After having to abort the last day of our Kayak Journey in 2020 due to storms which would not be kind we finally put the last day of the trip together in February 2021 and finished the trip. In 2020 we had started a four day Kayak/camping trip on the Apalachicola River from Chattahoochee, Fl. to Apalachicola, Florida. The final night of the trip put us at Hickory Landing at Owl Creek. We set up camp that night and had planned on getting an early start the next day. Everything was fine until a routine weather app check showed heavy storms approaching. Having paddled this section of the river before I knew that heavy winds would push our kayaks into the sawgrass and trap us before we could get to the landing at 10 mile hole in Apalachicola. As much as we hated to we punted the trip and called a ride to take us home.
We finally rescheduled the trip for February 2021 and drove to Owl Creek. The three paddlers were Rick Ashton, Jay Etheridge and myself. Once we set up camp at Hickory Landing we drove two trucks to Apalachicola and had dinner. We left one truck in Apalachicola and drove one truck back to the campsite. This allowed us to have a vehicle at the end of the trip and to drive the three of us back to the starting point.
After a good night’s sleep we awakened early and had breakfast. We broke camp and readied our kayaks. We launched from the landing and began heading towards the Apalachicola River on Owl Creek. Owl Creek is a beautiful tributary which empties into the River about two miles downstream.
This trip being in January was cool but thankfully it wasn’t cold. Being in the river swamp it was a wet with dew in the early morning however the sun soon burned the moisture away and it turned out to be a nice day although overcast.
The part of the river between Owl Creek and Apalachicola goes through Tates Hell Forest and passes a historic area known as Fort Gadsden. During the Civil War hundreds of slaves were hiding at Fort Gadsden when a Union cannon was fired at the Fort. The cannonball hit the powder room at the Fort causing a massive explosion killing hundreds of people.
Although the Apalachicola River is a wide and fast flowing river there are hundreds of house boats tied up along side it’s banks. Homemade, manufactured, houseboats of all shapes and sizes can be seen here. We did encounter a floating dog kennel complete with a number of deer hounds which could be heard for miles up and down the river as we approached.
Fortunately the wind was mostly calm and the tides were in our favor so the last few miles of our journey were enjoyable. Approaching Apalachicola we were in big water with boat traffic and tidal influence. An incoming wind or tide could make paddling difficult if not impossible, hence we punted our last trip and made up for it with this one day paddle trip.
We paddled past Scipio Creek and the docks in Apalachicola to the boat landing at 10 Mile Hole (under the Hwy 98 Bridge). Sheriff AJ Smith gave me a ride to my truck and I returned and we loaded the boats and gear. We grabbed a bite to eat and returned (via truck) to Hickory Landing where we split up. It was the ending to a great day.
This was an incredible trip as the paddle trips I’ve made down the Apalachicola River always are. The Apalachicola River is a clean, strong, fast flowing river that sports a lot of history. Currently there is an ongoing court battle for water rights between Georgia and Florida which will probably be ongoing for many years to come. Regardless I have always enjoyed paddling and camping beside the big river. It is a special place to me and I hope to soon return for another kayaking adventure. Hopefully you will too!
Blackwater Images 