Riverbanks Adventure Forum

Archive for Fishing

Breathtaking Scenery in the untouched Salt Marshes of the Lower Suwannee River Basin!

// May 12th, 2010 // 1 Comment » // Adventure Vacations, Adventures, Camping, Canoeing, Fishing, Florida, Florida Canoe Trail, Great Florida Birding Trail, Hiking, Nature Photography

Tidal Flats near Shell Mound by Riverbanksoutdoorstore

I had a great day hiking and exploring the 53,000 acre Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge this past weekend. This refuge was established in 1979 to protect one of the largest undeveloped and most scenic river-delta estuarine systems in the United States. The numerous off-shore islands, salt marshes and tidal creeks create an excellent wildlife habitat.

As I set out to hike the Dennis Creek trail, I am amused at how the Fiddler crabs run abundant as they quickly scatter from my seemingly giant footsteps. I veer from the main trail to explore the trail created by Fisherman along Dennis Creek. To my surprise I see several oyster bars and two great white egrets feeding across the creek and a few fishing traps. The marshes explode with color as the lime green of the perennial glasswort and the brown cord grasses contrast with the blue water and sky. I cross one of several boardwalks over a salt flat to an island inundated by pine trees. This offers a welcome shady relief from the hot sun while day hiking this scenic trail. I notice one tree has a CatFace….a scar cut over 70 years ago to drain the tree of its sap. I spot a Pileated Woodpecker and pause to watch as he flys from tree to tree in search of insects. The trail leads me back over the salt marshes of Dennis Creek. Again the view is breathtaking today with the white fluffy clouds hovering over the treeline in the distance. This side of the trail is lined with hardwoods. The Red Cedars really stand out from the oaks as they are filled with baby-blue berries. This trail leads me back to my truck. A short hike but breathtaking scenery in these untouched lands! One can only hope these lands are spared from the tragic Gulf oil spill that is haunting the Gulf Coasts……

Perennial Glasswort by Riverbanksoutdoorstore

Fiddler Crabs in the Tidal Flats crop by Riverbanksoutdoorstore

This refuge was established in 1979 to protect one of the largest undeveloped and most scenic river-delta estuarine systems in the United States. The numerous off-shore islands, salt marshes and tidal creeks create an excellent wildlife habitat. The refuge is part of the Great Florida Birding Trail and also the FWC Big Bend Saltwater Paddling Trail. The FWC Paddling trail has maps and GPS coordinates for designated campsites. For day paddling, there are several Canoe put ins through out the Refuge to allow for paddling shallow salt marshes and along the designated Canoe Trails.

Click here to view more photos of the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge on Flickr.

Guide Books: Hikers Guide to the Sunshine State, Author Sandra Friend

Withlacoochee River Park – A cultural and natural gem in the heart of the Green Swamp

// November 10th, 2009 // No Comments » // Adventures, Camping, Canoeing, Fishing, Florida, Florida Canoe Trail, Hiking, Kayaking

Hollowed Tree by Riverbanksoutdoorstore

Withlacoochee River Park is a great place for family gatherings or just a nice place to unwind and spend the day!
The Withlacoochee River Park is part of the Green Swamp and sits on the banks of the Withlacoochee River South. There is a canoe launch for paddling and fishing, several picnic areas, primitive campsites through the park, group campsites, a 2.5 mile nature trail that connects with a 5.5 mile Florida Trail hiking spur just outside of the park. The park also provides cultural learning opportunities with an original native American ceremonial hut in a small replica Indian Village complete with archery range. There is also a small replica Florida Cracker village near to group campsite for scouts to play. Be alert for the displays of chainsaw art carved in tree stumps in the forms of statues and chairs that add whimsy to this vast forest.
The park is also handicapped friendly as it provides a paved path throughout the park the parallels the nature trail in several spots. Families also frequent this trail on bicycles for a nice ride through the forest.

