Skip to Content

Alafia River: Kayaking through tame rapids a half-hour from Tampa

Kayaking the Alafia River brings a surprise: Shoals, riffles and rapids.

The river’s bottom is largely white sand, but a half dozen times in a 12-mile canoe trip, limestone rocks crop up and offer a rare-for-Florida moment of whitewater thrill.

We paddled the Alafia River, a half hour east of Tampa, when the water was an inch or two below average water levels.

At this level, it would be easy for Florida folks who are out of practice reading upcoming rapids to catch a rock that could capsize a canoe or kayak. (Keep  your electronics in dry bags.)

Mostly, though, those riffles are just plain fun.

Fun times paddling through the shoals on the Alafia River near Tampa. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)
Fun times paddling through the shoals on the Alafia River near Tampa. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)

Rapids aren’t the only surprise about the Alafia River (pronounced by locals as AL-uh-fi, but you’ll also hear  AL-uh-FI-uh)

The river was the site of a huge toxic chemical spill. Some 28,000 gallons of phosphoric acid spilled into the river from a fertilizer manufacturing plant during a rainstorm in 1997. The spill killed vegetation along the river, a million bait fish and 75,000 game fish, according to reports at the time.

Alafia River: See the little riffle in the water? That's one of the shoals that make the water rush a bit.
Alafia River: See the little riffle in the water? That’s one of the shoals that make the water rush a bit. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)

The surprise? You’d never know it now.

The Alafia River is lined with a tree canopy of magnificent cypress and beautiful live oaks dripping with Spanish moss and fuzzy with air plants.

We saw plenty of wildlife along the orange-tinged tannic river: A large gator, six feral hogs, lots of turtles, schools of fish easily spotted against the white sandy bottom, kingfishers, herons, whistling ducks, and assorted other birds.

Lone gator we saw kayaking the Alafia River near Tampa. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)
Lone gator we saw kayaking the Alafia River near Tampa. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)

There are only a half dozen houses along the 12-mile Alafia River kayaking trail. The river is quiet, clean and serene. Despite its history, it seems like an untouched wild place.

Locals favor the river for summertime swimming and splashing on sandbars. There are a number of good places to get out of the canoe to picnic and wade. At a few points there are even picnic tables at labeled canoe stops.

How to kayak the Alafia River

Because of the current and rapids, this is a river best enjoyed as a downstream paddle. We did see kayakers paddling upstream, and they said they managed to make it through the rapids with some effort.

We put in at a lovely county park, Alderman’s Ford, and paddled 12 miles downstream to the docks of an outfitter, Alafia River Canoe Rentals. Just beyond the outfitter, you would come to Lithia Springs, another terrific county park, where you can put in or take out kayaks.

The view from the kayak and canoe launch at Alderman's Ford Park near Tampa. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)
The view from the kayak and canoe launch at Alderman’s Ford Park on the Alafia River near Tampa. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)

The family that runs Alafia River Canoe Rentals has been there for 40 years, including the heyday in the 80s when the Alafia had a reputation as a bring-a-cooler-filled with-beer river.

Today the river is much quieter and the outfitter’s services are more limited. We dropped off our canoe at Alderman’s Park, drove and parked our car at Alafia River Canoes, and then, the outfitter drove us back to Alderman’s Park to start our paddle trip.

We found the Alafia River to be well worth the effort required to arrange a trip.

The Alafia River near Tampa river is lined with a tree canopy of magnificent cypress and beautiful live oaks dripping with Spanish moss and fuzzy with air plants. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)
The Alafia River near Tampa river is lined with a tree canopy of magnificent cypress and beautiful live oaks dripping with Spanish moss and fuzzy with air plants. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)

Resources:

Alafia River Canoe Rentals
4419 River Drive
Valrico, Florida 33596
Phone   (813) 689-8645

Alafia River Alafia map 2 Alafia River: Kayaking through tame rapids a half-hour from Tampa
Map of Alafia River kayak trail.


Alderman’s Ford Park

Alderman’s Ford Park map

100 Alderman Ford Park Drive
Plant City, FL, FL 33567
(813) 757-3801

The canoe launch entrance is located at 9625 Canoe Launch Loop Lithia, FL 33547. The launch entrance opens daily at 7 a.m. to allow joggers and walkers early access to the park.
Admission: $2 per vehicle

Among its trails, Alderman’s Ford Park has a popular 1.9 mile paved loop that follows the north and south prongs of the Alafia River. The loop is good for hikers, dog walkers and strollers. It links with a boardwalk and foot bridges, leading into shaded woods of huge cypress and oak trees.

Here’s a Florida Rambler story on primitive camping at Alderman’s Ford Park.


Things to do near the Alafia River

A day on the Alafia River can be paired with several other nearby parks and rivers.

The beautiful Little Manatee River is a half hour drive away. The day before we did the Alafia, we paddled the Little Manatee and also had a wonderful hike at Little Manatee River State Park. Here’s our story on things to do around the Little Manatee River.

