KAYAK/SUP: Orange River - Manatee Park - Caloosahatchee River - w/Lunch

ARRIVAL TIME - Arrive between 8:30 - 9:00 am!
We launch anytime between 9:15 - 9:30 am.

The Orange River is a tributary of the Caloosahatchee River and is 8.7 miles long. The Orange River flows in to the Caloosahatche River near I-75 ( approximately 2 miles from Manatee Park).

Manatee Park is a seasonal location for viewing manatees. Manatees visit the park in search of warm water during the cooler days in winter (mid-December to March) when the temperature in the Gulf of Mexico is below 68 degrees. The warm water in Manatee Park comes from the local power plant and is created as a by-product of cooling off the equipment.

The warm water discharge canal is fenced off from boats. Visitors on foot must view the manatees from the bank. The water is not clear like Central Florida springs, but you can still see manatee body parts as they emerge from the water - a snout loudly exhaling here, a bulbous stomach there, a scarred back rolling by, a flipper briefly waving to the paddlers.

We launch at the Manatee Park kayak launch, paddle towards the Orange River via a short mangrove tunnel, then paddle downstream (to the right) to see the manatees. We then continue to paddle downstream for approximately 2 miles to the Caloosahatche River.

We then turn and head back upstream, past Manatee Park, and continue for another 2 miles past (upstream) Manatee Park before heading back.

The parking fee at Manatee Park is $5/day. Parking is a short distance (100 yds.) from the kayak launch site. Restrooms are available on-site.

Due to the length of the paddle (8+ miles), this event is for intermediate and experienced paddlers only!

Approximately 5 minutes before launch time, we will hold a MANDATORY pre-paddle safety briefing. Please do not get into your kayaks until AFTER the safety briefing is over. However, be prepared to launch immediately after the safety briefing.

This trip is exclusively for members of SunCoast Pedal & Paddle. No guests, pets, spouses, or 1's allowed on this trip.

Don't forget to bring: PFD and WHISTLE (required by law), water, water shoes, bug spray, itch relief, sunscreen, snacks, paddle leash, bilge pump, spray skirt, paddle float, etc.

UPON ARRIVAL! Please sign in on the "Participant Liability Waiver" (unless you have SP&P decals and have previously signed an annual waiver for 2024).

CANCELLATION POLICY: Since the demand to attend our paddling events is unusually high, we request that if your plans change and you won't be attending, that you remove your name from the "attendee list" as soon as possible! If you do not remove yourself from the list of attendees WITHIN 24 HOURS of the event, you will be marked as a "NO SHOW". If you have THREE "NO SHOW"s you will be dropped from the group.

FIRST TIMERS: SunCoast Pedal & Paddle (SP&P) decals are available for purchase prior to the event. The cost is $3 (Please help out with exact change!). By displaying the SP&P decal on your kayak, you will be exempt from signing a separate liability waiver on EACH trip you attend (instead, you will sign an annual waiver when you purchase the decals).