Saturday I met my friend Sandra Friend to hike the Withlacoochee River Park for her new edition of 50 Hikes in Central Florida. We began our journey along the West bank of the River where the Florida Trail Association maintains a 5.5 mile spur trail just outside of the park. Although it is not part of the main National Scenic Florida Trail, it is a nice jaunt that leads you along the west flood plain of the river laden with Cypress knees. It drifts slightly west into the sand-hills with resurrection fern covered live oaks and an occasional greenfly orchid. Plants that only thrive in the most humid of conditions! The trail leads you to a primitive campsite and loops back with the option to either enter the park or retrace your steps back along the river. Saturday we felt adventurous and veered into the park to follow 2.2 mile nature trail. This trail was a pleasant trek as it leads you through a diversity of natural Florida habitats. We trekked through an oak hammock boasting mature live oaks with winding twisting arms blanketed underneath with contrasting lime green saw palmettos. The trail then leads you on a boardwalk over a wet prairie currently covered with mustard yellow button flowers and amber colored fall grasses back into a sand-hill habitat with spots of purple blazing star and puffs of grey deer moss. A sturdy viewing tower sits at the north end of the loop and worth the five storey climb for breathtaking views of the Green Swamp. You can see Cypress domes line the Withlacoochee River shores in the distance. As we continued through the sand-hills the trail crosses the vast wet prairie again over another boardwalk. We came upon a replica Florida cracker village next to a large group campsite with families and young scouting boys full of energy and delight as they played in these historic landmarks. We continued through the village and back on the trail to come upon a native American ceremonial hut with a practice archery range behind it. We revelled in the Indian Village a few moments imagining the lifestyles our predecessors had lived on these lands before us. From here we followed the nature trail back to the picnic area in which we parked our cars.
Withlacoochee River Park is truly an enjoyable place to hike!

Guide Books: 50 Hikes in Central Florida

View more photos of the Withlacoochee River Park

About the Author: Barbara is the owner of an on-line store Riverbanks Outdoor Store for several years and has frequently engaged in outdoor sports for years including camping, mountain biking, whitewater rating, kayaking, snorkeling, and hiking. Barbara also hosts a blog Riverbanks Adventure Forum that focuses on product reviews and adventure vacations. You can also follow Riverbanks Outdoor Store on twitter, flickr, youtube, and facebook.

James E Grey Preserve, New Port Richey's Best Kept Secret

// June 7th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Fishing, Florida, Florida Canoe Trail, Florida History, Hiking, Kayaking

Pavilion at James E Grey Preserve

James E Grey preserve is not easy to find but worth the hunt! This preserve lies at the west end of a Plathe Road off Rowan Road. When you turn west onto this road, there will be a “No Outlet Sign. Not only does the road end, you must drive through an open gate that gives it the appearance of a private drive. You will have every inclination to turn around..but don’t! Once you follow this drive the 80 acre preserve encompassing the Pithlachascotee (Cotee)
River is an oasis of old Florida Wilderness in the middle of suburban Pasco County.
At the trail head there is some parking, a pavilion, fishing dock and canoe put-in. On hot summer days I have seen teens use this area as a swimming hole diving off the Oak Tree Branches that reach over the river. Although this is not recommended. Like any other natural part of Florida, there are gators and water snakes that live in the tanic waters.

Kayaking the 'Cotee River

The park is the end of a Florida Canoe Trail that runs from Frances Park 4.5 mile down the river. The river runs slow but has many hairpin turns that will be challenging for the beginner but navigable. This section is very scenic with practically no development along the shores of the river. Visitors can also kayak through the canals of the preserve, which has natural Florida ecosystems, hardwood hammock uplands and swamps.

Boardwalk at James E. Grey Preserve

The City of New Port Richey recently (2007) built a 1/2 mile board walk with a fishing pier that runs along the river. This section is classified as one of Florida’s Great Birding Trails. Actually, the brown Birding Trail Signs on Rowan Road are the only indication that a park is back here. The Park information sign boasts that 140 different species of birds has been spotted here.
The trails continues around the park and back to a picnic area that has restroom facilities, three tin roofed pavilions with grills and picnic tables, and a large parking area. There is a total of 2 miles of trails in the park for hiking and birding.

This is also a fun place for GEOCaching. I will not tell you which caches are here..but the coordinates of the park are: Lat. 28 deg 14 min N, Long. 82 deg 42 min W. Here is my hint: Bring children…there will be some crawling in the dirt!

Hiking Trail at James E. Grey Preserve

History: The Preserve is named after James E. Grey, a Pasco County Pioneer that died in 1985. Mr. Grey was the first male child born in the City of New Port Richey after it was established in 1915. He was considered a small hometown hero as the first Quarterback of the Football Team at Gulf High School and, later, the Captain at the local volunteer Fire Department.

Wildflowers, James E Gray Preserve

About the Author: Barbara is the owner of an on-line store Riverbanks Outdoor Store for several years and has frequently engaged in outdoor sports for years including camping, mountain biking, whitewater rating, kayaking, snorkeling, and hiking. Barbara also hosts a blog Riverbanks Adventure Forum that focuses on product reviews and adventure vacations.