| Report By: | tonto | Date: 5/15/2009 | Type: Trip Report | | Rating: |  |
Photos:
See 8 photos |
Map & Directions: View |
 | The Ichetucknee River is located in Ischetucknee River State Park. It is a crystal clear, spring fed river which flows six miles through a canopy of trees before it joins the Santa Fe River. |
My Report:
We were teasing each other that you had to spell and pronounce the name of the river before they let you paddle it. I have been practicing pronouncing it, and if you say it phonetically, it comes out ichy-tuck-nee. I believe it’s an American Indian word for “I bet you can’t pronounce this”. My first question after, how do you spell Ichetucknee, was where the heck is it. It’s close to High Springs, which is about 25 miles north of Gainesville, Fl. It’s in the Ichetucknee Springs State Park.
This is a spring fed, clear, cool river which begins in the park. The park charges $5 per person to use the river. You launch from the north park entrance and coast about 4 miles downriver to the south park entrance. If you are only going to paddle one way, you need to set up a shuttle. We gritted it out by floating downstream and then paddling back to our put-in. I think the river was flowing from about 1/2 mph to 2 mph, depending on the width of the river as it wound it’s way through the country side.
First the river was narrow and winding with springs feeding the river along the way. After about a mile, it broadened into a wider marshy area where there were limpkins, herons and ibis. Two limpkins were carrying on a lively discussion, or should I say argument. Someone remarked that they must be mating. Within the park, there are virtually no man made structures to mar the river view - it’s old Florida. Giant cypress trees, with their small knees surrounding them as if a gathering of their children, were in evidence along most of the river. Many of the trees had moss hanging down to add to the majesty of the river.
We paddled on a Sunday in early May. This makes a big difference after two miles because that’s where the tubers launch. How many tubers, let’s just say that they were “wall to wall” on the lower part of the river such that we had difficulty paddling between the tubes. The kids were jumping and squealing as they enjoyed an early summer romp on the river. We paddled with them a ways and then most of us decided to retreat back up river to the beauty and serenity of the river we enjoyed earlier in the day. A few of us decided to paddle to the South Entrance take out and shuttle back. Later that night we found a great Italian place to eat.
Location Data:
| Launch Site: | Dock |
| Considerations: | Nothing Special |
| Dangers: | Nothing Special |
| Distance (miles): | 5 |
| Fees/Costs $: | 11 |
Photos from Ichetucknee River: (Click image to view full size)
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Doug Alderson and Matt Keene |
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Post Date: 1/19/2011
Notice: Reported conditions may change and there may be errors in this text. Florida Paddling Trails Association and author(s) of individual reports shall not be held liable for any omissions and inaccuracies contained herein. Readers are cautioned to supplement reports with other sources of information when planning a trip. |
