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Trip report: December 2012

Peace River Paddling Trail...

Lower Section - Gardner to Arcadia, FL

We paddled the lower river at Gardner and Brownville. Here the river is wider, with more straightaways than the upper river, good for kayak or canoe. We continued to see many birds. The limestone formations were of interest; water levels were low and we ran into several mini-rapids. Panning for shark teeth is popular in this section. While the river flows past pastureland (cattle are occasionally seen), the shoreline is frequently lined with cypress, pine, oak and willow; the sloping riverbanks provided many spots to pull off to stretch and picnic.

Paddling Map
Peace River

Location - Lower: Gardner to Arcadia
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Tidal: No
Launch points - Lower: Gardner boat ramp, Brownville Park (Arcadia), DeSoto County Park (See map)

Continue to Lower Peace River below, or go to Overview page for more Peace River

Rentals/Outfitters/Tours:

Canoe Outpost - Peace River  (rentals)

 Page Summary:

1. Paddling on Lower Peace River
   - Gardner Boat Ramp
   - Brownville Park Boat Ramp
2. More In this Section
   - Arcadia, Charlotte Harbor, Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda
3. More Information and Resources

Paddling on Lower Peace River... Comments and Photos

Gardner Boat Ramp

We paddled upstream about 3 miles. Water levels were low and the shoreline provided many spots to pull off to rest and picnic.

Along the River

Launch at Gardner Boat Ramp

Wide beach, low water levels

Limestone formation

 

 

Picnic spot

 

Back at the launch

Flora and Fauna

Heron

This hawk was washing off

Palm strand

Cypress

Cattle along the river

Wild turkeys

Brownville Park Boat Ramp

We paddled upstream about 3 miles from Brownville Park toward Gardner. Downstream, the river widened with many straightaways. A motorboat was launching to go downstream, upstream was too shallow for motors.

Brownville Park

Brownville Park

Boat ramp/launch

Boat ramp/launch

Boat ramp/launch

Stream feeding river near the boat ramp

On the River

Panning for shark teeth

Bridge at Brownville St

 

Turtle

Exposed rocks created a mini-rapids

 

Heron

The white spot on the shore is an egret

Sand bars

When windy, the wide river was choppy

More in this Section

Arcadia, Florida

Arcadia, county seat of DeSoto County, has a quaint historic district dating from the 1880's.

Charlotte Harbor, Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda

South of Arcadia and off the designated paddling trail, the Peace River flows into Charlotte Harbor at Port Charlotte and then into the Gulf of Mexico. Launches south of Arcadia are at Nocatee (CR 760) and at the Nav-a-Gator Grill (Old DeSoto Marina). The river is wider and deeper, popular with fishermen and with many motorboats.

South launches

Boat ramp at Nocatee (CR 760)

Peace River at  Nocatee

Boat Ramp at Nav-a-Gator (end of Peace River St.)

Canal to river from marina

Rental canoes and kayaks

Charlotte Harbor, Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda

Charlotte Harbor - mouth of the Peace River

Port Charlotte beach

Punta Gorda park and bike trail

Punta Gorda marina

Boat ramp at City Beach Park

More Information and Resources

Nearby Paddling:

Peace River Overview
- Upper Peace River
- Middle Peace River
- Lower Peace River
See FL West-Central Region for more paddling

Nearby Biking:

Punta Gorda Pathways

Related Resources:

Florida Office of Greenways and Trails - Peace River Paddling Trail (.pdf)