🌥️ Anclote River Paddle Trip 2025 🚣♀️
It was one of those warm, overcast Florida days—the kind where you keep one eye on the sky and the other on the water. Luckily, the rain held off and we had smooth paddling ahead of us.
We had a great group along for the adventure, and spirits were high as we launched into the Anclote River. Our first stop was Spring Bayou, famous for the annual Epiphany celebration where local boys dive for the cross. From the water, we had a front-row view of the war veterans memorial and the Ama mermaid statue in Craig Park—a powerful tribute to the city’s cultural and marine heritage.
From there, we cruised out into the main river and toward the bustling Sponge Docks. This is where Tarpon Springs shows off its working waterfront charm. Fishing boats lined the docks—some unloading their fresh catch, some in the middle of repairs (and a few looking like they’ve seen one too many storms). We passed tour boats full of curious visitors, sponge boats with their catch drying on deck, and even a few classic wooden boats that look like they belong in a museum… or maybe on a movie set.
We paddled upriver past it all, eventually stopping in front of a striking old wooden boat lifted high above the ground, posing like a sculpture in a shipyard art gallery.
Then came the peaceful stretch—paddling under the Alt 19 bridge and into the quieter, more natural part of the river. Mangroves hugged the shoreline, wildlife stirred in the trees, and the sound of traffic faded behind us. A few homes and condos popped up here and there, but nature had the starring role.
We glided under an old concrete bridge, part of a bike trail (or what used to be one). If you paused and listened carefully, you could hear bats squeaking in the cracks above—tiny river guardians hiding in the shadows.
Just beyond, we pulled off for a well-earned lunch break, recharging with a cool, tasty pasta salad.
Refueled and refreshed, we pushed on to the US 19 bridge, paused for a bit of shade, and then turned our bows back downstream. The return trip wasn’t exactly a free ride—we had to paddle against the flow of the tide, and only part of the way did the wind give us a friendly push. But that just made the stories even better, and we earned every stroke of the way back.
All in all, a great day with great people and great paddling. If you missed it—don’t worry!
📅 Join us next month for our Hillsborough River paddle on Sunday, August 3rd!
Come see what adventures we find next. 🚣♂️🦦🌿
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Call us at Osprey Bay Outdoors to reserve your spot today!
