A lot has changed in a year. 1) THE BIG CHANGE: In July 2023, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission created a Springs Protection Zone along the 5.61-mile stretch of the river from the springhead in Weeki Wachee State Park to the Rogers Park Boat Ramp. Along this section of the river beaching, mooring, anchoring and grounding vessels is forbidden. So no more getting out of your boat to swim or wade as is depicted many times in this video. Once you are in your boat, you must stay in your boat. 2) You MUST make a reservation to launch from the State Park, whether you bring your own boat or rent. 3) Launches from the State Park are limited to 280 people per day. For warm weather weekends and holidays you may need to make your launch and/or rental reservations months in advance. 4) If you rent a boat from the state park concessionaire you will NOT be going to Rogers Park. The state park no longer offers a shuttle from Rogers Park. Instead they created a landing at the west end of the state park property where you get out and are shuttled back to the beginning. This is a 2.8 mile trip, or less than 1/4 of the trip mentioned in the video. It's about a 1-hour float trip, especially now that you can't get out of your boats for a break along the way. 5) You can still launch from Rogers Park, paddle upstream then float back down for a 12-mile trip. It helps if you can launch with an incoming tide to give you a bit of a push up the river. However, since relandscaping Rogers Park and adding a playground, restroom, and 3-acre swimming area, there are fewer parking spots. On nice weekends and holidays the parking lot is full before 9 am so get there early which means you can't always plan to paddle with the tidal flow.

I lived there off and on for over 10yrs since the 1980's going back and forth from Oregon. My mom lived down there permanently until passing in 2012...so many good memories made on that river. Thank you for the video, and very respectful of the locals in how you present the video...thank you!

Subscribed. I like these more realistic reviews rather than those only show you the best part. More like these pls!

Good video! Excellent info. Liked the comment to pick up after yourself and a bit more, if you see any trash. Keep Florida beautiful. Thanks.

Very Difficult Paddle! I just now completed the 12 mile round trip in a sit-inside recreational kayak. I have been kayaking for 20 years and found this very difficult. The river is very windy (twisty) and the current is strong. Many Others in recreational kayaks were having difficulty, especially many who were very out of shape. The huge flotilla leaving Rogers Park really died out in about a mile. Those who did make it to the end had paddle boards and better kayaks of their own, or were young and fit. It’s a beautiful river with many wild sections before you reach the state park waters. Those with pedal drive made quick work of the river. Those with both hard and inflatable paddle boards went astonishingly quick through the current and turns.

The kayak rental link saved me! I’m visiting on a Monday, so I already had the disappointing news that Buccaneer bay is closed, and then all the canoes through the state park were unavailable. But the kayak shack had my back! And KZfaq! Thank you! 🥰🥰🥰

The state park shuttle no longer runs from rogers park. Now it's only 2.5miles down from the park.

The mullet jet ski Panama sold me. I gotta go party there. I’ll keep it in a water bottle

Ton of valuable information! Just moved here. Really appreciate the expectation vs reality part

Hey man this was an awesome video!!! It was tonthe point, filled with humor and lots of us3ful info that I absolutely needed to know!!! Again thank u so much for this, as me and my gf are planning a trip there!!! U r awesome sir!!!!

Thank you for your honest video!!! We will still go, but hey it helps to know what to expect, and you did NOT come off negative at all, just realistic, that was refreshing!😊😊😊

Thank you for this video. Seriously, I learned everything I needed to know. Rainbow River is my next destination.

Great and Informative BUT , as of 4 years ago they DO NOT pick you up at Rogers park anymore. You paddle with your kayak 2.8 miles from Launch point and at 2.8 miles from there , you bring your kayak to the shore and they pick you up and take you back to your car. To preserve what remains of the beautyiful waters You CAN NOT get out of your kayak while your traversing those almost 3 miles , from the state park to pick up point.

