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Our airboat zig zagged over eelgrasses and aquatic vegetation and previous startled alligators on the Wacissa River, within the Large Bend area of Florida.
Savannah clutched my arm with a combination of terror and exhilaration on her face. I grinned and whooped again at her, “That is so superior!!”
The Wacissa River is a 15-mile idyllic stretch of calm, clear water, surrounded by verdant vegetation and full of thriving wildlife. It’s identified for being residence to an array of wildlife, from turtles, water snakes, river otters, and naturally (that is Florida) alligators.
Regardless of its inhabitants, this river is a well-liked spot for water actions, comparable to swimming, canoeing, kayaking, and airboating.
We selected to airboat and kayak Wacissa River throughout our journey to Jefferson County. Right here’s what our expertise seemed like!
What’s particular concerning the Wacissa River?
The Wacissa River is extensively considered probably the most stunning river in Florida and is known for its crystal clear waters. It’s fed by twelve main springs and is managed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Fee and is a part of the Aucilla Wildlife Administration Space and Suwannee River Water Administration District
As a result of the Wacissa’s river move is sluggish and calm, it’s a well-liked spot for recreation.
Whilst you could be delay swimming figuring out that alligators inhabit these waters, there are designated swimming spots, together with the well-known Large Blue Spring, a well-liked swimming gap.
The crystal clear water flows for 15 miles earlier than it connects to the Aucilla River, which is fed by the Aucilla Spring and isn’t so crystal clear. You’ll know you’ve reached the top when the water turns to a particular “blackwater.”
Our Expertise Airboating and Kayaking the Wacissa River
The Wacissa River is accessed from the Wacissa Springs Nation Park, a pristine, pure magnificence in North Florida close to Monticello, which we solely found after we arrived at her banks.
This a part of Florida is quiet and distant, providing solitude and serenity – nevertheless it’s no much less stunning than different locations in Florida that get the fanfare and whistles.
Generally it pays off to go a bit of additional off the path, and adventuring down the Wacissa River is one option to show this.
It was the final journey on our highway journey of North Florida. It was the right finish to our highway journey because the extra we journey, the extra we want to hunt out of doors adventures free from the crowds!
Wacissa Springs
As we walked as much as the air boat initially of our journey at Wacissa River Springs Nation Park, I used to be magnetically drawn to gaze in marvel on the view in entrance of me.
A dense, tropical cover bordered a big physique of crystal clear river coated with water hyacinths and vivid inexperienced lilies.
Kayakers slowly paddled up the river, virtually as if in a sluggish movement dream and a rope dangled from an historical cypress tree the place youngsters launched themselves laughing into the water.
It was like stepping right into a secret Excessive Definition Disney film.
This is likely one of the final true hidden gems in Florida. No, make that the USA.
Even should you don’t go any additional down the Wacissa, it’s value visiting for the view alone and maybe swing your self off that rope into the refreshingly cool spring waters.
Wacissa Springs is the place you board your airboat tour, OR, lease kayaks to deepen your explorations downstream and into the numerous springs that feed it.
The Wacissa River by Airboat and Kayak
The Wacissa River is a primary magnitude clear, spring-fed stream that’s fed by about 20 springs at its headwaters.
The river flows roughly 15-miles (19 km) south by way of a broad cypress swamp earlier than breaking into quite a few braided channels, which be part of the Aucilla River, a number of miles additional south.
The river, normally crystal clear, was barely brown on account of massive quantities of rain earlier than we arrived.
You possibly can discover a number of of the springs on kayak initially of the river, the primary mile of which may get busy with fellow kayakers.
Our airboat tour took us past the paddlers to a world we had virtually to ourselves – aside from the snapping alligators and turtles.
Captain Brad Cooley from 5 Rivers Adventures was our information for the day.
He grew up on the Wacissa and Aucilla River and was educated concerning the space, stopping to level out several types of birds (Bald Eages are even stated to go to this area), Indian mounds, and methods to determine them, and the bubbles of the spring waters starting its journey.
He took us into a few springs, together with Wakulla Springs, Little Blue, and the well-known Large Blue Springs – a favourite for these craving a refreshing dip who come for the kayaking close to Tallahassee.
You’ll discover a rope swing up within the timber excessive above the 40-foot-deep blue green-water.
Brad dived in from the boat so we might see simply how deep and clear the water is as he went down, down, and down.
This magical journey took us down the forested hall of the river, by way of tight areas with overhanging branches, previous alligators, turtles sunning, and considerable and numerous wildlife.
Ospreys, herons, bald eagles, flew from department to department main down the river.
Anglers forged their traces from the shore, hoping to catch one of many a number of species of fish that dwell in these waters, from bass to mullet to catfish to gar to bluegill.
Savannah and I grinned and squealed and silently absorbed the fantastic thing about it for our 11-mile journey. Kalyra sat within the again, solemnly absorbing the expertise. She later informed me she discovered it stunning and wonderful however “a bit of scary!”
