Try something new; experience the ‘Rivers of AWE’
News Release
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Media contact: Wendy Dial, 850-488-9477
The "Rivers of AWE" - the Aucilla, Wacissa and Econfina - flow
through a surprisingly rugged and sparsely populated slice of
Florida's Big Bend region as they meander to the Gulf of Mexico.
Anglers, paddlers and boaters exploring these beautiful, spring-fed
rivers discover shady woodlands, wildlife and dramatic limestone
sinks and outcroppings nestled in 47,622 acres of the Aucilla
Wildlife Management Area, just southeast of Tallahassee.
So that young people, first-timers, visitors and residents can
enjoy these three gems, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission's (FWC) Office of Recreation Services produced a
detailed map/guide, in partnership with the Suwannee River Water
Management District.
All three rivers offer unique opportunities:
- Find family fun on the Wacissa. Encourage your kids to leave
their electronic devices at home and experience an outdoor
adventure on the Wacissa River, a state-designated canoe trail and
one of the most pristine rivers in North Florida. This is a
wonderful place for beginning paddlers or families with children.
Outfitters rent kayaks and canoes at Wacissa Springs County Park,
and it's just a short paddle to Big Blue Springs, a great swimming
spot on a hot day.
- Take the Aucilla challenge. The beautiful Aucilla River is also
a state-designated canoe trail and offers a limited number of
access points for small fishing boats. Some rocky shoals and a
short stretch of rapids make this trip moderately strenuous for
paddlers (depending on water level).
- Experience solitude or fish on the Econfina, a river seldom
visited by paddlers but popular with bank fishermen. There are
multiple access points for hand-launching canoes or kayaks, and a
few are suitable for launching small johnboats. Wildlife viewing is
excellent as you travel over dark waters beneath a dense tree
canopy.
All people have to do is grab the new guide, read it and go
exploring. "Aucilla/Wacissa/Econfina: An Explorer's Guide to North
Florida's Region of Rivers" is a two-sided, 22- by 26-inch guide,
printed on water-resistant, durable paper. It includes detailed
maps, highlights of the three rivers, GPS coordinates, mileage,
shuttling directions for different trip options, photos and access
locations. For each river, the guide recommends several popular
excursions and includes mileage, time estimates and general
descriptions.
To order a copy online from the Wildlife Foundation of Florida,
go to http://shop.wildlifeflorida.org.
The foundation suggests a $5 donation to cover the costs of
printing and distribution, so that more of the funds it raises can
go toward preservation of Florida's wildlife resources. For more
information, contact Liz Sparks, FWC Recreation Planner, at
850-922-6160.
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