We canoed on the Econfina Creek last year and it was nice but really lacked places to pull off and rest like sandbars. Never had canoed before but successfully canoed the whole 7 miles in 3 and a half hours and we did not tump over. I have to say this place really freaked us out because it looked like you were canoeing in the movie Deliverance. When we arrived back to the canoe place after being picked up the guy asked if we had encountered anyone swinging off of ropes into the water trying to tump us over. He explained they had to call police before because of that very thing. The rope swings up high really had us questioning things. When he said that that is all I needed to hear! We did not go off in any of the springs along the trip but I now wished we had. Wondering if anyone has canoed the Blackwater River near Pensacola? It seems more suited to our having access to ample big sandbars where we could pull off and picnic! Any other canoe rental site suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.
Replies
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SoWal Expert
We canoed on the Econfina Creek last year and it was nice but really lacked places to pull off and rest like sandbars. Never had canoed before but successfully canoed the whole 7 miles in 3 and a half hours and we did not tump over. I have to say this place really freaked us out because it looked like you were canoeing in the movie Deliverance. When we arrived back to the canoe place after being picked up the guy asked if we had encountered anyone swinging off of ropes into the water trying to tump us over. He explained they had to call police before because of that very thing. The rope swings up high really had us questioning things. When he said that that is all I needed to hear! We did not go off in any of the springs along the trip but I now wished we had. Wondering if anyone has canoed the Blackwater River near Pensacola? It seems more suited to our having access to ample big sandbars where we could pull off and picnic! Any other canoe rental site suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.
My canoe sites are bookmarked on my other puter which I recently decomissioned. If you search the web you will find great sites on canoeing in Okaloosa and Walton County. Eglin Air Force Base has some of the best rivers to see by canoe (so I am told). I have not made it on any trips out of the local area for some time now. You may want to talk to Marlese (sp?) who owns the Kayak Experience located on the Harbour in Destin. She organizes a once a month kayak tour and canoes are welcome. She would be the best single source for this information to my knowledge. ;-) Tell her a neighbor says hello. ;-)
Beach Fanatic
We canoed on the Econfina Creek last year and it was nice but really lacked places to pull off and rest like sandbars. Never had canoed before but successfully canoed the whole 7 miles in 3 and a half hours and we did not tump over. I have to say this place really freaked us out because it looked like you were canoeing in the movie Deliverance. When we arrived back to the canoe place after being picked up the guy asked if we had encountered anyone swinging off of ropes into the water trying to tump us over. He explained they had to call police before because of that very thing. The rope swings up high really had us questioning things. When he said that that is all I needed to hear! We did not go off in any of the springs along the trip but I now wished we had. Wondering if anyone has canoed the Blackwater River near Pensacola? It seems more suited to our having access to ample big sandbars where we could pull off and picnic! Any other canoe rental site suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.I canoed the Blackwater when in my teens, about 25 years ago but do remember it as shallow with deep pockets along the way and plenty of sandbars for picnicing.
needs to get out more
in addition to joe's post, marlese is the recently past president of the emerald coast paddlers. their page here: http://www.geocities.com/ecpaddlers/index.htm
and joe, it includes infomation regarding eglin trips that are once a month.
jr
and joe, it includes infomation regarding eglin trips that are once a month.
jr
Admin
The Blackwater is awesome. Plenty of white sandbars.
SoWal Expert
in addition to joe's post, marlese is the recently past president of the emerald coast paddlers. their page here: http://www.geocities.com/ecpaddlers/index.htmThanks John. That is what I was looking to relay. Marlese had the link on her old site, but with only a quick glance, I did not see it on her updated site.
and joe, it includes infomation regarding eglin trips that are once a month.
jr
SoWal InsiderAuthor
I know you guys might be tired of a nonresident being on the forum sight but it is how I find out where the best places are for doing the things we like to do like canoeing. This sight is nice and informative! Kurt, is the Blackwater perfect for the beginner like us? Seeing as we have only canoed once we are looking for the easiest to handle until we get good at it. That might be a while, hee hee! There are wonderful canoeing places here in Tennessee at Linden and Waverly, Tennessee near Nashville which is around 200 miles from here. You would have to make a weekend trip out of that one. It is just that they close down at the end of October for the winter.Admin
This site is for everyone. The Blackwater is perfect for beginners. It is slow and beautiful.
Meow
On No....this place is for residents only???? I have really screwed up!!!
SoWal Expert
We have wanted to go to the Blackwater- but it always seems to be too hot in July/ August to do anything but float in the lake like a bunch of hot hippos. Wonder if June would be better. Also, what is the biting bug situation on the creeks and rivers? And are the canoing places open in winter, like at Christmas?
SoWal Insider
www.floridastateparks.org/blackwaterriver
http://www.abfla.com/parks/BlackwaterRiver/blackwater.html
www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/guide/regions/panhandlewest/trails/black_river.htm
There are tons of sites dedicated to Blackwater River. When I was a kid growing up in lower Ala., everyone used to go there to canoe. Have fun!
http://www.abfla.com/parks/BlackwaterRiver/blackwater.html
www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/guide/regions/panhandlewest/trails/black_river.htm
There are tons of sites dedicated to Blackwater River. When I was a kid growing up in lower Ala., everyone used to go there to canoe. Have fun!
Beach Fanatic
Ldb60, have you tried kayaking yet? It is my new favorite sport and easy to do in SoWal.
Beach Fanatic
I canoed the Blackwater when in my teens, about 25 years ago but do remember it as shallow with deep pockets along the way and plenty of sandbars for picnicing.
