Canoe Tours - Hillsburough State Park?
 

When visiting FL we would like to do a guided canoe tour. In a previous posting someone mentioned Hillsburough State Park, this sounds great. The thing is I'm a little worried about the aligators, should I be?

Nic..I hate always being the first jumping in to answer your posts...don't mean to hog!!! <BR> <BR>My husband has taken his exec committee on this canoe trip and they all raved about it. It's very easy paddling...they are certainly not experts! I don't know if there are gators in the river...I suppose they could get in but it's not anything to worry about. They would avoid you at all costs. Know that dh didn't mention seeing any and I've never seen any the areas of the river I've been around. <BR> <BR>The only question I have now is the condition of the Hillsborough as we've been in a prolonged drought. They showed pictures this summer of areas of the river that have dwindled down to nothing. Rainy season is over and we didn't get normal amounts in the summer either. <BR> <BR>I'm away from home at the moment. Will get the name of the outfit they used on my return (Sunday) and let you know.

Hi cmcdaniel, great to hear from you again, I'm always happy to see your name appearing on my posts as the information you give is very useful. <BR> <BR>If the Hillsborough isn't up to much at the moment, Do you know of any other guided tours? <BR> <BR>Thanks again <BR>Nic.

There may or may not be gators in that stretch of the river. I've heard one or two harrowing tales from canoeists who strayed from mid channel and encountered something underwater. Maybe it was a manitee rubbernecking the tourists. Anyway, for an authoritative account of gators in Florida, I suggest you read the Carl Haisen book "Tourist Season" before you arrive. It should in fact be a mandatory read for anyone coming to Florida for golf outings as well as canoe trips. Good luck - you may be in for some real excitement.

<BR>I know there is a canoe outfitter below Sun City Center on ROUTE # 301..maybe "cmcdaniel" may know the name of it..it is on the little Manatee River...my father and friends had taken it years ago..it was still there the last I`d seen..don`t know how much water is in the river now..have a good time..

Nic, <BR>Another option is the Peace River in Central Florida (approximately 1 hour east of Tampa). http://www.canoesafari.com/ is a helpful site. Additionally, I think you could put together some trip details by doing a web search for "peace river florida". As cmcdaniel mentioned, the rivers are very low. The Peace River may be a little higher. <BR> <BR>As far as the gators, I didn't see any in the Peace River, not that they weren't there, we just try our very best to leave them alone and they tend to do the same. I have lived here all my life and have spend much time in the lakes, I have had only one encounter and it was my stupidity that put me in danger...I was trying to take the gator's picture up close!!

Hi, Nic - My teenage son and I went to Hillsborough State Park 2 years ago in late December. You can rent a canoe there by the hour (real cheap - I think it $5 per hour). No need for a "guide" for this trip, just launch the canoe and head up river. It is narrow, but quite deep. (No idea how the conditions are now, sorry.) We saw lots of turtles and big fish during the first 20 minutes or so, then sighted alligators! They were sunning along the shoreline - maybe 3 feet long was the largest - totally could care less that we were there paddling by. <BR>The park is right off Route 301 between Tampa and Zephyrhills. Phone number: 813-987-6771.

Hi Nic...am back from TX. The group my husband used was Canoe Escape Inc, 9335 E Fowler, Tampa. Phone 986-0997 or 986-2067. He was very enthusiastic about them--so much so after being reminded of the trip, he decided it was something we should do when our kids come in for Thanksgiving....so we'll be on the river too. :&gt; <BR> <BR>Please don't worry about the gators (he did confirm they didn't see any) as they will try to avoid YOU. If you do happen to spot one, consider yourselves very lucky! They are hard to spot unless out on a bank getting a Florida tan. Often they'll rest in the water with just their snouts and eyes showing--very difficult to spot. Canoe Escape does offer guided tours, but you can go on your own as my husband's group did. <BR> <BR>The phone book also lists the group mentioned in the note above on the Little Manatee River. They are Canoe Outpost-Little Manatee River, 18001 US Hwy 301 S, phone # 634-2228. <BR> <BR>There is one more listed. Canoe Rentals-Alafia River, 4419 River Dr., Valrico. Their phone # is 689-8645. <BR> <BR>If you go down to Ft. Desoto (south of St. Pete Beach), there is an area in there where you can rent kayaks and paddle through the mangroves, which would be fun and most likely alligator free if that's a serious concern, as it would be in salt water. <BR> <BR>We went the kayak route in Sanibel's Ding Darling Nature Preserve. Is the Sanibel area is on your agenda this trip? It was beautiful. They offer both guided and self-guided tours. <BR> <BR>Don't know if any one river is better than another. All will be lower than normal in this section of the state, but I wouldn't let that stop me. Hope you'll give us a trip report when you return. It's getting close, isn't it?

Well, I'd be careful all the same. When I read Haisen's book, it became evident that Fla. has an influx of tourits, like yourself, and not everyone may be overjoyed by it. In his book, somone had devised an ingenious way of deterring their visits.

Hi Everyone, <BR>Just like to say thanks for the info. <BR>