The vast expanse of salt marsh, hardwood swamps, crystalclear springs and. Its name means a place for the hanging pumpkins in seminole, and until recently it was blocked. Chassahowitzka national wildlife refuge, a florida national. From the three sisters to the chassahowitzka solution holes to the crack to the. It has been designated a florida outstanding water which gives it special protection under state law. Fish in solution holes at seven sisters spring on the chassahowitza river. See more ideas about river, florida and florida travel. The chassahowitzka river offers wildlife viewing, swimming in springs, and a variety of scenery that makes this one of the most pleasurable kayak trips in florida. Chassahowitzka river and nwr central florida kayak trips. This is the chassahowitzka pronounced chazwitskuh, preserved for all and accessible only by boat. The spring runs have some more challenging sections.
Crack o dawn ranch 27240 fields farm ln, dade city, florida 33525 rated 4. If you follow the signs to the chassahowitzka river camp sites, there is easy access to the beautiful river and kayak rentals. The tide charts below show the height, time and date of high and low tides for the next 30 days. The chassahowitzka river is designated an outstanding florida water and the lower half of the river is part of the more than 31,000acre chassahowitzka national wildlife refuge. Waterfront leads to riverw 2 kayaks provided for freenature at its finest. Zillow has 2 homes for sale in chassahowitzka homosassa matching. We have jon boats, canoe and kayak rentals on site for paddling, bird watching or fishing.
Picture multiple inlets feeding the rivereach born from a deepwoods springand 100 islands in the river delta. With formalities out of the way ill get on with the trip report. The chassahowitzka river and the crack have steph will travel. Canoeing on chassahowitzka river may 2017 by steveandjustyna. The chassahowitzka river pronounced chazwitskuh is a springfed river located in southwestern citrus county, fl.
Chassahowitzka, chassahowitzka river tide table for the. The chassahowitzka river is a springfed river located about 16 mi. Dolphins and underwater caves on the chassahowitzka river. Chassahowitzka river campground rv park camping canoeing. Video of the spring run and the crack, a very scenic and unique spring that feeds the chassahowitzka river. The tide is currently falling in chassahowitzka chassahowitzka river. The crack, a spring that is the origin of baird creek, a. It is famous as the southern wintering site for the reintroduced eastern population of whooping cranes.
May and june tide charts for chassahowitzka, chassahowitzka river. Chassahowitzka community website, homosassa, fl 34448. The springfed river is generally clear, changing to salt water as it approaches chassahowitzka bay and the gulf of mexico, about 5. A section of the chassahowitzka river in citrus county, florida. There is nothing like seeing old florida at its best. Get your 3day weather forecast for chassahowitzka, fl. Like weeki wachee spring, chassahowitzka spring is a first magnitude springs form the beginning of the river. The refuge, located approximately 65 miles north of. Chassahowitzka river campground 8600 w miss maggie drive chassahowitzka, fl 34448 phone 3523822200. No paddling trip report on the chassahowitzka river is complete without surprises.
Tide times for chassahowitzka, chassahowitzka river. We would have loved kayaking the chassahowitzka river, better known as the chaz. On our way to the crack we had to get out of the canoe and pull it for a while until it couldnt be pulled any longer we then proceeded of foot a short distance to the crack. Chassahowitzka national wildlife refuge, a florida. This is the only public access on the chashowitzka river. It places you right in the middle of one of the most pristine environments on the nature coast. With crystal and homosassa rivers vying for attention to the. Purchased in the early 1990s, this property is part of a large greenway of public lands that protects the chassahowitzka swamp ecosystem and wildlife resources.
Laniers group picks up trash twice a year, and joined citrus county saturday during its annual adoptashore cleanup. Plan your hike at chassahowitzka river and coastal swamps or other homosassa, florida hiking trails. Last spring high tide at chassahowitzka, chassahowitzka river was on sat 09 may height. The chassahowitzka river pronounced chazuhwitska and known locally as the chaz is located just south of homosassa springs and is a tidal gem. Put in at the chassahowitzka river campground, 8600 w miss maggie drive, chassahowitzka. Chassahowitzka river fishing reports recently shared catches and fishing spots. The clear shallow river runs from the head springs through the 30,000 acre chassahowitzka national wildlife refuge to. Kayaking on the chassahowitzka river along floridas. Lake county paddlers had a second individual named dawn, who was camping but didnt make this particular paddle, otherwise it would have been dawn, meet dawn, meet dawn.
Chassahowitzka, chassahowitzka river tide table for the next. Chassahowitzka river group gets boost during countywide. The chassahowitzka river store also rents canoes and kayaks in case you dont have your own boat. Chassahowitzka river canoe and kayak trip adventure outpost. The river has been designated an outstanding florida water by the state of florida. Data are tidally affected astronomical tides cause significant cycles of approximately 24. A first magnitude spring and smaller 2nd magnitude springs in the area create the river which flows 7 miles west to the gulf of mexico. Chassahowitzka river and coastal swamps hiking trail. The chassahowitzka river and the crack have steph will. Search for other camping equipment in homosassa on the real yellow pages. Use our boat ramp and kayaking launch on the chassahowitzka river.
All in all, recommend it, at least at the end of winter. While the river s shoreline is mostly natural, the headsprings area contains a small marina with a public boat ramp and many deadend canals upstream with residential. Kayaking adventure on the chassahowitzka river northwest. Chassahowitzka national wildlife refuge crystal river. Crack o dawn ranch safari room farm stays for rent in dade city. Chassahowitzka river lodge 8501 w miss maggie dr, homosassa. Launching is free but there is a charge for parking. The chassahowitzka aka chas for short is a mini amazon. The chassahowitzka river campground and rv park has rv sites, cabins and tent camping.
