Last week we had the experience of kayaking the lower end of the Econ River for the first time. We had been anticipating this trip for a year. We recruited friends to come along for the exploration and put the kayaks in at Snow Hill Road and headed northeast. It was a beautiful meandering 12 mile paddle with changes in the eco system every now and then. We saw four large alligators, a bald eagle, numerous great blue herons and a host of other birds. There were sandy banks to stop and have a pic nic lunch on and we even found an orange tree at one and had a few to eat! The paddle was close to four hours long and we took out at the 46 bridge where the Econ meets with the St Johns River. The take out is at the ‘Jolly Gator Fish Camp’, so we had lunch and a few beers to reward ourselves for the work!

The Econlockhatchee River is a blackwater river located in Osceola, Orange and Seminole counties that is designated as an Outstanding Florida Water. Also known as the Econ, the river is the second largest tributary to the St. Johns River, and includes a watershed area of 173,143 acres. The mouth of the Econlockhatchee River is located at the extreme southern end of the middle St. Johns River, so we actually paddled two rivers that day!

We will add this tour to our website and will offer it to a four person minimum at $60/person.