Riverbanks Adventure Forum

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

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……

 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

The Pithlachascotee River offers paddling tranquility in an urban setting

// April 13th, 2010 // 1 Comment » // Adventures, Canoeing, Florida, Florida Canoe Trail, Kayaking

Cotee River boat ramp at Frances Park by Riverbanksoutdoorstore

Saturday was looking bleak for any chances of outdoor adventure as I had to prepare my 2009 Federal tax return. Fortunately, thanks to online software and tax submission, the whole process took about 3 hours. With that I packed up my kayak and headed 2 miles up the road to paddle the Pithlachascottee River.  Also know as “Cotee” River by the locals, is scenic run along James E. Grey Preserve from Frances Park to the Bridge at Rowen Road. This section is part of the Florida Canoe Trail System.

James E Grey Fishing Pier

The scenery at the put-in at Frances Park was breathtaking.   I paused for a moment to take in the blue sky with the white clouds reflecting off the river.  I cringed as my movement added ripples to the perfectly smooth glass-like surface.  I only had to paddle  just as few hundred yard  past homes to arrive at the scenic protected land known as James E. Grey Preserve.  Here I was fortunate to find a Reddish Egret searching along the riverbanks for food.  “What a nice find!” I say to myself as I pause to capture a few photos of this uncommon wading bird.  I paddle on down river relaxing as I take in the scenery. 

Cabbage Palms Reflection

Tall Cabbage Palms tower over the river at the peak of an ox-bow river bend.  The spring green colors of the river grasses seemingly glow along the riverbanks.  Two more bends and I have paddled a full “S” and then one-half more.  I hear people talking. They must be the hikers in the preserve.  Just one more bend and I spot the fishing pier jutting out from the James E. Grey Boardwalk.  What a pretty site!  This rustic structure with a tin roof reflecting perfectly off the waters surface.  I appreciate my camera as I am able to capture this moment and take it home with me to share with others.  I continue up this slow moving river and I spot the Yellow Crested Night Heron that I have often seen from the preserve.  He looks at me but does not see me as a threat. He carries on with his business as I watch and follow him for a while.  Another bend and I come upon the James E. Grey canoe launch.  I could stop here and take a break but I am having too much fun!   I know up river from here it is sparsely maintained but I will take my chances with fall trees.  I will turn around when the river tells me too!  From here the river becomes thinner and more shaded, but still just as scenic.  I force my kayak over one log, then another, now I am at the Rowen Bridge. This used to be the old put-in for the Florida Canoe Trail.  I paddle a few hundred yards past the bridge and found a virtually impassable tree.  It is portagable, but my energy level was getting low. Here I decide to turn around.  The paddle back was a nice downstream excursion.  I was lucky to see a bald eagle fly right in front of my kayak as he heard me coming around the ox-bow bend.  I was as startled as much as he.  I watched him fly away to see if there was a nest nearby, but he disappeared into the preserve.

It was a tranquil escape to nature in the middle of bustling suburbia. Just what I needed that day!

Click here to view more photos of the Pithlachascotee River on flickr.

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

Summer Family Fun! Fossil Hunting the Peace River, Florida

// June 14th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Adventure Vacations, Canoeing, Florida Canoe Trail, Kayaking, Peace River

Fossils from the Peace River, Florida

If you are looking for an adventure to share with the kids, a nice way to stay cool and still be outdoors is paddling  the Peace River panning for fossils.  Watching the excitement on children’s faces with each fossil that is uncovered is pure joy.  It is amazing that some of these specimens are 12 million years old!

The Peace River in the southwestern part of the Florida Peninsula is well known for its prehistoric finds mainly from the Pleistocene (2 million years ago) and Miocene (12-28 million years ago) eras.  Due to its slow current, the Peace River is one of the few places in Florida were the fossils found here can be very well preserved. (more…)

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