Guided Wildlife Tours and Clear Kayak Rentals on the Silver River

Come Explore Silver Springs

Experience the Silver River as a living, wild place. Watch for manatees, rhesus macaques, alligators, turtles, river otters, fish, and native birds while exploring clear spring water in a premium crystal clear kayak.

Paddle with an experienced guide who knows where to look, what you are seeing, and the stories behind it, or reserve a clear kayak and explore at your own pace.

Explore tours and rentals Book Now

Silver River · Silver Springs, Florida

The person behind your tour

Meet Your Guide

Hi, I'm Brad.

For years, I've spent countless hours on the Silver River as a kayak guide, wildlife photographer, and educator. I've had the privilege of introducing thousands of guests to this beautiful place, and I still get excited every time I launch a kayak.

My favorite part isn't simply spotting wildlife. It's helping people notice the little things they might otherwise paddle right past. The story behind a monkey troop. The scars that help identify a manatee. The behavior of a nesting bird. Those moments often become the memories people talk about long after their trip is over.

When you paddle with Explore Silver Springs, you're experiencing the river through the eyes of someone who truly loves it.

Your booking supports conservation

A portion of every booking is donated to conservation efforts that help protect our local wildlife and the places they call home.

Brad Mullins, Silver River kayak guide and wildlife photographer — *Brad Mullins*Expert River Guide

Small Groups

No more than 10 guests means time for questions, wildlife stops, and quiet moments on the river.

Professional Wildlife Photography

I photograph the guided tour as it happens, so you can stay present and receive the images afterward.

Wildlife Focused Adventures

We watch without chasing, crowding, touching, or feeding. The wildlife always comes first.

Local Knowledge

Years on this river help me notice the movement, behavior, and small details most people paddle past.

Choose your experience

See the river your way.

Some people want the stories, the wildlife knowledge, and a guide watching the river with them. Others would rather take a map and set their own pace. Both are good ways to be out here.

Guided kayak tours

Guided Nature and Wildlife Tours

The real value of a guide is not simply having someone paddle in front. It is having someone who has spent serious time on this river, someone who knows which dark shape is a log, which ripple deserves a second look, and why the water, wildlife, and history here all connect.

Along the way, your guide will help you spot wildlife without crowding it, point out spring vents and pieces of local history, and explain the small details most people paddle past. You still get room to slow down and take it in. We also photograph the trip, so you do not have to spend the whole adventure looking through your phone.

Approximately 2 hours on the river
Daily guided tours by reservation depart at 8:45 a.m. and 12:45 p.m.
Clear kayak and safety gear included
One or two guests per kayak
Wildlife interpretation and professional photography
Up to 10 guests per tour

Guided Nature and Wildlife Tour

$70per personAges 12 and older

$45per personGuests under age 12

Bring Your Own VesselBring your own kayak or paddleboard and required equipment.

$45per person

Book Guided Tour Book BYOV Tour

Clear kayak rentals

Paddle On Your Own Terms

Call to check availability for a crystal clear kayak and explore the Silver River at your own pace. Each kayak can be set up for a solo paddler or two riders. We provide the gear and launch guidance you need before you set out.

3 Hour Rental$75 per kayakCall to Book

Full Day Rental$120 per kayakCall to Book

All rentals must be back by 5:00 p.m.

Meet the wildlife

Meet the wildlife that calls Silver Springs home.

Manatees, alligators, rhesus macaques, turtles, and native birds live along the river. What you see changes with the day, the season, and the choices those animals make.

Manatees visit the Silver River for its spring water, which remains at a constant 72 degrees, especially when surrounding waterways turn colder. Some remain throughout the year, while others arrive seasonally.

Manatees

Resident manatees and seasonal visitors

Despite the popular story connecting them to the Tarzan films, Colonel Tooey released a small group on an island about three miles downriver. Rhesus macaques are excellent swimmers, so they left the island and established the population seen in the area today.

Rhesus macaques

Wild animals best observed from a safe distance

American alligators are native to Florida and play an important role in the river ecosystem. Give them plenty of room and never feed or approach them.

American alligators

Native predators in a working ecosystem

Approximately 250 bird species have been documented in the area, from herons and anhingas to kingfishers, ospreys, and bald eagles.

