The River

Flowing past unmarred forests, including the Little Big Econ State Forest, you can see a diverse array of wildlife, including sandhill cranes, bald eagles, osprey, hawks, wading birds, wood storks, roseate spoonbills, waterfowl, shorebirds, deer, turkeys, large alligators, and sometimes black bears.

The Muscogee name for the river means “River of Many Mounds,” named for the multitude of Indian mounds found along this waterway. The second-largest tributary of the storied St. Johns River, this delightful blackwater stream is narrow in places and canopied by cypress, moss-covered live oak and Sabal palm.

The Paddle

We take our time paddling only downstream for the entire 8.5-mile tour, giving you ample time to experience more of the river and her beautiful unfolding landscapes. The tightly winding, narrow river offers excitement at every bend in anticipation of what we’ll see around the corner.

On most bends in the river, a large white sand beach forms on the inside turn. We make use of these beaches for swims, leg stretching, and a picnic lunch. At the end of our paddle together, a private van transports us back to our vehicles at the starting point.