Chassahowitzka River Adventure: Springs, Manatees, and “The Crack”

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Location: Chassahowitzka River (“The Chazz”)

Conditions: Clear blue skies, crisp morning, comfortable afternoon

Wildlife Sightings: Manatees, Anhingas, Great Egrets, Mullet, Turkey Vultures, and various Herons

There is a reason the Chassahowitzka River is a favorite among Florida paddlers. Our recent trip with Osprey Bay Outdoors reminded us exactly why! We had a wonderful group join us for a day filled with crystal-clear springs, incredible wildlife encounters, and just the right amount of adventure.

A Crisp Start at Seven Sisters

The morning started cool and refreshing, but as soon as we hit the water, the sun took over, giving us nothing but clear blue skies. Almost immediately, we were greeted by the locals—Manatees! Watching these gentle giants glide through the water never gets old.

Our first major stop was the iconic Seven Sisters Springs. The limestone formations here create fascinating underwater tunnels that connect the spring vents. While we opted to stay in our kayaks rather than swim through the tunnels, the view from above was spectacular. We captured some great shots of a Great Egret watching our group paddle by, and an Anhinga drying its wings on the roots of a tree as our colorful fleet passed in the background.

Exploring the Side Creeks

One of the best things about a group trip is exploring the “hidden” spots. We took a detour up a side creek to visit a smaller, serene spring nestled near a local home. It was a peaceful moment before we turned back to the main river to begin our trek toward one of the river’s most famous features: The Crack.

The “Chazz” Hike: Navigating the Shallows

As we reached the mouth of the creek leading to The Crack, nature threw us a bit of a curveball. The water was quite low, requiring us to hop out and walk our kayaks through the shallows.

This is where the “adventure” in adventure kayaking really comes in! The group handled it with great spirits, and it gave us a unique perspective of the riverbed that you just don’t get while paddling.

Lunch at The Crack & The Journey Home

After navigating the creek—and spotting plenty of Mullet darting beneath our boats—we arrived at The Crack. This spring head is the perfect spot to rest and refuel. We enjoyed lunch under the canopy, and one of our brave paddlers even took a turn on the rope swing!

The paddle back was the perfect wrap-up to the day. The wildlife was still out in force; we saw Turkey Vulturesflocking in the trees, another Anhinga perched on a dead branch, and one final Manatee sighting to bid us farewell as we headed back to the launch.

View the Gallery

We captured lot’s of  incredible photos of this trip! From the manatees at the start to the rope swing at the finish, you can see the full story of our Chassahowitzka adventure in the gallery below.

Thank you to everyone who joined us! Your energy and adventurous spirit made this a trip to remember.

Check out the gallery for all the pictures from the trip!