Tubing the Rainbow River in Florida - Alligator Sighting!

One of the best warm weather afternoons you can spend in Florida is floating the Rainbow River in Dunnellon. Crystal clear spring water, a lazy current, and just enough wildlife to keep you looking over your shoulder. Watch here!

The Rainbow River

The Rainbow River starts at Rainbow Springs, one of Florida's largest first-magnitude springs, and runs about five and a half miles down to the Withlacoochee River in Dunnellon. The water comes out of the ground at a steady 72°F (22°C) year round, so even on a scorching summer day the first thing you notice stepping in is how cold it is. It wakes you up fast.

We started at Rainbow Springs State Park, where a shuttle runs tubers upriver so you can float back down at your own pace. Depending on how much paddling and lingering you do, the trip down takes about 1.5 to 2 hours - plenty of time to soak it in without feeling rushed.

The water is famous for its clarity, and it lives up to the reputation. You can see straight down to the sand and grass beds below, with fish darting around your tube the whole way. A damselfly landed right next to us at one point, which is the kind of small detail that sums up this river - there's always something moving if you're paying attention.

Otters and an Alligator

Partway down, we spotted an otter working the bank - tough to catch on camera since they don't sit still for long, but a treat to see in the wild. Not much further along came the highlight of the float: a small alligator tucked along the shoreline, just a little guy, but enough to get everyone's attention and put a little extra paddle into the next few strokes. Between the otter, the gator, the cormorants overhead, and the fish below, it's proof that a slow float down a Florida spring run can turn into a real wildlife tour.

If you're looking for an easy, scenic way to cool off in Central Florida, Rainbow Springs State Park is hard to beat. Grab a tube, catch the shuttle upriver, and let the current do the work - just keep an eye on the banks.