Kayaking Blackwater River, FL

Alexandra Proctor
6 hours ago
2 min read

State: Florida

Outfitter Location: Blackwater Canoe https://maps.app.goo.gl/gU7bJm8dmrwTSgX69

Length: 9 miles

Fee: $40.00 for a kayak. During the off season, they are cash-only.

By the time I launched my kayak into the Blackwater River in early February 2026, it had been over 2 years since I'd put my hands on a paddle. Water is not plentiful in my current location of El Paso, TX. And my last water-oriented activity had been a river cruise on the Spree in Berlin. It had simply been too long since I'd relaxed on a river, leaned back in a kayak, or enjoyed the sounds of the water as it moved around the craft.

To start this journey, I rented a kayak from Blackwater Canoe. In the off-season, a kayak rental will cost you $40 in cash for a 9 mile self-guided journey down the river. You park at Blackwater River State Park after securing your slot. Then the outfitter busses you up-river where you launch the kayak and meander down the water back to your vehicle.

The river is placid with a rate of about 2 miles per hour. When I completed the paddle in February, the waters were relatively shallow, averaging about 2.5 feet. One of the most striking aspects of this journey is the contrast between the water color and the white sand beaches. The shadowy waters, darkened by tannins, glide by sandbars and plenty of take-out spots.

If I kayak this section of the river again, I will definitely bring the makings for a riverside picnic.

Wildlife abounds on the banks. I spotted a couple whitetail deer before they bolted in to the forest. If you're a bird nerd like myself, sighting are plentiful as you paddle along. I saw several Great Blue Herons, but there are also plovers, sandpipers, and egrets in the area.