There is nothing quite like gliding quietly down a natural river or creek in a canoe. Nature unfolds before you as though you aren’t even there and where the subtle click of a camera shutter echoes out as an out-of-place noise. If this is your chosen mode of water transportation or you want to experience it for the first time, then Citrus County waters are ready to welcome you. For the experienced canoeist, the blackwater Withlacoochee River (a Florida Outstanding Waterway) offers an 83-mile designated canoe trail that begins in Pasco County and continues to the Citrus/Marion county line in Dunnellon at the US 41 bridge.
If 83-mile treks are more than you planned for, you can pick a smaller segment of the overall trail to canoe or try one of the rivers on the west coast. One of the best is the Chassahowitzka River. The Chassahowitzka River Campground is operated by the Citrus County Division of Parks and Recreation, and has canoes for rent. The scenic Chassahowitzka has a number of side creeks and tributaries for the adventurous. If you navigate its length you will find a beautiful freshwater springs nestled at the heart of its headwaters.
Outboard, canoe, sailboat, jet ski, or pontoon, there’s a water body ready to accommodate your needs. Citrus County maintains a number of public boat ramps throughout the area and if you are looking for a more permanent mooring, there are a number of privately owned marinas and boat storage yards.
If boating is your desire but owning a boat isn’t, there are also a number of local businesses that can rent you a vessel for a few hours, a day, a week, or more. Once you are on the water, you still face a multitude of decisions of what you want to do. Sightseeing, fishing, water sports, snorkeling, or maybe just relaxing the day away from phones, deadlines, and other signs of civilization that surround us. If you want the fun of boating without having to drive, Citrus County also has a number of tours and operators to suit your needs.
The following are some of the businesses in the area offering services to enhance your boating fun.
Crystal Lodge Dive Center
525 NW 7th Ave
Crystal River, FL 34428-3952
(352) 795-6798
Captain Karen Glass Bottom Boat Eco Tours
11400 S Kelsi Terrace
Homosassa, FL 34448
(352) 382-3968
Crystal River Eco Tour Water Taxi
P O Box 979
537 N Citrus Ave
Crystal River, FL 34447-0979
(352) 564-9197
Crystal River Watersports
2380 NW Hwy 19
Crystal River, FL 34428
(352) 795-7033
MacRae’s of Homosassa, Inc
P O Box 318
Homosassa, FL 34487-0318
(352) 628-2602
Moonrise Resort
8801 E Moonrise Lane, Lot 18
Floral City, FL 34436-2374
(352) 726-2553 or 1-800-665-6701
Native Vacations, Inc
425 B. N Citrus Ave
Crystal River, FL 34428
(352) 466-2848
River Safaris & Gulf Charters, Inc
10823 Yulee Dr
Homosassa, FL 34448-3817
(352) 628-5222
Seagrass River Resort
10386 W Halls River Rd
Homosassa, FL 34448