Paddling up the “Crack” in Your Kayak…Exploring Florida’s Nature Coast
By John Wakeman
The “Nature Coast” is only 200 miles and a four hour drive away from Florida’s bustling south east coast but in stark contrast it moves at a much slower pace. It is by no means lacking in water resources or natural beauty, but it is missing one key ingredient that has fueled the over development of the east coast and that is beaches. Instead of golden sand beaches that stretch for as far as the eye can see, the Nature Coasts shoreline is a mixture of hardwood forests, mangroves, cabbage palm hammocks and a maze of salt marshes.
When exploring this area, a great place to base yourself is in Chassahowitzka, a small community south of Homosassa and north of Weeki Wachee. This community has a campground and historic hotel conveniently located right next to the public boat ramp that serves as the starting place for your kayaking adventures. Just 100 yards upstream from the ramp is the head spring of the Chassahowitzka where cool clear water flows from the limestone rock. If you paddle just a tiny bit further you will find a small cove on the left with a series of connected holes in the limestone resembling “Swiss cheese”, this is the Seven Sisters Springs. If you are adventuresome, you can beach your kayak, step out into the knee deep water and disappear down one hole and reappeared from another… great fun!
Heading downstream there are numerous opportunities to explore side creeks and tributaries, such as Salt Creek and Potter Creek; winding waterways which lead to more spring. On our April paddle we spotted an eagle in flight, a playful otter, two curious manatees and numerous wading birds. No trip on the Chassahowitzka River is complete without paddling up Baird Creek to the Crack. Baird Creek meanders through a variety of habitat including forest, hammock, and marsh, eventually ending in crystal clear water about 100 feet short of the Crack, which as the name implies it is a crack in the limestone rock where groundwater rises to the surface.
On another day we paddled west from the launch five miles (and then back) to the edge of the Gulf of Mexico. Along the way we observed the tree lined freshwater Chassahowitzka River transition into the brackish marsh grasses and cabbage palm hammocks that lead to the Gulf. At this transition there are a cluster of rustic “fisherman shacks” that are accessible only by boat. The mixing of the fresh water and saltwater makes this location a haven for spotted sea trout, redfish and snook.
In case you are wondering, the word Chassahowitzka means hanging pumpkin place. The Timucua Indians cultivated a type of pumpkin where the vines would wind their way up the trunks of trees and the pumpkins would dangle as much as thirty feet up in the air. Who knew?
To reach John Wakeman, please email treasurecoast@coastalanglermagazine.com.
RESOURCES:
Chassahowitzka River Map
Chassahowitzka Hotel
Chassahowitzka Campground