Other places to explore nearby include Lithia Springs County Park, Alafia River State Park and hiking at Alderman’s Ford Nature Preserve.


Alafia River State Park

Alafia River State Park is heaven for mountain bikers; on many lists, Alafia is ranked in the top three mountain-bike destinations in Florida. Off-road cyclists volunteered to build the trails, maintain the trails and they use the trails day in and out. The entire park is a former phosphate mine, which is why it is full of steep hills and valleys — unusual contours for Florida. Despite its former life as a mine, it is full of beautiful mature trees.

Mountain biking trail at Alafia River State Park. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)
Mountain biking trail at Alafia River State Park. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)

Alafia River State Park has a popular campground on a comparatively flat corner of the park around a pretty little lake. There are mature trees and shade around the attractive campsites.

Off-road bike trails dominate the rest of the park. There is a hilly one-mile loop trail specifically for hikers, where bikes are prohibited, but hikers aren’t welcome on the busy 17 miles of Alafia River State Park bike trails. The park does have extensive equestrian trails and equestrian camping available. These trails are open to hikers (and not bikers), but we didn’t find these great for hiking. Either we had a hard time following the trails — we kept ending up on bike trails — or the trail followed an uninteresting sunny landscape. (It’s possible we missed the better equestrian trails.)

The small lakes in the park won’t be much challenge for kayakers and despite the name, the Alafia River does not flow through the park.

The 30 spacious campsites have electric, water, picnic tables and a fire ring. Rates are $22 per night. The park is one of only a half dozen that also offer glamping — “luxury” camping. Here’s a Florida Rambler story on glamping in Florida State Parks.

Alafia River State Park,
County Road 39 S, Lithia, FL.
Camping reservations accepted by phone, 800-326-3521, or online at the park’s web site, Alafia River State Park

Day-use Admission is $5.

Alafia River 2022 6 21 alafia river state park 2 Alafia River: Kayaking through tame rapids a half-hour from Tampa
Map of Alafia River State Park

Primitive camping: Want to really get away? There are two primitive camping sites you reach via a several mile hike. Primitive campsites are available for $5. To reserve a primitive campsite, call the park at 863-696-1112.

Lithia Springs Park

Lithia Springs, a Hillsborough County park, is a popular swimming hole around a beautiful spring with a constant 72° temperature.

The lifeguard-protected swimming area has an expansive shallow sandy area popular with families. The spring vent draws swimmers to its deep blue opening, but you are not allowed to snorkel or scuba into the spring vent.

Be sure to explore the park and find another spring that is being restored and is closed to swimming. It demonstrates how gorgeous a spring in its natural state can be.

Lithia Springs is ideal for picnicking and also has a 3-mile hiking trail.

It’s also an excellent place to camp. There are 30 spacious campsites with electric, water, picnic tables and a fire ring.  Rates:  $22 per night plus utility fees, booking fee and taxes. Reservations accepted by phone, 800-326-3521

Florida Rambler story on camping at Lithia Springs.

Lithia Springs Regional Park
3932 Lithia Springs Road, Lithia, FL 33547.
(813) 744-5572. Web site: Lithia Springs Park
Admission is $2.


Alderman’s Ford Nature Preserve

A 5-mile hiking trail winds through land along the Alafia River, offering views of the rapids in the river, as well as sections at a higher elevation through forests of pine and live oak. 

Florida Rambler story: Primitive campaing at Alderman’s Ford Nature Preserve

Alderman’s Ford Nature Preserve
8911 Turkey Creek Road
Lithia, FL 33567
813-672-7876

Things to do near Tampa

Paddle Frog Creek: One of the best trails you’ve never heard of

Little Manatee River State Park: Glorious kayaking, hiking and camping

Primitive camping at Alderson’s Ford Park on the Alifia River

Tampa Buddhist Temple: Sunday market and outdoor brunch 

Emerson Point Preserve: A gem of a county park

Egmont Key: Historic island in Tampa Bay

Best camping near Tampa

Treasured St. Pete bike trail

Fort Desoto Park: Tampa Bay treasure

Caladesi Island State Park: This island with an award-winning beach is great kayak destination. Read about kayaking to Caladesi Island.

Honeymoon Island State Park.


All articles on FloridaRambler.com are original, produced exclusively for our readers and protected by U.S. Copyright law. Any use or re-publication without written permission is against the law.

This page contains affiliate links from which Florida Rambler may earn a sall commission when a purchase is made. This revenue supports our mission to produce quality stories about Florida at no cost to you.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Rob Blanchard

Monday 4th of July 2022

We built and attended of a cabin and house associated with all the alderman for the ranch. Charlie Knight and his son and I run those woods 50 years ago. Alexa lived on the river. Charlie Jr and Barbie lives in the vacant house on the back lot. And Kathy and Larry lived in the trailer up by State Road 39. He was the guard so to speak. I had many many fun years on that property. Robert Blanchard

Cathy

Wednesday 22nd of February 2017

Thank you for posting this! As a displaced southerner living in WA state, I so miss these places. The short video made my day.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.