Guided Nature and Wildlife Tours 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 that make the Silver River special.

Locally owned and independently operated. We provide guided kayak tours at Silver Springs State Park.

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★★★★★Google Reviews

Silver River · Silver Springs, Florida

Your guided experience

See more than the scenery.

Small groups, clear water, and time to take it all in.

Guided kayak tours

Explore the Silver River with a Local Guide

Spend two hours discovering the wildlife, clear springs, and stories of the Silver River. Your clear kayak, safety equipment, and professional tour photos are included.

All skill levels welcome

Whether this is your first time in a kayak or you have been paddling for years, you are welcome here. Before we launch, we help you get comfortable with your equipment and explain the basics of paddling and steering. Your guide stays with the group throughout the tour, with time for questions and help along the way.

Tour times: 9:00 a.m. & 12:30 p.m.Monday–Saturday, by reservation
Group size: Up to 10 guests per tour
Kayak seating: One or two guests per clear kayak

Adult Guided Tour

$70per person

Ages 13 and older

Kayak, safety gear, wildlife interpretation, and professional trip photography included.

Book Adult Tour

Young Explorers

Premium clear kayak included

Child Guided Tour

$45per person

Guests ages 12 and younger

The same complete guided experience at a reduced price for younger guests.

Book Child Tour

Bring Your Own Vessel

Join the guided experience

BYOV Guided Tour

$45per person

Your kayak or paddleboard

Bring your own vessel, paddle, life vest, dry bag, and required equipment.

Book BYOV Tour

From our guests

What Our Guests Are Saying

★★★★★

Some people simply have a gift for what they do, and our kayak tour guide is one of them!

Erica BrasfieldVerified Google Review

★★★★★

What really made this tour special was how attentive he was to our 8-year-old granddaughter.

Belinda WolfeVerified Google Review

★★★★★

We always have a great time with lots of laugh and education. My toddler finds him entertaining, too!

Joanna ElizabethVerified Google Review

★★★★★

Brad’s passion for nature is contagious, and he truly cares about sharing and protecting these beautiful places.

Marina Pierre-PhotographyVerified Google Review

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.

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 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 State Park charges a $2 admission fee per person and a $4 launch fee per vessel (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.

Have a question about your tour? Call 615-239-7065.

Do I need kayaking experience?

No previous kayaking experience is required. We explain how to paddle and steer, help you get comfortable before launching, and stay with the group throughout the tour. You will be paddling your kayak during the approximately two hour experience. If you have questions about physical requirements or whether the tour is right for you, please contact us before booking.

Are you part of Silver Springs State Park?

No. Explore Silver Springs is a local, private outfitter providing guided kayak tours at the park. We are not operated by or directly affiliated with Silver Springs State Park or the Florida Park Service. Park admission and launch fees are paid separately.

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. Our clear tandem kayaks can be set up for one or two tour guests within the weight limits. Guided tours are priced per person.

What is included?

Clear kayaks, clip in seats, paddles, one United States Coast Guard approved wearable life vest per rider, whistles, dry bags, safety guidance, wildlife interpretation, and professional trip photography are included.

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 vessel (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.

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. 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

Slow Down. Look Closer. Explore Silver Springs.

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.

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