Which way does the river flow? The river flows from north to south, from the Green Swamp/Lake Hancock north of Lakeland to Charlotte Harbor and the Gulf, about 120 miles. Ft. Meade to Arcadia is the State Designated Paddle Trail (67 miles).

What is the best time of year to go? February, March, April, May, June, October, and November are the most popular times to paddle the Peace River (Spring & Fall). The temperatures are usually moderate and the water levels are fine. This is the most popular paddle trail in the state of Florida so weekends during the busy seasons are, well, busy. Weekdays are a great time to go; hardly anyone is on the river.

What is the water level? Go to Peace River Water Conditions. When we say the river is at a certain level, we base it on the height of our floating dock in relation to our stationary dock. At normal, the floating dock is flush with the bottom step of the dock. After 37 years of observation, we have established this as the "normal" or mean water level most of the year. Any variation will be noted as above or below normal. Average depth of the river at normal conditions is 24", some spots will be 6" deep, some 20' deep. The bottom of the river varies. Most of the time you can see the bottom at normal conditions.

Why can't we go to Zolfo Springs when the water is high? Canoe Outpost will not put canoes out north of Gardner when the water is high because all the camping areas are under water and any available camping will be above the mean high water mark and you will be trespassing if you camp out. Also this section, because of the narrowness, coming down the river gets tricky. To check the water level, see above link. That page also lists any restrictions.

What is the water clarity? This is blackwater, tea-colored water turned dark from the tannic acids from the leaves of trees. When the water is below normal, you can usually see the bottom. Rain means silt so the water gets cloudy.

Is the river fresh or salt water? Most of the Peace River is freshwater. To the south (Ft. Ogden) it gets brackish. The canoeing is done in the freshwater sections. You will see fresh and saltwater fish and animals in the river.

Are boats allowed on the river? Yes, though most of the time the river is too shallow to allow boats north of Arcadia.

Is it safe? We can’t guarantee your safety as watersports and being outdoors have inherent dangers but if you follow safety rules, use common sense, and follow the law there should be no problems.

What kind of fish are in the river and can you fish? All freshwater species such as bass, bream, and catfish are in the river. You will also see snook, mullet, blue crabs, and tarpon even though the water is fresh. A freshwater license is required as per law and you’d better have a saltwater license and/or stamps if catching saltwater species.

What will I see on the river? If you're quiet and it's not real busy on the river, you'll see deer, fox, alligators, turtles, otters, turkeys, cows, horses, all kinds of fish, all kinds of birds, maybe snakes, typical Florida wildlife. Watch watch for the llamas on the right south of the Brownville Bridge. Don't try to catch or pet any of the creatures or critters you encounter, they may not be friendly. On busy weekends you'll see all kinds of wildlife, the two-legged type! Go to http://wld.fwc.state.fl.us/critters/ to learn about Florida Critters.

Are there alligators? Are you in Florida? Seriously, almost every body of water in Florida has gators. Stay away from them, don’t feed, and don’t harass them. The gators in the Peace River are wild and usually afraid of people. We have never had a problem with them. Alligator mating season is May through October. Don’t try to mate with one, they don’t like it. More alligator info at: http://wld.fwc.state.fl.us/gators/

How do we get back to our vehicle? We take you upriver by bus and drop you off. You paddle downstream back to your vehicle. All our standard trips end back at your vehicle.

Can we swim? Swimming in the Peace River is fine. Look around first for gators. Wade into the river. Do not dive or jump, as it is hard to see in the darker water. People swim all the time in the river.

Who owns the property along the river? Most of the property on the Peace River is privately owned so you must stay down by the water. No hiking is permitted except in designated areas owned by Canoe Outpost or at public boat ramps.

What should I bring? Go to www.canoeoutpost.com/prdayhints.htm for day run hints or http://www.canoeoutpost.com/provnhints.htm for overnight runs. Just like going to the beach, only you’re in a canoe.

Can I bring a cooler? Always bring something to plenty to drink, it can get hot out there, see above. Don’t bring the big white coffin-like ones, they don’t fit. Please no Styrofoam.

Are alcoholic beverages allowed? Yes, but please no glass and please drink responsibly.

Can we hunt along the river? No hunting is allowed on the Peace River by those paddling, boating, or camping. Only the property owners have that right.

Can we have fires? Small fires along the riverbank are permissible. They must be put out and buried when done. Use only existing firepits.

Can I bring my dog? Dogs are welcome but do be careful, alligators like dogs especially the little yappers. Need to keep dogs on a leash.

How are the mosquitoes? Friendly. Mosquito season is during the rainy season, usually July through September. Call to check on bug conditions. Usually some repellent will keep them under control. We don’t get black clouds of them. While you’re paddling during the day they are no problem. There may be some when you stop in spring and summer at dusk if camping out.