Starting at dawn, an unending string of watercraft made their way to the. The chassahowitzka rivers headwaters, several tributaries and springs are within this tract and are known locally for their great sportfishing and crabbing. Our lodge can accommodate groups as large as 50 people and sleep 12 people overnight. Chassahowitzka river lodge 8501 west miss maggie drive, homosassa, fl 34448 email. The clear shallow river runs from the head springs through the 30,000 acre chassahowitzka national wildlife refuge to the gulf of mexico. Chassahowitzka chassahowitzka river tide times, tides. The small town of chassahowitzka is located about 60 miles north of tampa, 100 miles west of orlando. Dawn and i played in the water while ed perched himself on a drooping palm that ledged over the springs. Chassahowitzka river camping campgrounds tent camping. The campground features rv and primitive tent camp sites, a general store, showers, restrooms, telephone and a boat launch. Crack o dawn ranch agricultural service dade city, florida.
Photo bonnie gross planning your kayak trip on the chaz. The chassahowitzka river s headwaters, several tributaries and springs are within this tract and are known locally for their great sportfishing and crabbing. Jan 09, 2012 exploring the springs of the chassahowitzka river. Florida history springs forth archaeology magazine.
Jul 8, 2015 explore flaspringlifes board chassahowitzka river springs, followed. Once our kayaks were launched, we paddled upstream a few dozen yards and made our way into the seven sisters spring to a feature known as the solution holes. The florida cracker family wanted to share one of their favorite experiences riding out the chassahowitzka river to the gulf of mexico. Dawn t, founder of the lake county paddlers, invited me on their. In 1941, approximately 31,000 acres,000 ha of its saltwater creeks, freshwater tributaries, and hardwood hammocks were recognized as. The last time we went to the chaz, we spent several hours hanging out at the caves in seven sisters springs and didnt have much time to explore the rest of the river, so we wanted to go back and see some of the other springs that we didnt get to. Chassahowitzka river canoe and kayak trip group size. Its tucked away in the middle of the nature coast, about an hours drive north of tampa, florida. The chassahowitzka river is a springfed river located in southwestern citrus county, florida.
Crystal riverking s bay springs group springsfever. Click here to see chassahowitzka chassahowitzka rivers tide chart for the week. Welcome to florida paddle notes chassahowitzka river. So rudy and i took a road trip up to the chassahowitzka river this last weekend to do some exploring and get out of dodge for a little while.
There is a group of springs just northeast of the boat ramp, the largest one is referred to as the main spring, classified as a 1st magnitude spring discharge over 100 cubic feet per second, and is. The 5milelong 8 km river is home to hundreds of species of birds including the bald eagle, and is a common refuge for the west indian manatee. We arrived at the chassahowitzka river campground boat launch. We liked chassahowitzka river so much that we decided to return there a few weeks after our manatee search trip. Nov 10, 2017 there is nothing like seeing old florida at its best. Beginner expert local map description the chas a common nickname is the quiet, unpretentious little sister of the popular gomer gulf of mexico region spring rivers. Serving residents, snowbirds, visitors and vacationers. A citrus county campground and boat ramp are located a few miles west of us 98, at the end of miss maggie drive. May 19, 2010 video of the spring run and the crack, a very scenic and unique spring that feeds the chassahowitzka river.
The headwaters of the river start approximately 100 feet upstream from the chassahowitzka river campgrounds boat ramp. Chassahowitzkas hidden jewel the crack spring youtube. Kayaking on the chassahowitzka river along floridas nature. Chassahowitzka river report green wave forum club kayak. He was with a family of five or six otters we encountered.
Reviews of chassahowitzka river and coastal swamps. Further downstream is baird creek, blue springs and the crack. As you can see on the tide chart, the highest tide of 0. The chassahowitzka community website provides resources relavent to the chassahowitzka river and the community, focused on the environment, the people, the fish and wildlife surrounding the river. Water is very clear in most of the river i think these fish are mullet. Chassahowitzka, fl three day weather forecast accuweather. Jul 01, 2016 so rudy and i took a road trip up to the chassahowitzka river this last weekend to do some exploring and get out of dodge for a little while. Pronunciation of chassahowitzka with 1 audio pronunciation, 1 meaning, 1 sentence and more for chassahowitzka. Our tour starts at the upper reaches which are formed by 7 sisters and the devils punchbowl spring heads within the withlacoochee state forest. The chassahowitzka national wildlife refuge, established in 1941, is comprised of over 31,000 acres of saltwater bays, estuaries and brackish marshes at the mouth of the chassahowitzka river. There are many different routes to run depending on water levels and season. The chassahowitzka river is a tidal river influenced by the gulf of mexico, but its main source of freshwater comes from multiple springs. The chaz lodge is located three miles into the beautiful chassahowitzka national wildlife refuge.
The chassahowitzka river national wildlife refuge begins about four miles downriver, and this area is exceptionally. About 70 miles north of tampa, florida, lies the springfed source of the chassahowitzka river. The vast expanse of salt marsh, hardwood swamps, crystalclear springs and river are a canoeists paradise. Todays sea temperature in chassahowitzka, chassahowitzka river is 25. The last time we went to the chaz, we spent several hours hanging out at the caves in seven sisters springs and didnt have much time to explore the rest of the river, so we wanted to go back and see some of the other springs that. Jodi lanier, president of the chassahowitzka river keepers, and her dog luke kayak down baird creek, a tributary of the chassahowitzka river, on her way to the crack.
239 40 1557 1160 1014 44 203 967 1229 787 675 556 881 1315 490 648 652 1283 689 1320 872 1334 115 1072 317 513 1353 706 614 1431 1436 203 1083 59 1122 397 989 644 1081 812 545 240 1382 240