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Northwest Florida: Canoe Capital of Florida
It’s official: Milton is the canoe capital of Florida. The seat of Santa Rosa County was designated as such by a special act of the Florida Legislature in 1981, a nod to the city’s status as the center of a thriving adventure sports industry. Canoe outfitters and adventure specialists are here in abundance, offering everything from a few hours’ paddling to guided overnight trips.
Shallow water and white sandbars are the main reason the rivers of Santa Rosa and neighboring Escambia County are home to an outstanding array of excellent canoe rivers. Coldwater Creek, Juniper Creek, Sweetwater Creek, and Blackwater River are the most popular of the over 100 uninterrupted miles of paddling water in the two counties, and Blackwater River State Park is especially famous as one of the purest sand-bottom rivers in the world. The scenery alongside the rivers is equally moving: Spanish-moss drips from the centuries-old overhanging trees, and stark-white sandbars invite the weary in for a snack and a rest. These mini-beaches are also popular camping sites.
Canoes are not the only denizens of the waters in this region; tubing, that ever-popular Florida sport, is another local favorite. It also requires less muscular effort, as participants ride slowly down-river on an over-inflated inner tube. |