Where and how do I find fossils? Fossils are found anywhere along the waters edge and the river bottom. The most popular way to find them is sifting (like panning for gold) in the gravel beds (look at the fish tank on the porch). Snorkeling and diving are also popular, especially in the deeper water. When snorkeling or diving, you fan the sand away from the bottom. Watch for eroded bank areas, fallen trees, and gravelly areas on the bottom. Canoe Outpost has sifters for borrowing on a first-come, first-serve basis or bring your own. Anything with holes in it like a macaroni strainer will work. The water level needs to be at least 12” below normal. Fossils are usually black and shiny, some just look like rocks. Bring them back to the Outpost to compare with the pictures and fossils on display. We also have a notebook of hundreds of fossil drawings for i.d. purposes. Please do not dig holes on private property especially beaches in front of homes. Please don't dig holes in banks. Leave no trace is the best way to insure fossil hunting is allowed to continue on the Peace. Property owners are complaining about holes and trash being left in front of their homes! Be considerate.  Click on Fossil Hunting for more info.

Are there restrooms along the way? Once on the river there are no public facilities except at the boat ramps at Zolfo Springs and Brownville. Canoe Outpost offers restrooms for our customers at our faculties in Gardner, Oak Hill (portable toilets), and Arcadia. See the front desk for a handout on “How to wee-wee in the woods”.

Will we see manatees? Usually not, the river is too shallow and has a sandy, rocky bottom with little for the manatees to eat. We saw manatees at the dock in Arcadia in August, 2006! First time any of us, even the oldtimers, have seen them this far north. They are usually only found on the southern stretches, miles south of Arcadia.

Will you hold the bus for us? No, not if there are other folks already checked in and ready to go. It’s not fair to make them wait if they got checked-in on time. We also set departure times based on the time the bus trip takes, so if you’re late and we hold the bus, the next bus will be running late, and the whole schedule is shot. But if you’re running late and no one else is checked-in, we can usually hold the bus for a short while or until it jeopardizes the on-time departure of the next run.

What’s the weather going to do? We don’t predict the weather or the fishing.

Will I catch any fish? See above

What happened to the dog’s leg? No, an alligator didn’t bite his leg off. Ollie Outpost is the three-legged porch hound you’ll find in Arcadia. He is the Outpost mooch. Ollie is part Jack Russell and Corgi. We don’t know where the long tail or the long legs came from. He lost his leg when he jumped out of the back of a truck in the driveway and suffered severe nerve damage. He does fine on three legs, couldn’t catch a squirrel when he had four legs either. Ollie gets grouchy around kids or when he feels trapped. Please keep your distance, he'll come to you, don't run up to him and grab him! If Ollie "smiles" at you, that is not a friendly sign, please leave him alone. Please keep your kids away from him, kids scare him. When he is standing at the screen door, he wants in to get away from the kids. Go ahead and open the door so he can get inside. On the other hand, the big black lab, Pearl, can handle any kid! She loves everyone, just watch your lunch. You'll only see Pearl on weekdays.

Can I feed the squirrels? It's fine to feed the squirrels by tossing food to them. Please don't hand feed them as they have razor sharp incisors and sometimes can't distinguish the end of a finger from a peanut. 

Your name is Stacy? No, it's Dacey. Your name is Tracy? No, it's Dacey. Your name is Daisy? No, it's Dacey. Poor Dacey (Day-cee rhymes with Stacy) is the young lady who answers the phone after 2:00 on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday and on some Saturdays and Sundays. Her name is Gaelic/Irish for Southerner.

Who answers the phone?  Katie, our group coordinator, is the usually phone person. Mercer (Travis) answers on Tuesday and Wednesdays until Miss Dacey Mae comes in around 2 pm. Occasionally Trent or Becky will answer.

I have my own canoe/kayak: why can't I use your facilities for free, why won't you transport my boat for free, why can't I camp on your property for free, why can't I use your picnic area for free, why can't I ride your bus for free, why can't I use your dock for free, why can I use your lifejackets, cushions, and paddles for free or why can't I park for free? There's no such thing as a free ride. Sorry gang, this is how we make our living. Insurance, payroll, taxes, gas, electricity, insurance, water, vehicle upkeep, tires, road maintenance, insurance, lawn care etc. all cost money. Being with a group does not mean you get free use of Canoe Outpost vehicles, equipment, and property. If you are not a Canoe Outpost customer (being with someone who is a customer does not make you a customer) please don't block our parking and driveways so you can follow the bus to the put-in. Park across the road or down the road. Our facilities including restrooms, buses, and paddle equipment are for paying customers only. Please don't try to sneak your kids on the bus or "borrow" our paddle equipment. If you don't want to pay, there are plenty of public boat ramps that you can use for free. Canoe Outpost is a privately owned facility. For public boat ramp locations go to: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/guide/regions/westcentral/trails/peace_riv.htm    

.....and our favorite frequently asked questions that we hear:

What's the difference between the 16 mile and 10 mile trip? Uhh, 6 miles?

Is the information on your website true? ...no, we make it all up!

Do you rent canoes? Uhh, yeah.