Santiago, glad to see you posting again. I know you got frustrated in the real estate forum (me too!!!) but so glad to see you contibuting again!!!! :clap_1:
Beach Fanatic
Santiago, glad to see you posting again. I know you got frustrated in the real estate forum (me too!!!) but so glad to see you contibuting again!!!! :clap_1:Thanks. I think I may stay over here for awhile where everyone seems to agree more.
SoWal Expert
We have wanted to go to the Blackwater- but it always seems to be too hot in July/ August to do anything but float in the lake like a bunch of hot hippos. Wonder if June would be better. Also, what is the biting bug situation on the creeks and rivers? And are the canoing places open in winter, like at Christmas?Canoeing around here in July and August can get very hot, but that is when you jump in and swim with the alligators for a while. You will quickly forget all about the heat when your foot touches the bottom. :shock:
SoWal Expert
Canoeing around here in July and August can get very hot, but that is when you jump in and swim with the alligators for a while. You will quickly forget all about the heat when your foot touches the bottom. :shock:
When my foot touches the bottom and hits what- a gator's tail??
SoWal Expert
When my foot touches the bottom and hits what- a gator's tail??I grew up waterskiing and swimming in a lake filled with gators, so I cant say that they scare me too much, but when I would be out in the lake and I touched the somewhat algae covered bottom, I would freak out and quickly pull my feet up. :funn:I am such a wuss about little things sometimes. The interesting thing that I have learned is that I am not alone in the uncomfortable feeling I get when the foot hits the bottom of the murky water.
I understand that many of the springs and rivers are crystal clear, so I would have no problem with them when my feet touched the bottom, unless of course I were standing on a gator.:shock:
SoWal InsiderAuthor
Gypsea, my husband and I have not tried kayaking but there were two elderly ladies that came and pulled up on the sandbank after us and both were in individual kayaks. Looks fun, but this guy did not rent kayaks I do not think. Are kayaks easy to tump over. I might find myself taking a few swims. I too do not like the mushy bottom of a lake either. These people tried to persuade us into believing there were alligators in the Econfina Creek. We did see a huge Blue Heron I got several pictures of! It was beautiful!
SoWal Expert
Gypsea, my husband and I have not tried kayaking but there were two elderly ladies that came and pulled up on the sandbank after us and both were in individual kayaks. Looks fun, but this guy did not rent kayaks I do not think. Are kayaks easy to tump over. I might find myself taking a few swims. I too do not like the mushy bottom of a lake either. These people tried to persuade us into believing there were alligators in the Econfina Creek. We did see a huge Blue Heron I got several pictures of! It was beautiful!Alligators have been seen in Ecofina.
picky
Ladydebubba, you're not the only one with alligators on her mind! Take a look:
http://www.sowal.com/bb/showthread.php?t=1726&highlight=fall+lake+alligators
I AM going to learn how to canoe and kayak, though! Alligators be dammed. :clap_1:
http://www.sowal.com/bb/showthread.php?t=1726&highlight=fall+lake+alligators
I AM going to learn how to canoe and kayak, though! Alligators be dammed. :clap_1:
Funnkalicious
We went cabrewing this past summer before the yellowflies came out. It's hard to paddle when you are trying to drink a beer.
What a parade of rednecks. It was funn. My boat mate kept running me into hanging branches. I'm sure I still have ticks from that.
What a parade of rednecks. It was funn. My boat mate kept running me into hanging branches. I'm sure I still have ticks from that.
SoWal InsiderAuthor
We too went running off into the tree branches along the bank until we got the hang of how to maneuver the paddles. I am sure glad no one was canoeing along with us at the time. After about 20 minutes we were getting the hang of it. I like that Kimmifunn. Cabrewing! :clap_1:
SoWal Expert
We have just discussed gators in the creek-- encountered while canoing.
Bdarg says "They won't bother ya."
He can get out and pull our canoe to the the sandbar.
Bdarg says "They won't bother ya."
He can get out and pull our canoe to the the sandbar.
SoWal Expert
We have just discussed gators in the creek-- encountered while canoing.For the most part, they won't bother you. You won't even know they are there, unless you toss in a small child or a small dog, or big child and big dog if the gator is big.
Bdarg says "They won't bother ya."
He can get out and pull our canoe to the the sandbar.
SoWal InsiderAuthor
Smiling Joe, we could easily see the entire creek bottom while canoeing. The water was around 6 to 7 feet deep and calm. The thing I hate worst than anything is getting tangled up in the thick seaweed in the ocean. The guy that picked us up after canoeing did find two baby loggerhead turtles buried in the sand. They were cute! It was a group of about 8 college age looking people that came there to swim that said there were gators in that creek. Probably just trying to ruffle our feathers! I could see there being water mocassins in that creek though!
Beach Fanatic
Hey Memphis Ladybug (sp):
Believe it or not, the Wolf River in Shelby and Fayette Counties has some very fine canoeing areas. I used to live there and was on the board of The Wolf River Conservancy (www.wolfriver.org). These are slow moving waters that are typically very beginner-friendly. The organization is constantly leading tours of the Wolf River, which is one of the only remaining non-dredged rivers in west Tennessee (upstream of Moscow, TN anyway). It is very beautiful and wild.
So, don't forget the good stuff at home.
Believe it or not, the Wolf River in Shelby and Fayette Counties has some very fine canoeing areas. I used to live there and was on the board of The Wolf River Conservancy (www.wolfriver.org). These are slow moving waters that are typically very beginner-friendly. The organization is constantly leading tours of the Wolf River, which is one of the only remaining non-dredged rivers in west Tennessee (upstream of Moscow, TN anyway). It is very beautiful and wild.
So, don't forget the good stuff at home.
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