I bought my first canoe this past summer and enjoyed nearly everyday on the water through December 3 (my last paddle before the ice).

My neighbor is a daily golfer during the summer months and has already taken 2 weekend trips south to play a few rounds where the grass is still green. It has me thinking I should be strapping the canoe to my rooftop and heading south myself.

Do you squeeze in a midwinter trip south to get your canoe wet or distract yourself with other pastimes? How far south do you travel to find water warm enough to not require a drysuit?

Thanks

Well, I guess this doesn't really apply to me, since I DO paddle year round? But "Yes," you should. It gets pretty cold at times, but our Ozark streams never freeze up. Every year I say I'm going to try to head further south and paddle in warmer climes, but only made it to east Texas once in January. I highly recommend heading south and get some paddling in.

I suggest that you try the Suwannee River Wilderness trail. Google it and you can get good information.

Canoe it from the Okefenokee Swamp to the Suwanee River State Park.

Pat

Depriving my boat of the opportunity to go south in the colder months would be cruel and unusual punishment. I have been mulling over options and talking with my partner about getting away in February. There are lots of options but realize unless you get really far south the vegetation will be brown, but the water is just fine for paddling.

Dave, depending on how far south you're willing to go I'd be honored to show you around any of a number of Ozarks streams. I know Terry would too.

Yep. We leave in three weeks for a month of paddling in Florida including a lengthy backcountry Everglades trip post Irma

yellowcanoe: "Yep. We leave in three weeks for a month of paddling in Florida including a lengthy backcountry Everglades trip post Irma"

I'm green with envy!

This Iowa boy will be driving down to the Ozarks for a week of paddling in March. I can't wait to be back on a crystal clear stream.

DownStrm: "This Iowa boy will be driving down to the Ozarks for a week of paddling in March. I can't wait to be back on a crystal clear stream."

I have a few Iowa friends that come down here. If you need any shuttle help or company I may be able to accomodate? March is when Spring starts showing a few signs here on the river; green starts popping out and Serviceberries and redbuds begin blooming.

We be done several trips to the bufallo river in Arkansas. We usually go early March, excellent trip, beautiful country. At this time of year there were very few paddlers on the river.







Also paddled rental canoes in the Everglades. An experience I’ll never forget.

Well I had purchased a Superior Expedition canoe (a Kruger Sea Wind knock off ) several years ago to trip in the Ten Thousand Islands (Everglades National Park). I had fished these waters via a flats type boat for some 15 years.

I had seriously hoped to do some extended canoe trips but work demands have interfered.

Now my plan is to pick up a large 21 ft Carolina Skiff and add a rack capable of transporting the Expedition. Then it would be a simple matter of penetrating deep into the park, set up camp and day trip / fish out of the Expedition. The entire concept has my juices flowing and would entail a lesser time commitment than paddling deep into the backcountry. 3 or 4 day trips could be the norm instead of taking the same amount of time just getting there. Gotta make it happen, sounds a lot like fun to me ;-)

Ozark Paddler,
I would be honored to spend a day on the river with you, if possible. Staying at Twin Bridges Campground on the North Fork and day tripping multiple rivers with the Prairie State Canoeist group. We normally stay at Boiling Springs on the Big Piney, but they were pretty well washed away in last April's floods.

yellowcanoe: "Yep. We leave in three weeks for a month of paddling in Florida including a lengthy backcountry Everglades trip post Irma"

Keep us informed. Not knowing that much about the area,I just think of snakes,alligators and creepy crawly things that keep me away. It is strange I can go back country out west and solo in heavy Grizzly country and it doesn't bother me one bit.

jwartman59: "...






Also paddled rental canoes in the Everglades. An experience I’ll never forget.



"

While I've never been too concerned about bears in bear country, I am not sure how comfortable I could get in a gator lair. How does a guy not get eaten?

Never take the canoe south, but that may change once we retire. Come back to me in 10 years.

OCDave:

While I've never been too concerned about bears in bear country, I am not sure how comfortable I could get in a gator lair. How does a guy not get eaten?"

