Manatee River, FL

The Manatee River is a 36-mile-long river in Manatee County, Florida. The river forms in the northeastern corner of Manatee County and flows into the Gulf of Mexico at the southern edge of Tampa Bay.

Wildlife in and around the river includes alligators, herons, manatees, dolphins, and fish such as bass, bluegill, catfish, and gar. Bull sharks are occasionally found in the brackish water near its low-lying outlet. The river includes the Upper Manatee River Canoe Trail for paddlers. - Wikipedia

The Upper Manatee River is suitable for beginners. The river is a segment of Paddle Manatee, a 75-mile matrix of paddling trails. Launching at the Rye Preserve, it is an easy 6.5 miles downstream to the Fort Hamer Boat Ramp. Another scenic trip option is to paddle upstream from the Rye Preserve to the Manatee Dam and back, a total round trip of 6 miles. - FDEP

For More Information Visit:

Florida's Designated Paddling Trails - Florida DEP

Upper Manatee River Guide (PDF)- Florida DEP

Green Living Toolkit

Paddle Manatee (PDF)- Green Living Toolkit