your attention.  

November 27,2018.  Shingle Creek. East to Lake Toho from Marsh Landing. Cool, sunny and breezy day on the creek. So cool, most wildlfe stayed in their rookeries or burrows. With the creek banks so wooded with cypress, it really wasn't breezy until we made it to Lake Toho. We could see some of the taller buildings in Kissimmee on the near horizon. With the breeze, no one was interested in crossing the open lake to Makinson Island for picnic and we had lunch back at The Docks. Dawn was a gracious and knowledgable host at The Docks. Fourteen paddlers made it out and back in just about two hours. No real current on the creek and we did about 4.6 miles. After lunch, some of us went west on the creek for almost another mile. Great day in Central Florida!

May 7, 2018.  Weeki Wachee River.  Weeki Wachee Springs is famous as an attraction featuring the Weeki Wachee mermaids and is now owned and operated by the State of Florida as part of Weeki Wachee Springs State Park. The first magnitude spring feeds the Weeki Wachee River. Manatees are common, especially in cooler weather. Other wildlife include otter, alligators, turtles, deer, and a variety of fish and birds. Due to the strong current, paddling downstream is an easy ride. The river upstream is usually clear, with many twists and turns - beautiful and wild through park and forest. Downstream, development increases with many homes along the river banks and the water more tea colored. This is a 4-hour trip. Ten paddlers made this trip on a beautiful spring day.

April 17, 2018.  Rainbow River, Dunnellon. Recently voted by Florida kayakers as their favorite river and named as an Outstanding Florida Waterway, the waters are crystal clear! Eleven paddlers saw families of otters, passed river tubers (an authentic "Lazy River") and had a beautiful spring day on the 4 hour paddle.

April 10, 2018.  Silver River, cancelled due to bad weather.

March 2, 2018.  Guided tour at Canaveral National Seashore, Indian River, Titusville. Ten paddlers made it over to tour the Indian River with a guide from BK Adventures. 

February 16, 2018.  Rock Springs Run, Wekiwa River, Apopka. Seven Paddlers made the trip on the upper run that feeds the Wekiwa River. A narrow run with good current and some obstructions, made for a shorter paddle. Possibly in the fall, the majority of obstructions would be removed for quicker access down to Wekiwa State Park.

January 24, 2018.  Hillsborough River paddle in the Wilderness Park, Thonotosassa. We had fifteen boats in the water including canoes and double kayaks. Stoped along the river at a park for lunch. About 8 1/2 miles in fours hours of great weather. Saw Roseate spoon bills and many egrets, herons and buzzards. A curvy river with many oxbows and floodplain forests.

November 17, 2017.  Blue Spring/St Johns River. A guided paddle by Central Florida Natures Adventures (Jenny & Kenny Boyd) on the St. Johns River at Blue Springs State Park. We kayaked in the river, in a flooded swamp and to the spring run with manatees enjoying the warmer water. Tour was a little over 3 miles and very non-strenuous.

October 18, 2017.   Shingle Creek @ SR 192. Our first paddle was to The Paddling Center at Shingle Creek. This is a county park on Shingle Creek. Shingle Creek was a thoroughfare for early settlers in Osceola County. We paddled up the creek and down the creek, which flows to Lake Toho eventually.

For kayaking questions / suggestions, contact Mac  (Mac98310@yahoo.com  

For general club questions including waivers, communications, Evite, contact  Mike at Mklfj20@aol.com

Leadership Group: