Seventeen Runs to Morris Bridge — April 29, 2025

Only eight days after our April 21 paddle, we returned to Seventeen Runs for a much longer day. This time we continued all the way to Morris Bridge, covering approximately 17 miles of the Hillsborough River. It was a hot late-May-feeling day at the end of April: low water, narrow channels, plenty of blockages and a brief downpour that everyone welcomed.

DateApril 29, 2025

DistanceAbout 17 miles

DestinationMorris Bridge

River WorkChainsaw & loppers

A longer plan

Morris Bridge Conservation Park was part of the shuttle plan for this longer one-way paddle. The boats and paddlers gathered early, knowing that reaching Morris Bridge would make this a full-day trip rather than the shorter outing we had completed eight days earlier.

Morris Bridge Conservation Park sign — Morris Bridge Conservation Park—the destination for this approximately 17-mile paddle.

Once everyone was organized, the group entered the broad upper river. The water here was deeper and slower, with room to spread out beneath live oaks, palms and a bright blue sky.

Paddlers meeting in the Morris Bridge parking area — Organizing the long shuttle and getting everyone ready for the river.

Standing paddler leading kayakers on a wide reach of river — The broad, slow upper river before the channel narrows into Seventeen Runs.

Entering the runs

The river advisory signs were direct: Seventeen Runs is for experienced paddlers, with treacherous navigation, numerous obstacles and several portages possible. At low water, the current concentrates into narrow passages and every bend can conceal a new tree, tangle or mat of vegetation.

River advisory warning for experienced paddlers at Seventeen Runs — The warning describes difficult navigation, obstacles and portages along the route.

The shaded banks offered occasional places to stop, stretch and wait for the group to close up. With 17 miles to cover, pacing mattered. So did staying together before committing to each narrow passage.

Paddlers resting beside a green kayak under palms — A brief shaded stop before continuing deeper into the floodplain.

Ten minutes of welcome rain

As the heat built, the sky finally delivered a heavy downpour. It lasted only about ten minutes, but everyone appreciated the cooling rain on such a hot day. The river surface boiled with raindrops, colors softened and the forest briefly took on an entirely different mood.

Kayakers paddling through a heavy downpour — Heavy rain stipples the river while the group continues downstream.

A hopeful sign: The shower was short, refreshing and welcomed by everyone. We hoped it signaled the beginning of the rainy season after the long dry spring.

There was no reason to wait it out. We simply kept moving, enjoying the cooler air until the downpour passed and the bright green forest returned.

Paddlers following one another through heavy rain — Ten minutes of rain brought welcome relief from the heat.

Gary clears the way

Low water and recent storms had left the runs crowded with branches, downed trees and thick mats of vegetation. Gary brought his chainsaw and loppers, as he usually does, so the group could work through blockages and leave the route a little more passable for those who followed.

Dense vegetation blocking a narrow river channel — A thick wall of river vegetation forces the group to slow down and find a line.

Clearing river blockages is slow, physical work. Boats must wait in current while someone trims branches, cuts a safe opening or decides that a portage is the better option. Gary’s preparation and willingness to do the work made a real difference.

Paddlers working through a dense river blockage — Boats gather while a route is opened through the vegetation.

Gary came prepared: His chainsaw handled the larger wood, while the loppers were ideal for smaller limbs and vines. It is the same practical contribution he regularly makes on difficult river trips.

Gary carrying clearing tools in his kayak — Gary with the tools that helped keep the group moving.

Gary working beneath a low tree blockage from his kayak — Working from the kayak beneath a low tangle of branches.

Wildlife and the long finish

Beyond the hardest blockages, the river gradually widened. Whistling ducks watched from a log, a limpkin worked the muddy edge and an alligator floated almost invisibly at the surface. Those quiet encounters helped mark the miles toward Morris Bridge.

Two whistling ducks standing together on a log — A pair of whistling ducks along the wooded riverbank.

After hours in the confined runs, the broader water felt expansive. The pace could finally become steadier, although the distance already traveled was beginning to show.

Kayakers on the broad river after Seventeen Runs — Open water again on the long downstream approach to Morris Bridge.

We also passed clear evidence of the day’s work: fresh cuts where a blockage had been opened. Eventually the cypress reflections, wider channel and familiar Morris Bridge landscape announced the end of a demanding but satisfying 17-mile day.

Freshly cut tree blockage along the riverbank — Fresh cuts show where a fallen obstruction had been opened for passage.

Alligator eyes and head barely visible at the water surface — An alligator watches from the surface—almost perfectly concealed by reflections.

The complete 17-mile route

The recorded track shows how much farther this trip continued beyond the heart of Seventeen Runs, all the way to Morris Bridge.

Map of the approximately 17-mile route to Morris Bridge — The full route through Seventeen Runs to Morris Bridge.

Satellite map of the approximately 17-mile Hillsborough River route — The satellite view reveals the immense surrounding floodplain.

All photographs by Tim Driskell, except photographs of Tim, which were taken by other paddlers in the group.