Upper Manatee River

Upper Manatee River Canoe Trail
The Upper Manatee River Canoe Trail is officially designated as part of Florida’s Statewide System of Greenways and Trails. This trail makes an ideal half-day trip. Only a few miles from Bradenton, the Upper Manatee River is easily accessible and you can paddle both ways so you don’t have to arrange for pick-up. The river’s gentle curves and slow-moving current make the trip a peaceful and leisurely paddle. Wading birds search for food along banks lined with subtropical vegetation, while osprey fly overhead.

Click here for printer-friendly map and description (PDF 501 kb).

Major Activities
Counties: Manatee
Mileage: 5
Skill Level: Beginner
Difficulty: Easy
Usual Current: Slow (0-1 mph)

Notes and Precautions
High winds may make paddling difficult and unpleasant. Paddlers can continue downriver to Ft. Hamer Manatee County Boat Ramp on the north side of the river. This area has heavy motorboat traffic. Water levels and flow vary with releases form Lake Manatee Dam. You can check flow by calling Lake Manatee Dam, (941) 746-3020.

Access

Rye Road Bridge –Take Rye Road either south from CR 675 or northeast from SR 64 to bridge.
Ray’s Canoe Hide-Away – From Rye Road Bridge, go west on Upper Manatee River Road one mile to Hagle Park Road, N.E., then north to river. (2.5 miles)
Aquatel Lodge – From Rye Road Bridge, go west on Upper Manatee River Road two miles to Aquatel Road, then north to Aquatel Lodge. (2.5 miles)

There may be access points (both public and private) in addition to those listed here. Please remember that some sites require a fee for launching and/or parking.