Canoe Escape

Escape to nature on a 2-hour to full day, downstream, quiet-water, paddling adventure through a 16,000-acre wildlife preserve. In all seasons the Hillsborough River astounds with its beauty and abundant wildlife. From the thousands of white ibis in the fall, the sightings of deer, wild hog, and turkey in the winter, the proliferation of songbirds in spring, and its cooling shade on a summer's day, the Hillsborough River brings a new surprise and delight around each bend. Gator sunning on a log with two turtles. Bring your sense of adventure, rent a canoe or kayak for an hour, a downstream trip, or schedule a guided trip, and paddle through this cypress swamp full of Florida's unique flora and fauna. Perhaps paddling close to a sunning 'gator, a threatened limpkin, 6 turtles congregating on a log, or catching that large-mouthed bass will be the most prized memory of your vacation. Whether this is your first-time, you are an experienced paddler, a vacationer or a local resident, the Florida you're looking for is just a short paddle away! The Canoe Escape is located only 16 miles from downtown Tampa and 15 minutes from Busch Gardens. It was founded in 1991 by the Faulk family. Canoe Escape offers self-guided, downstream trips; hourly rentals; shuttles for canoe/kayak owners; and guided paddling adventures. Canoe Escape has been featured in numerous newspaper and magazine articles as well as on HGTV's "The Good Life" and the Sunshine Network's "Sunshine Outdoors: Paddlesports".