The Upper Oklawaha River
Located east of Ocala, the Oklawaha was voted the top canoe trip in Florida by Paddler Magazine last year. It gets our vote too, hands down.

The river forms the boundary between Lake and Marion counties. The land on the eastern shore is in the Ocala National Forest. Deer, otter, even black bear, have been seen along the banks.

If you launch at the boat ramp at Delks Bluff Bridge on SR 40, where the Silver River flows into the Oklawaha, you can see the clash of currents as the clear flow from Silver Springs meets the blackwater river flowing north. For several hundred yards the west side of the river is clear, the east side dark and murky.

The current is brisk, the strong flow from Silver Springs won't be denied. After a while the entire river clears and you can see a sandy bottom in most places.

Visit the next canoe trail.