Canoeing & Kayaking Florida

Johnny Molloy is an outdoors writer based in Johnson City, Tennessee, who spends his winters in Florida. Born in Memphis, he moved to Knoxville in 1980 to attend the University of Tennessee. During his college years, he discovered a love of the natural world that has since become the primary focus of his life. It all started on a backpacking foray into Great Smoky Mountains National Park. That first trip was a disaster; nevertheless, Johnny developed an appreciation of the outdoors that would lead him to canoe-camp and backpack throughout the United States and abroad over the next 30 years. To this day, he averages 150 nights per year camping out. After graduating from Tennessee in 1987 with a degree in economics, Johnny spent an ever-increasing amount of time in the wild, becoming more skilled in the environment. Friends enjoyed his adventure stories; one even suggested he write a book. He pursued that idea and soon parlayed his love of the outdoors into an occupation. The results of his efforts are more than 80 books. These include hiking, camping, paddling, and other comprehensive guidebooks, as well as true-adventure books. In addition to updating and rewriting Canoeing & Kayaking Florida, he has written several other Florida-focused outdoors guides, including A Paddler’s Guide to Everglades National Park; Backpacking Florida; Best Tent Camping: Florida; Beach & Coastal Camping in Florida; The Hiking Trails of Florida’s National Forests, Parks, and Preserves; Day Hiking Southwest Florida; Best Easy Day Hikes: Jacksonville; Best Easy Day Hikes: Tallahassee; Best Easy Day Hikes: Tampa Bay; and two true-adventure stories, From the Swamp to the Keys: A Paddle Through Florida History and Hiking the Florida Trail: 1,100 Miles, 78 Days, Two Pairs of Boots, and One Heck of an Adventure. His other books primarily cover the Southeast but range over 28 states.

Dedication


Acknowledgments


Preface



Overview Map



River-Locator Map Key


Introduction


Part One: The Western Panhandle




Perdido River
Coldwater Creek
Sweetwater Creek and Juniper Creek
Blackwater River
Yellow River
Shoal River
Seven Runs
Choctawhatchee River
Holmes Creek
Econfina Creek of Washington and Bay Counties
Chipola River


Part Two: The Central Panhandle




Apalachicola River
Ochlockonee River
Sopchoppy River
Graham Creek and East River
Doyle Creek
Owl Creek
River Styx
New River
Lost Creek


Part Three: The Big Bend




Wakulla River
St. Marks River
Wacissa River
Aucilla River
Econfina River of Taylor County
Steinhatchee River


Part Four: The Northern Peninsula




Withlacoochee River (North)
Suwannee River
Santa Fe River
Ichetucknee River
St. Marys River
Black Creek
North Fork Black Creek


Part Five: The Central Peninsula




Withlacoochee River (South)
Rainbow River
Silver River
Ocklawaha River
Alexander Springs and Alexander Springs Creek
Juniper Springs and Juniper Creek
Salt Springs and Salt Springs Run
Blue Creek
Stagger Mud Lake
St. Johns River and St. Francis Dead River


Part Six: The Central Highlands




Wekiva River and Rock Springs Run
Black Water Creek and Lake Norris
Econlockhatchee River
Shingle Creek
Arbuckle Creek
Peace River
Fisheating Creek


Part Seven: The Atlantic Coast




Pellicer Creek
Bulow Creek
Tomoka River
Spruce Creek
Turkey Creek
South Prong of the St. Sebastian River
South Fork of the St. Lucie River
Loxahatchee River


Part Eight: The Southwest Gulf Coast




Weeki Wachee River
Hillsborough River
Alafia River
Little Manatee River
Manatee River
Myakka River
Prairie Creek
Shell Creek
Caloosahatchee River and Hickey Creek
Estero River


Part Nine: The Everglades




Blackwater River at Collier-Seminole State Park
Everglades National Park and the Wilderness Waterway
Turner River Canoe Trail
Nine-Mile Pond Canoe Trail
Noble Hammock Canoe Trail


Part Ten: Appendixes




Appendix A: Outfitters
Appendix B: Safety Code of American Whitewater


Glossary


Index


About the Author