You don't dabble fingers and feet. They are interested in smaller prey for the most part and are not aggressive unless you are stupid enough to
1) corner them
2)swim with them
3) meddle with them while they are having sex or trying to
4) spook one.. Believe me you don't want one in your canoe.. I scared one and it jumped right across the bow

This was shot on the Turner River in the Everglades.. A staredown.. I had a moderate zoom lens so was not within arms reach.

yellowcanoe: "You don't dabble fingers and feet. They are interested in smaller prey for the most part and are not aggressive unless you are stupid enough to
1) corner them
2)swim with them
3) meddle with them while they are having sex or trying to
4) spook one.. Believe me you don't want one in your canoe.. I scared one and it jumped right across the bow

This was shot on the Turner River in the Everglades.. A staredown.. I had a moderate zoom lens so was not within arms reach.
"

Do you camp in their enviroment or is this a day trip type of excursion? I am a hammock camper so, I am seeing my hammock as the gator equivalent of a bear bag.

yellowcanoe: "Yep. We leave in three weeks for a month of paddling in Florida including a lengthy backcountry Everglades trip post Irma"

I'll be in the glades around March 5 or 6th too. The last I heard, the NPS is not issuing permits for many of the camp sites/chickees because the hurricane sunk their honey bucket barge that is used to clean the port a potties. Some of the inland passages may be impassible too but sounds like the Park Service and Everglades Challenge volunteers are working on that. Below is a link to some recent discussion from paddlers/sailors who have been in there recently. And I'm sure there will much more discussion on that site as the Everglades Challenge approaches.
WaterTribe Discussion

I have taken canoe/kayak as far as NC Outer Banks for a paddle, but not regularly. Rented and paddled in Florida panhandle one March and that was a good day spent on springs.

Good thread - got me thinking!

I have taken two trips to the Rio Grande Wild And Scenic section below Big Bend National Park in Texas. The weather is usually in the 70's daytime but can go to freezing at night. It is about an 85 mile trip, you must be shuttled in by an outfitter and shuttled out by an outfitter due to the really bad roads and private gates. But the trip is wildly scenic, the river is canoeaable if the water is high enough--or not too high!. Cliff Jacobsen has some info and pictures in his new edition, "Canoeing Wild Rivers". It is best done with a small group to cut down on the shuttle expense. You will very probably see no other groups in February, wil be exposed to magnificent scenery, be able to swim in the river, bask in hot springs, and if you allow extra time the NP is also magnificent with great hiking opportunities in diverse habitats. Strongly recommend! We went for a total of 8 or 9 days including the days getting to and off the river. Google outfitters in Terlinqua, TX, and the NP for info. And no alligators!
It is not the kind of terrain that invites border crossings, the canyon is very steep to vertical on both sides. You will probably see Border Patrol drones or helicopters, a sat phone is a good idea, or at least a PLB--no vehicle extraction possible, helicopter only and you better be on the American side!

Wow, some great ideas here! Wife and I to Buffalo River and then Whiterock Mtn in Arkansas over spring break (March). Probably more hiking than paddling... I have paddled just a small stretch of the Buffalo, in past.... definitely see the appeal.

jwartman59: "We be done several trips to the bufallo river in Arkansas. We usually go early March, excellent trip, beautiful country. At this time of year there were very few paddlers on the river.









Also paddled rental canoes in the Everglades. An experience I’ll never forget.



"

Do that be the BRT betwixt Ponca and Steel Creek?

DownStrm: "Ozark Paddler,
I would be honored to spend a day on the river with you, if possible. Staying at Twin Bridges Campground on the North Fork and day tripping multiple rivers with the Prairie State Canoeist group. We normally stay at Boiling Springs on the Big Piney, but they were pretty well washed away in last April's floods."

Didn't make it to Twin Bridges or the North Fork Last year but the NF and Bryant Creek are wonderful rivers. We usually stay at Twin Rivers too since everything is an easy drive from there. One of the nice things about the North Fork and Bryant are all the old mills in the area.

I live in the South and do take my canoe all over the South to paddle. Too many great places to explore. The aforementioned Everglades, Okefenokee Swamp in Southern Georgia, The upper Suwannee River in Florida (and many other great floats in Fl), The Atchafalaya Basin in Louisiana, The Buffalo and Current Rivers in Arkansas and Missouri, The Roanoke, Lumber and Waccamaw Rivers here in NC, and many other streams and rivers throughout the southeast. Get a guidebook to a state, do an internet search, grab a map and get busy.

I love the Suwannee river. Have done from the rapids to Suwannee River State Park a few times. There are several rivercamps you can stay or stop by for a shower..I just camp on sandbars and fish. Hope you make the trip down...maybe I'll see ya on the river. One of these days going to do it from Georgia down. The Peace River is also on my to do list.
Bowdier