Summer Paddling Trip on the Chipola River

From Outings Volunteer Leader, Allen Beard:

Kayaking togetherJune 23, 2018, was the Apalachicola Riverkeeper’s (ARk) Fourth Saturday Paddle on a 10-mile segment of the Chipola River.  As I pulled into the Magnolia Boat Ramp on Saturday morning, several cars, some outfitted with kayaks in car-top carriers, were waiting.  After brief introductions, I was excited to learn of who was joining us on the trip.  There was the family of four from Kentucky who made a day of the outing on the way to their annual St. George Island retreat.  The remainder were from Tallahassee who were partaking in the opportunity of the trip. We consolidated boats on the ARk trailer and caravanned, leaving several vehicles at Magnolia, to the boat ramp at Yancey where we made our launch.

Much of the river was in shade as we began and paddled the first several bends of the trip.  The current carried us swiftly downriver.  Many in the group were not familiar and soon the air was filled with the chorus of conversation of folks getting to know one another.  Georgia Ackerman, Riverkeeper, pointed out highlights of the route.  First, there was a dry cave system on the bank of the river known as “The Ovens.”  We lingered momentarily, admiring the craggy limestone bank that was festooned with vibrant green ferns.  The next stop was Maund Spring, located a short run off the river, where we stopped for lunch and enjoyed the cool, crystal clear spring water.

Swiming at bearclawAfter lunch, we reached Spring Creek, which is the outflow of Merritt’s Mill Pond.  The river began to clear and shallow.  We navigated past flotillas of tubers destined for Bear Paw and soon after reached the Magnolia boat ramp.

The Chipola River is a major tributary of the Apalachicola River.  It was great to experience the river with a group of those passionate about the environment, the ARK mission and the natural wonders of the Florida panhandle.

From Outings Volunteer Leader, Margaret Tyson:

Paddling under treesI enjoyed another great paddling adventure on the upper Chipola with friends of Apalachicola Riverkeeper. I have grown to love this spring fed river. Eight years ago, I first paddled it below Altha. It displays such diversity in scenery, wildlife, beautiful clear water, limestone walls and floors, caves, and narrow sandy passages between Cypress and Tupelo. It never gets old.

This paddle, when the weather was warm and the water cool, it offered a perfect day to see the Oven, a beautiful cave formation; but that was not all, not long after we paddled into a creek to Maund Springs, cooling off and swimming in awe of its depths and the beauty of north Florida. It would not be complete without rounding the paddle off by sharing the river at Spring Creek with dozens of tubers cooling off on that warm, sunny Saturday.

Group PhotoApalachicola Riverkeeper offers an opportunity each month to see, learn, experience the river and its watershed. Each time my appreciation grows, I meet people who share my love and concern for our waterways. I look forward to more Fourth Saturday Paddles.

Learn more about ARk’s Eco-Educational Outings by clicking here.

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