5 Beautiful Florida Springs to Kayak and Canoe

Whether you live in Florida or planning a vacation to the Sunshine State, check out these 5 beautiful Florida Springs to Kayak or Canoe. Get outside and discover what truly makes Florida so special. There is a whole other world outside of the theme parks that is just waiting for you to explore.

Rainbow Springs

A magical place to kayak or canoe would be Rainbow Springs. We loved exploring this state park, although I think we did more snorkeling than kayaking. The colors of the spring are beyond amazing. Check out my blog post here or visit Rainbow Springs State Park directly for more information. Kayak and canoe rentals can be made on site. We would love to camp here someday, but it a popular park to get into. If you plan on making a camping reservation do so many months in advance.

Silver Springs

Last year we were lucky enough to score a camping restoration at Silver Springs State Park. This was one of my favorite places to camp. We rented kayaks at the state park without reservations. I would recommend making reservations online. We lucked out that two were available at the time we arrived. This is a busy spring especially on the weekends, but well worth it. Check out my blog post here or go to Silver Springs State Park for more information.

Three Sisters Springs

One of my favorite places to kayak is Three Sisters Springs. Access to the springs is closed in the winter months for the protection of the manatees that like to keep warm in the springs. If you have your own kayak or canoe you can launch from King’s Bay, but I would recommend Crystal River Kayak and Dive Center for rentals. They have the best launch site for visiting the spring. You can learn more about Three Sister Springs by reading my blog post here, or by visiting Three Sisters Springs.

Ruth B. Kirby Gilchrist Blue Springs

The Ruth B. Kirby Gilchrist Blue Springs is one of Florida’s newest state parks. This beautiful park has an easy launch site with fantastic views. It runs into the Santa Fe River, so going down the river is a lot easier than coming back. This is also a great place for snorkeling and diving as well. Kayak and canoe rentals can be made on site. Find out more by reading my blog post here, or visit The Ruth B. Kirby Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park.

Blue Spring

A popular state park for viewing manatees in the winter is Blue Spring. The park offers kayak and canoe rentals year round, but restrict where you can go during the winter months for the safety of the manatees. Kayak and canoe rentals can be made on site. This is a favorite state park in Florida. If you plan on visiting in the winter months please note it will be busy and the park will limit the number of people allowed in. If you want to make a camping reservations any time of the year, plan your trip many months in advance. The campground fills up quick. Read my blog post about the spring here or visit Blue Spring State Park for more information.

Kayak Tours

A great way to explore Florida Springs is to use a tour company. We highly recommend Get Up and Go Kayaking for exploring springs all over Florida. And as I mentioned above Crystal River Kayak and Dive Center is a fantastic source for self guided tours in the Crystal River Waterways.