Weeki Wachee River - Level 1+

Trip leader: Jill Lingard, jill.lingard@gmail.com, 352-665-1776

Description:  The Weeki Wachee River is a spring-fed jewel and a mid-week winter visit is the best time to avoid crowds.  What we might see more of this time of year is manatees as they retreat to springs to escape chillier Gulf waters.  The Weeki’s clear waters also typically reveal turtles, mullet, sunfish, sheepshead, needlefish, mangrove snappers, snook, and—if we’re lucky—crevalle jacks and gar.  We’ll paddle upstream from Rogers Park until we’re sick of it (the incoming tide will give us a little help), then turn around and float back with the current.  There will be plenty of opportunities to pull over and take rest and snack breaks. 

Location: Our launch and take-out will be at Rogers Park, 7244 Shoal Line Boulevard in Spring Hill. 

Schedule: Meet at 9:00 a.m. at Rogers Park for a 9:30 launch.  Anticipate finishing up around 2PM. 

Additional information:

• Parking is $5, payable by credit/debit card.
• This trip will be capped at 10 paddlers.  

COVID-related recommendations:

• Wear face masks or buffs while loading/unloading boats and gear at the park. 
• To minimize contact among the group, pair up with another paddler for the day if help is needed moving boats between vehicles and launch.
• Bring biodegradable hand soap and hand sanitizer for use after handling someone else’s boat on or off the water.

Difficulty: This is a Level 1-2 trip, depending on the distance paddlers are game for.  If we paddle all the way to the Weeki Wachee head spring and back, it’ll be 13 miles.  We can stop well short of that depending what the group prefers.

Required gear: