Myakka River Paddle - Level 1+

Trip leader: Jill Lingard, jill.lingard@gmail.com, 352-665-1776 & Scott Jantz, scottjantz2@gmail.com, 386-853-5159

Description:  One of Florida’s designated state scenic rivers, the Myakka winds through beautiful open grasses and hardwood hammocks.  The river attracts a wonderful diversity of birds.  And gators?  Yeah, we’ll see a few.  This will be an up-and-back paddle, negating the need for shuttles.  We’ll explore the river in each direction of our midpoint launch and turn around when we’re tired. The early start will help us minimize heat exposure.

Location: Myakka River State Park is located at 13208 State Road 72 in Sarasota.  We’ll meet at the park’s canoe & kayak launch.   Access a map of the park here.  The canoe & kayak launch is near where Park Drive crosses the river, one mile into the park from Hwy 72. 

Schedule: Meet at 8:00AM, Saturday, August 15.  On water by 8:30, return early afternoon.

Additional information:

• Parking costs $5.60 per vehicle. Purchase your parking pass online before the trip here.
• Bring plenty of water to drink, lunch snacks, and a camera to take photos of all those birds and gators.
• This trip will be capped at 12 paddlers, including trip leaders.  

COVID-related recommendations:

• To minimize contact among the group, pair up with another paddler for the day if help is needed moving boats between vehicles and launch.
• Bring biodegradable hand soap and hand sanitizer for use after handling someone else’s boat on or off the water.
• Have a face covering handy in case there are other people at the launch.  The face buffs paddlers wear for sun protection work well for this. You can keep one around your neck and pull it up as needed.

Difficulty: This is a Level 1+ trip, with the expectation that we’ll travel about 5-10 miles.  Some paddling against current will be required. 

Required gear: Wear a PFD and bring sun/insect protection. Refer to TBSK’s Skills Self Assessment Chart and contact the leader with any questions. Please register (or cancel) on the website or RSVP to the trip leader to allow notification of any changes.