South of SR 64 about a mile back on the Braden River.

Perfect day to be out before the storms hit: Sep 12, 2018

Nice morning on Ward Lake. Great place to see wildlife. The launch ramp has restrooms and a grassy area.

Mississippi is not a state that has a lot of whitewater. Several streams have occasional chutes and drop-offs, but only the Okatoma is renowned for its whitewater. The Okatoma Creek is just a regular Mississippi creek that happens to have four notable rapids on a popular stretch between Seminary and Sanford. Drawing huge crowds and making the Okatoma one of the most popular floats in the state, these rapids provide quite a thrill. The first rapid contains a fairly easy passage to the left of some rock shoals blocking most of the river. The Chute is a narrow channel on the left that requires paddlers to make a hard right to negotiate the second drop at fast speeds. Okatoma Falls comes 2 miles below the Chute and consists of a straightforward plunge of about 2.5 feet. The last rapids comes right after the falls as the river narrows into a tree-lined gorge and provides some excitement but poses no threat.

Black Creek is Mississippi’s premier paddling stream. For most of its length it is ideal paddling size, avoiding logjams and strainers of a small creek and motorboats and headwinds of a large river. The current is strong and steady with no whitewater and no stagnant pools and it is located largely in the De Soto National Forest and contains wilderness surroundings and gorgeous scenery. Its name comes from the dark, tannin-stained waters. The dark water is highlighted with white sandbars beneath green forest walls. Many wildflowers and wild berries can be found along the river banks as well. This wonderful stretch of river is a designated national Wild and Scenic River and the Black Creek Wilderness Area fills the surrounding land.

Fisheating Creek is considered to be one of the most scenic paddling streams in all of Florida as it travels through remote cypress swamps and hardwood hammocks in the Central Highlands. The stream runs through a remote and rugged wildlife management area that offers excellent scenery and wildlife viewing opportunity. Exploring this section of the stream between Burnt Bridge and the outpost at US 27 is the second half of a 16.5-mile stretch that is accessed using shuttle services offered through a concessionaire located at the US 27 bridge. Paddling the whole 16.5 mile section between Ingrams Crossing and the outpost can be done in one day but doing it as an overnight trip or spliting it into two runs is recommended. There may be portages required during very low water as well as occasional deadfalls and natural obstacles to navigate around. For information about the shuttle services, contact the Fisheating Creek Outpost located west of the US 27 bridge.

Fisheating Creek is considered to be one of the most scenic paddling streams in all of Florida as it travels through remote cypress swamps and hardwood hammocks in the Central Highlands. The stream runs through a remote and rugged wildlife management area that offers excellent scenery and wildlife viewing opportunity. Exploring this section of the stream between Ingrams Crossing and Burnt Bridge is half of a 16.5-mile stretch that is accessed by shuttle services offered through a concessionaire located at the US 27 bridge. Paddling the whole 16.5 mile section between Ingrams Crossing and the outpost can be done in one day but doing it as an overnight trip or spliting it into two runs is recommended. There may be portages required during low water as well as occasional deadfalls and natural obstacles to navigate around. For information about the shuttle services, contact the Fisheating Creek Outpost located west of the US 27 bridge.

Few hours out before the storm.

Nice day to get out before the storm hits

This Hillsborough River flows for over 50 miles through diverse habitats between the Green Swamp and Hillsborough Bay, providing enjoyable river trips for paddlers of all skill levels. This section of the designated paddling trail covers over 7 miles between Sargeant Park and Trout Creek Park. This section of river is suitable for most paddlers but occasional log jams, low branches, shallow water, and portages are possible during low water. There is good wildlife viewing opportunity though, especially during spring and winter.