Cotee River Paddle

Frances Avenue Park · James E. Grey Preserve · March 20, 2026

A quiet paddle through a twisty little Florida river

This page is set up as a photo-first draft, with the narrative to be added later. For now, the images carry the story: palms reflected in blackwater, narrow bends through James E. Grey Preserve, a few route maps, riverbank flowers, wildlife, and a very serious kayak supervisor named Buddyboy.

Most photos are displayed large and are clickable to open the full-size image.

The Cotee River showing off its quiet Florida magic: palms, reflections, and water smooth enough to make the kayak whisper.
The gazebo and the Cotee River, showing off its quiet Florida magic: palms, reflections, and water smooth enough to make the kayak whisper.
The bigger picture: a winding Cotee River paddle through Frances Avenue Park and James E. Grey Preserve.
The bigger picture: a winding Cotee River paddle through Frances Avenue Park and James E. Grey Preserve.
Another look at the same maze of bends, side channels, and tempting little dead ends.
Another look at the same maze of bends, side channels, and tempting little dead ends.
Zooming in on the fun part: the river doing its best impression of spaghetti.
Zooming in on the fun part: the river doing its best impression of spaghetti.
Buddyboy taking his rightful place at the bow, supervising all river operations.
Buddyboy taking his rightful place at the bow, supervising all river operations.
Sun, clouds, palms, and reflections — one of those Florida days that makes the whole river glow.
Sun, clouds, palms, and reflections — one of those Florida days that makes the whole river glow.
A tall-sky view from the kayak, with palms standing guard along the bends.
A tall-sky view from the kayak, with palms standing guard along the bends.
The bow pointing into a quiet palm-lined corridor, with the river almost doubling the scenery.
The bow pointing into a quiet palm-lined corridor, with the river almost doubling the scenery.
Palms and marsh grass mirrored in the still water — Florida doing what Florida does best.
Palms and marsh grass mirrored in the still water — Florida doing what Florida does best.
A soft bend in the river, with the kayak nose aimed toward the next little mystery.
A soft bend in the river, with the kayak nose aimed toward the next little mystery.
Open water, marsh edges, and a sky full of quiet drama.
Open water, marsh edges, and a sky full of quiet drama.
Palms, clouds, and enough reflection to make you forget which way is up.
Palms, clouds, and enough reflection to make you forget which way is up.
A vertical slice of river scenery — palms, sky, and water stacked into one peaceful frame.
A vertical slice of river scenery — palms, sky, and water stacked into one peaceful frame.
Sunlight through leaves and cypress knees: the small details that make slow paddling worth it.
Sunlight through leaves and cypress knees: the small details that make slow paddling worth it.
Looking straight up into the leaves and sun — a reminder to stop paddling and look around.
Looking straight up into the leaves and sun — a reminder to stop paddling and look around.
Spatterdock leaves and river plants along the edge, a little floating garden tucked into the shoreline.
Spiderlillies and leaves and river plants along the edge, a little floating garden tucked into the shoreline.
A quiet group stretch through the preserve, with plenty of room to slow down and enjoy it.
A quiet group stretch through the preserve, with plenty of room to slow down and enjoy it.
Feet up, kayak forward, and no committee meeting needed to confirm this was a good day.
Feet up, kayak forward, and no committee meeting needed to confirm this was a good day.
Buddyboy back on shore, still looking like he owns the dock and maybe the whole river.
Buddyboy back on shore, still looking like he owns the dock and maybe the whole river.
A narrow shaded passage where the river feels more like a green tunnel.
Spider lilies along a narrow shaded passage where the river feels more like a green tunnel.
Paddlers tucked under the trees, following the bends through the quiet water.
Paddlers tucked under the fern-encrusted trees, following the bends through the quiet water.
A relaxed group paddle in the shade, with the river carrying everyone along at its own pace.
Claire leading relaxed group paddle in the shade, with the river carrying everyone along at its own pace.
A bright, leafy stretch where the river turns into a green hallway.
Claudia and Diana. A bright, leafy stretch where the river turns into a green hallway.
A yellow-crowned night heron working the shoreline — perfectly dressed for the occasion.
All of us gradually dissappearing into the greenery....
Kayaks gathered in the sunshine, the floating version of a porch visit.
Kayaks gathered in the sunshine, the floating version of a porch visit.
Two kayaks under the trees, with branches framing the scene like a natural archway.
Two kayaks under the trees, with branches framing the scene like a natural archway.
A great little wildlife moment along the mud and mangrove edge.
A yellow-crowned night heron working the shoreline — perfectly dressed for the occasion. A great little wildlife moment along the mud and mangrove edge.
A bright group scene under the trees, exactly the kind of easygoing paddle day worth remembering.
A bright scene under the trees, exactly the kind of easygoing paddle day worth remembering.
The gazebo view again, because some reflections deserve a second look.  Beautyberry along the riverbank, because Florida likes to hide little surprises everywhere.
The route at a glance, showing just how twisty this little river can be.
The route at a glance, showing just how twisty this little river can be.
A street-map view of the paddle route through New Port Richey and the preserve.
A street-map view of the paddle route through New Port Richey and the preserve.
Beautyberry along the riverbank, because Florida likes to hide little surprises everywhere.
Beautyberry along the riverbank, because Florida likes to hide little surprises everywhere.
Spider lilies blooming at the water’s edge — elegant, wild, and impossible to ignore.
Flowers turn to fruit and seeds at the water’s edge — elegant, wild, and impossible to ignore.
Cattails standing tall in the marsh, the official antenna farm of the wetlands.
Cattails standing tall in the marsh, the official antenna farm of the wetlands.