Blackwater Joe's Canoes

Reunions, scout troops, birthdays: here is how we plan kayak and canoe float trips in Okaloosa County for big mixed groups, from splitting boats to staging the shuttle.

Fall changes the Blackwater: thinner weekday crowds, cooler air over still-warm water, and the best wildlife viewing of the year. Here is why locals save their kayak trips for autumn.

The Blackwater is one of the gentlest rivers in Florida for young paddlers. A parent-to-parent guide to trip lengths, tandem seating, life jackets, snacks, and keeping the day fun.

What a full day of Blackwater River canoe rentals in Escambia County really looks like — 9:30 a.m. check-in, the shuttle upstream, sandbar lunch, and an easy drift to a 5 p.m. take-out.

Where are the best places to kayak in Okaloosa County? The Blackwater River wins for calm, sandy-bottom water, easy put-ins, and kayak rentals with shuttle included.

How long is a Blackwater River float trip? Compare tube, canoe, and kayak floats in Okaloosa County, see trip lengths, and get tips for the perfect lazy day on the water.

The Blackwater River's calm, shallow, sandy water makes it one of the most beginner-friendly places to paddleboard in Okaloosa County. Here's where to launch and how to get started.

Blackwater Joe's Canoes in Holt, Florida rents single and tandem kayaks on the Blackwater River about an hour east of Pensacola. Every rental includes the boat, paddle, life jacket and the shuttle upstream.

Yes — Blackwater Joe's Canoes offers riverside tent camping at 12375 Shammah Road in Holt, about an hour east of Pensacola. Unlimited tent sites start at around $10 per person per night, with canoe, kayak and tube trips from the same riverbank.

Blackwater Joe's Canoes rents canoes on the Blackwater River at 12375 Shammah Road in Holt, FL, an easy drive east of Escambia County. Rentals include paddles, life jackets and the shuttle upstream, starting around $30 per person.