Peace River Overnight Canoe Camping

Canoe Outpost-Peace River/Camping Info

800-268-0083, 863-494-1215, 863-494-4391 fax

Reservations required for overnight runs.

Note: The trip descriptions are starting from the north put-in and going downstream, south, as the river flows, to the take-out. The blue letters below indicate start and end of trip. Green letters indicate designated camping area if applicable, if there is no green lettering, campsites are first come, first serve. Camping at Gardner South and Oak Hill on Canoe Outpost property is available for Canoe Outpost customers only, not available to the general public. All property along the Peace River is private property except at the public boat ramps. Property owners including Canoe Outpost will make you leave if you are camped on their property without permission. Canoe Outpost staff will show you a map of other possible campsites on the lower stretch at your time of check-in if you do not want to camp on Outpost property. See Canoe Availability button above for departure times. Always call first and make a reservation. Need to check the daily run schedule for 10 mile and 16 mile overnight runs. Go to Day Runs for departure times. When calling to make reservations, please indicate which trip you want by description.
The following runs are our standard trips, all are priced the same for two days and one night.
1.) Zolfo Springs (Pioneer Park) to Arcadia (40 miles): Come to Arcadia, check-in and park. We transport you upriver to Zolfo Springs. Camping on the first night (23 miles section) is anywhere on the right hand side of the river (west side), down by the water, camp at Canoe Outpost Oak Hill the second night. You take your camping gear with you. Paddle downstream back to Arcadia to your vehicles. No end of trip bus rides. This is a 3 day trip at least unless the water is about two feet above normal, then it can be done in 2 days. This is for those who want to do more paddling than camping. Not Available at this time, water too low from Zolfo to wooden bridge.
2.) Zolfo Springs (Pioneer Park) to Gardner (23 miles): This is the most popular overnight run. Though this is the normal 2 day/1 night run, you can also do it in 3 days and 2 nights, just camp in the same spot for both nights. We take you upriver to Zolfo Springs and you canoe downstream to Gardner. You take your camping gear with you. Camping is anywhere on the right hand side of the river (west side), down by the water. You always park in Gardner, end of the trip. Check-in at Gardner is only during Spring and Fall so you need to double check which office you need to go to. Weekdays, always come to Arcadia. When in doubt, come to Arcadia. Canoe Outpost has restrooms and trash disposal at end of trip in Gardner. Gardner also has free primitive camping on Friday nights for those going out on Saturday morning on the overnight early runs. Need to call ahead for details and restrictions. Check-in procedures for Zolfo to Gardner. Not Available at this time, water too low from Zolfo to wooden bridge.
3.) Gardner to Gardner/Upstream: Check-in Arcadia, then drive to Gardner to park and depart from Gardner. Paddle upstream to into 23-mile stretch, camp anywhere on left-hand side. Paddle back to Gardner when done, back to your vehicles in Gardner. You take your camping gear with you. Check-in procedures for Gardner to Gardner. Easy to do, not much current. Still going into the prettiest part of the river, just upstream first.
4.) Gardner to Arcadia/Upstream (16+ miles): Check-in and park in Arcadia. We take you upriver by bus to Gardner. Paddle upstream to into 23-mile stretch, camp anywhere on left-hand side. When done, paddle back to Arcadia (16 miles) the last as a normal day run, back to your vehicles in Arcadia. You take your camping gear with you.
5.) Gardner to Gardner/Gardner South: Check-in and pay in Arcadia then you drive to Gardner to park and depart from Gardner. Paddle downstream (just a short distance) from Gardner to camp on left hand-side south of Gardner on Canoe Outpost property. Paddle upstream back to your vehicles in Gardner when done on either Saturday or Sunday. Paddle up and down the river from your campsite. Depart anytime between 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. You take your camping gear with you. More camping than canoeing.
6.) Gardner to Arcadia/Gardner South (16 miles): Check-in and park in Arcadia. We take you upriver by bus to Gardner and you paddle downstream to camp within the first 20 minutes on the left-hand side south of Gardner on Canoe Outpost property. Paddle up and down the river from your campsite. Next day continue paddling downstream to Arcadia (15+ miles) and back to vehicles in Arcadia. You take your camping gear with you.
7.) Gardner to Arcadia/Brownville (16 miles): Check-in and park in Arcadia. We take you upriver by bus to Gardner and you paddle downstream (5-6 miles) toward Arcadia, make camp just above Brownville bridge on any of the sandbars and beaches or right around the bridge. These sites are first come, first serve, open to public. Next day paddle down to Arcadia (10 miles) and back to vehicles in Arcadia. Must stay down by the water. You take your camping gear with you.
9.) Brownville to Arcadia/Oak Hill (10 miles): Check-in and park in Arcadia. We take you upriver by bus to Brownville and you paddle downstream to Canoe Outpost-Oak Hill (5 miles downstream) to make camp at a reserved site. Next day paddle downstream to Arcadia (5 miles), back to vehicles in Arcadia. We can guarantee a campsite as long as supply lasts. We can deliver your camping gear to your site or you take it with you, call for details. This is the standard 10 mile run.
Please....No Glass Containers which means no glass beer bottles!
We do not have glass or plastic recycling in this area and glass is a problem, on and off the river.
Please note: glass bottles, plastic bottles, and cans thrown into firepits do not burn!

We will not load coolers that are 80 qts. or larger (especially the big white marine coolers) on our buses. Coolers that big do not fit in canoes and canoes are not designed for coolers that size. The largest compartment in the canoe is 31" x 28"

We also do not allow motors of any type on our canoes and it is against state law to have any type of motor on our canoes, even trolling motors. We won't load them, we won't transport them. If we find out you put a motor on our canoe you will be charged a $50.00 service fee. Don't even try to sneak it on at the boat ramp. We're watching. The motor brackets are tearing up the canoes. If you have your own canoe with a motor you need to make other arrangements for transporting your motor, we do not allow electric or gas motors or cans of gas or batteries on our buses.

Everyone needs to bring some WD40 just in case they step on fire ants. WD40 will stop the sting and the sores from developing if applied immediately to affected areas. Bring some Amdro or similar product to help get rid of the fire ants. Keep an eye on your food and especially don't throw food on the ground, it will attract the ants.
Please don't use or place any chemicals near the water!

When camping at Oak Hill or any area, make sure you put your trash up high and your food in varmint proof containers. The masked bandits are getting brazen. Remember, there are other campers on the river, keep the noise down, no fireworks, and be considerate of others!

Contact Peace Paddler for more info, Back to the Peace River dock

Run Length, Leisure Paddle Times, Check-in/Departure Times
Call first to verify times and check-in location. Location and departure times can vary because of season and water levels. Check-in times for the 23 mile on Saturday mornings in Gardner require you get to the Outpost at least one hour prior to departure. You need 1/2 hour to check-in and 1/2 hour to load. Anyone checking in less than 1/2 hr. before their scheduled departure will have to wait for the next run that has room for them. We can't hold the bus for latecomers and make everyone else wait.