Some of the tips make it seem like you haven’t been recently or at all. The state park shuttle is only about half of the river. There are houses along the river after the one mile point

Thank you SO much for a completely informative and honest video on this attraction!! You answered every single question we could possibly have, seriously! We understand going in September, it'll probably be a little different, but your pointers and information are invaluable. Being 80's kids, my husband & I probably wouldn't mind seeing mullet man blasting Panama...but you can't have it all, right? :)

If you want more of the peaceful and pristine I highly recommend rainbow river another hour north! If you camp you can get directly on the river without having to get in your vehicle 🥰🥰🥰

Thank you so much for this ♥️

This is so Beautiful! Where are the mermaids? When I was a child 70 years ago, my Mom and grandparents took me to see Mermaids, and I loved them and the boat ride. Do you still have the Mermaids Show? I would love to come and see all again. Thank you, June

If they let some gators and snakes loose once a week they could solve the crowd problem easily...

Excellent!!!!! Informative and honest view !!! Thanks

6:30 is no longer true. If you rent a kayak from the state park you only get two miles before your pick up spot.

@riverdaddy where you at??!!

Good honest review

What about alligators?

unfortunately, boaters kind of ruined my experience here recently. a boat was in the middle of the river and sent me into bushes!

I always have to paddle a good hour upstream before you can get away from the crowd

Well obviously you're not allowed to do this anymore. I grew up on this River and always very respectful and cleaned up people's garbage. I've seen a lot of things people have done mostly tourists and Northerners. They have ruined it all, what's next on their list?

Another thing to consider in this river is pay attention to the tide if you can hit the tide when it's going up stream you can go with the current to the state park and back but if you hit it wrong you could fight it both ways haha

Excellent information thank you

Great information! Thanks.

Can we go down the river in an inflatable tube?

Of course, riding the current back to Rogers Park was almost effortless.

You nailed it

Come to Loxahatchee Refuge!

Very true

What kind of kayak do you have? The back support.

Aren’t there alligators in this water?

Most importantly, if you put in at rogers park, don’t use the BOAT RAMP for kayaks and paddle boards!

Once you go Vibe Hero seat... you can't go back 😁

Heads up.. you are wrong about people cleaning up the river.. if it wasn't for the weeki watcher river rangers cleaning up after people by pulling four dumpsters full of garbage.. so put a special thanks to them on your video..

A slice of heaven would be if this and the other 3 rivers just to the north would be like it was when I was a kid growing up here. I notice even the water is not as clear as it once was,....

I have never seen the warden on a JetSki

Are paddleboards permitted?

How late is to late in the year to float (Oct.Nov.?) Thanks Good info

ice cream man def sells weed😂

Of course, people buy/built a house next to a river and get mad about people using it lol It's like the idiots who build a house next to a race track and them fight to close it down (just happened in Cali). Better idea, don't buy/build next to something you find annoying.

First 3 min I was checked out from going to this place! No thanks! Its sad they allow a place like this to become so busy and party like. No one wants that atmosphere when going outdoors with family. Thanks for sharing because we'll skip this one! 👍

Butch the hot dog guy is cool

Florida=gators and snakes??? Wherever a body of water exists pretty sure some gator will find it, along with the odd snake or two.

Rent from SUP Weeki for vessels and launch privileges!

This is outdated. Details are wrong. The state park ends its paddle at the end of the park

Do they allow any inflatable small boats like Intex mariner with a trolling motor?

Are their gators on the river?

Will I meet any gators on this river?

There’s nothing worst than a kayak with no back support 🤦🏻‍♂️ I’ve been there and it’s not fun

11:46 the hot dog guy is not in that exact spot anymore. The assholes who bought that property right there bitched and moaned till he said fuck it and moved up river a few turns.

Too many people, rules and noise for us. Nice review and thanks, but we pass on this tourist trap.

All you need to know is that it is packed everyday and dirty because of people leaving their trash everywhere!!!! I avoid it and prefer 7 sisters springs

This is all about complaining what an annoying video I go to this park all the time always have a good time go stay home

Looks pretty....pretty crowded. Nope.

1. Why am I in Florida? 2. How do I get the f*ck out of Florida?

LOL he mentioned turquoise water….he is definitely color blind!

This is one of the Best informational videos I have seen. Great job!