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Paddling Trails

For sources on paddling trails around Florida and the Tampa Bay region, in particular, see the Links page for some helpful places to start.

• The following are some of my favorite sites for paddling in the Tampa Bay Region. I've used a five star rating system to give you an idea of the ones I think are the best:
  • Alafia RiverA pleasant river that winds through central Hillsborough County. It has a few interesting rapids, but, for the most part, there is not a lot of diversity.
  • CockRoach Bay My absolute "favoritest" place for kayaking. Every time I paddle there I find something new. It is a pristine area and far enough off the beaten path that I often have the bay to myself.
  • Fort Desoto Fort Desoto has it all: easy access, great beaches, multiple places to paddle, plentiful facilities, trails that can accommodate novice to experienced paddlers and an abundance of wildlife from manatees, to sharks, to ospreys.
  • Little Manatee River There are several good paddling trails on the Little Manatee with many beautiful vistas.
  • Weedon Island When compared to Cockroach Bay, Weedon Island is a little too tame for me. It does have some excellent, well maintained Mangrove trails, but most are man made and not very challenging. It does have good facilities and is centrally located right off the Gandy Bridge.