De Leon Springs State Park is known for refreshing swims, DIY pancakes at the Sugar Mill, and scuba diving, but did you know that it is also a great place for paddling? Paddlers can explore the spring run, Spring Garden Lake, and Spring Garden Creek. De Leon Springs also has a wonderful river cruise eco tour as well. Visitors to the park can rent kayaks, paddleboards, canoes, and pedal boats, but this year they launched guided paddles. It’s a great option for new paddlers or those who just prefer an expert leading them around the waterways and maybe even picking up a bit of trivia about the area.
Today, I’m going to share all about these guided paddles including booking, pricing, routes, and our experience going on a private guided kayak tour out at De Leon Springs State Park.
De Leon Springs Adventures sponsored this article. Although it is a sponsored post, my opinions and experience are my own.
Table of Contents
- Our Guided Paddle Experience
- Tips for a good guided paddle at De Leon Springs State Park
- FAQ
- More About De Leon Springs State Park
- Related Content:
Our Guided Paddle Experience
Before I talk about our guided experience, I want to share a spontaneous (and brief) paddle experience at De Leon Springs about a year ago. I promise it will shed some light on why a guided paddle is the perfect way to explore the waterways here.
We loaded up our inflatables, brought them to the springs, filled them up ourselves, and away we went. We stayed very close to the spillway/waterfall, avoiding the river cruise boat. There’s a little island out there, close to the Sugar Mill Pancake House, and we decided to paddle past it. When we rounded the corner, we saw an 8-foot gator sunning itself on the shore. It was glorious! We kept our distance and watched (slightly stunned) as it moved off the island and into the water, quickly disappearing under the surface. We immediately turned around, pretended to explore more, and then ended our paddle. We promised ourselves we would be back, but with a group.
Well, we never made back out with a group, but we did paddle with a guide and in many ways that’s so much better because there is an expert that knows the waters and wildlife in this particular waterway.
Our recent guided paddle was scheduled for 3pm. We arrived just a few minutes before, but we should have arrived at least 15 minutes earlier to have time to fill out our paperwork and waivers. After that we met with Dundee, our tour guide, who handed us lifejackets (you have to wear them the entire paddle) and led us over to our tandem kayak that was already prepped and at the beach (near where the river cruise launches). He helped us into our kayak, making sure it was secured on the shore. Once we were loaded up, he pushed us gently into the water.
Dundee routed us towards the spillway/waterfall, telling us about the history of the park, the Mayacas, the old hotel, Queenie the waterskiing elephant, and the sugar mill. He also shared facts about the spring – water flows, the depth of the limestone cave, and other fascinating information.
Then he took us out further away from the spring, an area we hadn’t explored on our own. We stayed close to the shore, spotting anhingas, non-native water hyacinths, cypress, willows, cormorants, and one 5-foot gator sunning itself on a downed tree. Mercifully it stayed right where it was. I would like to pause here and let you know that I’m not afraid of alligators, but I have a healthy respect for them and always keep my distance.
It was a Friday evening and we were the only people on the water. This waterway is open to motorized boats and even seaplanes (we saw one land once!). The sun was shining and there was a bit of breeze. Since we were in a tandem, I had the luxury of relaxing (and taking plenty of photos and videos) while my hubby paddled.
At the intersection of the Spring Garden Lake and Spring Garden Creek, we were greeted by jumping mullet fish glistening from the sun. We continued paddling a short distance into the creek before heading back. It was getting late and the wind was picking up.
Dundee and my husband were paddling against the wind and the current.
It was very clear from our paddle with Dundee that he was beyond qualified to lead us on the water. His knowledge is substantial. He’s an outdoorsman through and through, spending significant time in his youth in the jungles and rivers of the Amazon.
When we were done, we simply paddled right up to the beach area that we had launched from and climbed out. Dundee helped us get out, making sure the kayak was secured, and held our things.
It’s always so nice when someone else is responsible for all the gear and we can just walk away. We know this from our own experience of loading and unloading our paddleboards, paddles, fins, personal flotation devices, etc.
Tips for a good guided paddle at De Leon Springs State Park
While I think keeping your gear simple is a good strategy, there are still some things I think you should bring or stop into the gift shop/nature center and pick up if you don’t have them already.
Wear shoes that can get wet
Although you will stay dry while kayaking, your feet will likely get wet at the launch when you are heading out and when you return.
I typically wear water shoes or flip flops.
Bring a small bag
Ladies, leave most of your items locked in your car. Only bring your ID, form of payment, and keys. If you have a dry bag, definitely bring it. Yes, you can definitely stay dry on a kayak, but sometimes things can fall into the water at the launch point as you are trying to get in and out. I just don’t like to take chances when I’m near the water, so I always have my wallet, keys, and phone in my dry bag.
Fellas, I recommend a small dry bag for you as well. My hubby has one that he wears around his waist. That way he doesn’t have to worry about that wallet or keys getting wet.
A hat is a must
There is zero shade out on the water, so you need to make your own. A hat (baseball cap or widebrimmed) will shade your face and eyes.
Sunscreen or rashguard
Along with a hat, I recommend additional sun protection in the form of sunscreen or rashguard. The advantage of a rashguard is that you don’t have to worry about reapplying your sunscreen!
FAQ
How to book a guided paddle
Reservations are required for guided paddles. You can book yours through De Leon Springs Adventures via their website or by calling 855-980-2665.
How long is a guided paddle at De Leon Springs State Park?
Guided paddles are 60 minutes long.
How much do the guided paddles cost?
At the publishing of this article, guided paddles are $35 per person. This includes all the gear you need: kayak, paddle, whistle, and life jacket.
In addition to the guided paddle fee, there’s a park admission charge. At the time this article was published, the rates were:
- $6 per vehicle (two to eight people)
- $4 for a single person in a vehicle or on a motorcycle
- $2 for pedestrians, bicyclists, or additional passengers
How many people are on the tours?
A minimum of 2 people is required. The maximum group size is 10 people. Paddlers must be 10 years and up. All children must be accompanied by an adult.
Where do you paddle?
Because of the nature of the spring, paddling is not done at the spring head. It is conducted from the spring run and goes out to parts of Spring Garden Creek (connecting Spring Garden Lake and Lake Woodruff). The distance depends on how fast you and your guide paddle.
What do you see on your paddle?
Every paddle is different. Some paddlers will see alligators and turtles, others will see a variety of birds, but everyone will see native species of plants and trees and the natural beauty of the waterway. And if you are super lucky, you may spot a manatee or two, although that’s more likely during cold winter days when they are seeking warm spring water.
More About De Leon Springs State Park
De Leon Springs State Park of course has a lot more going on than just paddling! You can definitely spend an entire day at the park swimming, picnicking, hiking, lounging, river cruising, eating at the Sugar Mill, and more. Definitely stop into the nature center/gift shop to learn more about the history of the park. Find out everything you can do by reading my blog all about the park.