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WHITE SPRINGS -- It's time to 'paddle
up' for the third Paddle Florida river
expedition along the Suwannee River Wilderness
Trail. Hosted by the Suwannee River Water
Management District (SRWMD) and the Florida
Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP)
Florida Park Service, the week-long paddlefest
begins today at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music
Park in Live Oak. The event allows outdoor
enthusiasts to wind through 123 miles of the
trail in their canoe or kayak, before concluding
on March 26 when they paddle into Manatee
Springs State Park in Chiefland.
"We are pleased to see the success of this
event continue to grow, as this is now the third
river expedition in just one year," said Florida
State Parks Director Mike Bullock. "There are a
multitude of recreational opportunities offered
along the 170-mile Suwannee River Wilderness
Trail and Paddle Florida helps to highlight the
trail's natural and cultural significance." The adventure, inaugurated in March 2008,
encourages all levels of paddlers to experience
the Suwannee River while highlighting the
importance of protecting and restoring Florida's
river resources. Nearly 200 paddlers are
participating in this river excursion, averaging
17 miles per day, and camping on the banks of
Florida's Suwannee River. Paddlers will
experience ...the Real
FloridaSM at stops located in
four state parks along the Suwannee River
Wilderness Trail, including:
- Suwannee River State Park.
- Lafayette Blue Springs State Park
- Fanning Springs State park
- Manatee Springs State Park
"Paddle Florida is an adventurous way to
showcase the valuable resources along the
Suwannee River Wilderness Trail," said Paddle
Florida Coordinator Bill Richards. "Because of
the cooperation between the Florida Park Service
and the Suwannee River Water Management
District, this journey has been made possible
for a third time."
Initiated in 2002, the Suwannee River
Wilderness Trail is a partnership program
between DEP, the Suwannee River Water Management
District and local businesses and communities
along the river. The trail provides visitors an
opportunity to navigate the world-famous
Suwannee River with convenient rest stops
located at one-day intervals. | 