Airboat excursions flip round on the outdated railroad used throughout one of many first logging operations in North Florida.
Brad took us a bit of additional to Goose Pasture, a picnic and public campground, and the place to begin for the subsequent a part of our journey…after a scrumptious picnic lunch!
Kayaking the Slave Canal to the Aucilla River
The primary half down the Wacissa was passive journey, the rest of the day was about getting low to the water and pumping these arms.
We traded the airboat for single kayaks and canoes and we set off with a number of native associates, together with information and native historian David Ward.
It’s greatest to take this journey with an skilled information. Despite the fact that the Slave Canal is marked, you could possibly simply get misplaced amongst completely different channels branching off so its greatest to take this journey with an skilled information.
Our kayak journey started on a large part of the Wacissa and slowly narrowed because it disappears right into a small group of streams, tributaries, and river swamps simply west of the Aucilla River.
Connecting the Wacissa to the Aucilla is what is called the Slave Canal.
It was determined within the 1830s to construct a canal to attach the Aucilla and Wacissa to allow transportation of the cotton all the way down to the Gulf.
Slaves have been made to do the again breaking work of constructing a 2.7 mile canal out of the limestone. It was deserted after the Civil Battle for extra environment friendly railroads.
Blocks of limestone stay on the financial institution and function a reminder of the arduous process they confronted within the warmth and humidity with snakes, alligators and mosquito threats of malaria and yellow fever.
It was a poignant journey, bringing consciousness to their experiences and a reminder to proceed to face for creating an inclusive and equal world.
There are additionally a number of Indian Mounds alongside the river, indicating that people occupied this area greater than 14,000 years in the past, as found by way of artifacts discovered within the archaeological digs carried out by the Aucilla Analysis Institute.
These woods have been stuffed with native individuals searching and fishing and it’s stated the Slave Canal was most likely as soon as a Native American secret buying and selling passageway.
You possibly can leap off the kayaks to discover the mounds, however the thickness of the mosquitoes and warmth saved us paddling.
We prefer to say the challenges of our travels are there simply to boost the story, and people mosquitoes and excessive humidity simply gave us a extra fascinating story to inform.
The water is obvious and shallow and though the paddling was simple as the present was flowing quick in help, it was fairly technical. We needed to artfully navigate round fallen logs, slim sections, and overhanging branches.
Historical oaks and palmettos draped with Spanish moss present a cover over the river, alligators sat watching on the banks, one even crashed into the water with a loud tail slap simply forward of us.
All of us missed it aside from Savannah, who was head-alligator spotter within the entrance of the canoe with David.
In the course of the journey, after a number of technical paddling sections, I used to be completely happy we determined Savannah can be higher kicking again within the canoe than paddling her personal kayak.
She was thrilled to return eye to eye with an alligator and compelled him to go underwater in worry!!
That’s a narrative she has to inform for all times.
My favourite half was David’s professional recommendation,
“I’m not too fearful about snakes and alligators on this space. If a snake drops into your kayak, you possibly can simply sort of flip it out together with your paddle. It’s the wasps you need to fear about. If they arrive after you, the one factor you are able to do is dive below the water with the alligators. Watch the hanging branches as that’s the place their nests are.”
In the meantime, I’d simply gone below about 4 hanging timber. By no means thoughts as a result of my thoughts was nonetheless caught on the “if a snake drops into your kayak” bit.
I steered away from these branches for the remainder of the journey even when it meant crashing into different kayaks and logs and practically upending myself with the alligators.
Last Ideas
This is the reason I journey. For journey, reminiscences and tales will likely be informed across the campfire for years to return.
This was an journey I obtained to expertise with my youngsters, and should you’re searching for adventurous issues to do in Florida with youngsters, put this in your checklist!
The battle to maintain Kalyra targeted on the second, reasonably than freaking out concerning the spider crawling on her canoe and the mosquitoes biting each a part of her, was intense on the time, however we overcame it, and grew collectively.
The final 500 yards have been powerful as we paddled in opposition to the swift transferring present of the Aucilla River racing in direction of the Gulf of Mexico.
Kalyra dug deep to seek out the final little bit of power after a mentally and bodily demanding 5-mile path to get herself residence. I used to be fearful she’d get swept away, however I couldn’t cease to assist as I’d do the identical and be ineffective.
It was an necessary parenting development problem for me – to let go and belief that my youngster can do it and provides her the chance to dig deep and discover her personal energy.
So I simply shouted out encouraging phrases “You are able to do it, Kalyra!”
As we hauled the kayaks up the boat ramp and loaded them onto the truck, I hugged her.
“I do know that was powerful for you Kalyra. I’m so impressed by what you are able to do. Push apart the trauma of it and as a substitute take the true energy from it.
It confirmed you what you might be really able to and simply how sturdy and highly effective you actually are. Now think about what you are able to do with that data with the remainder of your life.
She ended that journey with a smile.
Video: Wacissa River Adventures
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