Amazing birds

Approximately 250 species of birds

Several turtle species use the river for feeding, resting, and basking. Look along sunny logs and quiet shorelines without crowding them.

Turtles

A thriving ecosystem

North American river otters are fast, curious swimmers that feed on fish, crayfish, and other aquatic animals. Sightings are special but never guaranteed.

River otters

Playful native residents of the Silver River

Plan your visit

Know where to go before you arrive.

Several outfitters operate at the park. The day before your reservation and again that morning, we send a detailed map and a photo of the guide or rental contact you are meeting.

Launch location

Silver Springs Kayak Launch

5656 E. Silver Springs Blvd
Silver Springs, FL 34488

Open directions

Entry and launch fees are separate

Paid separately when you arrive

Silver Springs charges a $2 admission fee per person and a $4 launch fee for each kayak or paddleboard. The State does not allow us to collect these fees in advance, so they are not included in your booking and must be paid in person by guests on the day of the reservation.

These fees can be paid with cash, a credit or debit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay when you arrive.

Before you leave home

Read the arrival message we send you
Allow time for park entry and unloading
Look for the person shown in your message
Call us if anything does not match

Two manatees swimming through clear spring water

A cormorant spreading its wings on the water

An anhinga with young birds gathered at their nest

A Florida gar swimming above river grass

Two pileated woodpeckers at a nest cavity

Good to know

Straight answers before you book.

Need help choosing between a tour and a rental? Call (352) 973 1711.

Should I book a guided tour or a clear kayak rental?

Choose a guided tour if you want an experienced river guide to help you explore the springs, wildlife, and history along the way. Choose a rental if you prefer to paddle independently and set your own pace.

Are wildlife sightings guaranteed?

No. Silver Springs is a natural river, and every animal chooses where it goes. Your guide will help you look without chasing or crowding wildlife.

Can one person use a clear kayak alone?

Yes. Clear kayaks can be paddled solo or with two riders. Guided tours are priced per person; rentals are priced per kayak.

What is included?

Clear kayaks, clip in seats, paddles, one United States Coast Guard approved wearable life vest per rider, whistles, dry bags, and safety guidance are included. Riders under age 16 must wear their life vest for the entire tour or rental. Guided tours also include wildlife interpretation and professional trip photography.

Is park admission included?

No. The State does not allow us to collect these fees in advance. Guests pay $2 per person for admission and $4 per kayak or paddleboard at the kayak launch on the day of the reservation. Cash, credit or debit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay are accepted.

When should I arrive, and how will I find you?

Please arrive 20 to 30 minutes early. We will send a text and email the day before your reservation and again that morning with a detailed map, arrival instructions, and a photo of your guide or rental contact.

What happens if the weather is unsafe?

We follow park weather holds and will never send guests onto the river in unsafe conditions. If a hold lasts longer than two hours, you may reschedule or receive a full refund.

What is your cancellation policy?

Reservations cancelled at least 24 hours before the scheduled start time receive a full refund. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are nonrefundable, but the reservation may be rescheduled once when availability allows. Reservations made for the same day are nonrefundable but may also be rescheduled once. After a late cancellation or same day reservation has been rescheduled, it remains nonrefundable. Exceptional circumstances may be reviewed individually. If Explore Silver Springs cancels because of unsafe weather or another unforeseen condition, guests may reschedule or receive a full refund. Guests who do not arrive are not eligible for a refund or rescheduling.

Are there weight limits for the clear kayaks?

Each clear tandem kayak has a combined capacity of 425 pounds. For safety and balance, no single rider may weigh more than 250 pounds.

What should I bring?

Bring plenty of water or other nonalcoholic drinks, reef-safe sunscreen, and snacks if you would like them. Wear clothing and shoes that can get wet, and never feed or offer food to wildlife.

Can I bring a pet or service animal?

Pets are not permitted on our tours or rentals. Trained service animals are welcome when they are able to remain safely seated and under their handler's control for the entire experience. Silver Springs is home to alligators and other wild animals, so this policy helps protect the service animal, its handler, and everyone on the water. Please contact us before booking if you plan to bring a service animal so we can discuss the safest arrangements.

A different view every time

Your time on the river starts here.

We believe people protect what they love. Every tour is an opportunity to slow down, look a little closer, and leave with a deeper appreciation for the Silver River.

View guided tours View clear kayak rentals