Kayaking the Withlacoochee River in Madison, Florida

For my first time ever kayaking, I went down the Withlacoochee River in Madison, Florida. I can’t believe it took me this long to go kayaking, and I hope I get more opportunities to go in the near future.

My family chose to go down the Withlacoochee River in Madison, Florida, which I think ended up being a great river for beginners. In all, it took around 4 hours to complete the journey, but that can vary depending on how long you stop at each spring.

Starting Point

We first got in the river at a public boat ramp. The address is 4658 NW 21st Pl, Jasper, FL 32052. After getting in the water, we proceeded to kayak downstream.

Scenery along the Withlacoochee River

First Stop: Blue Springs

After kayaking for around an hour and a half, you will arrive at Blue Springs. This spring is a state park, so you are not allowed to bring alcohol inside the spring. If you happen to have alcohol with you, you will have to stay in the river. However, if you are able to get into the spring, you will be met with some super cold, sparkling blue water. Depending on the day, this area can get very crowded, but it is still a great sight to see.

Second Stop: A Sand Bar

Once you leave Blue Springs, you will carry on downstream. After about 30 minutes, you will have the opportunity to hang out at a sand bar. This is a great chance to relax without being caught in a crowd, especially if you just need a minute to walk around and stretch your legs. There are a few other sandbars along the river, but this is the one we chose to stop at.

Third Stop: Pot Springs

When you decide to leave the sandbar, you will continue kayaking for about 20 more minutes before you come up on Pot Springs. While this spring is much smaller than Blue Springs, it still deserves a visit. Since it is smaller and lesser known, there typically will not be nearly as many people there. For this reason, I enjoyed the Pot Springs stop more than the Blue Springs stop. Across the river, there is also a rope swing for the adrenaline junkies. Just be cautious if you decide to give the rope swing a go.

Ending Point

The Blue Springs Boat ramp marked the end of our kayaking journey. This is the first boat ramp you will see after getting in the river, so if you are not up for a 4-hour kayaking trip, this may not be the route for you. The address for this boat ramp is 1307 NE River Park Rd, Lee, FL 32059.

Tips:

*Bring lots of water!

*Put on plenty of sunscreen!

*Pack a quick meal!

*There are no kayaks on-site, so bring your own or rent one from a rental service!

*Arrange for someone to be able to pick you up at the last boat ramp or park a vehicle there if you have at least 2.

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