Kayaking Rainbow Springs is one of the best activities you can do in Florida that combines a fun workout with scenic views.

When you think of Florida you may think of the powdery white sand beaches and turquoise waters that are abundant in places like Panama City, Pensacola, or Key West.

However, Florida is home to several freshwater springs whose crystal clear waters are sure to leave you in awe.

One of the many springs in the state, Rainbow Springs, offers visitors a unique experience to paddleboard, kayak, swim, dive, or snorkel to take in the beautiful tropical environment. 

Rainbow Springs is a state park located in central Florida closest to the town of Dunnellon. 

Just a short drive from Rainbow Springs you’ll find KP Hole State Park.

These two parks are very similar. They both have kayak/ paddleboard rentals available, swimming areas, and a few hiking trails. 

Rainbow Springs State Park boundaries begin at the springhead and includes most of the Rainbow River before reaching KP Hole State Park. So both parks share the same river but the spring is only part of Rainbow Springs State Park.

When visiting Florida last month, my partner and I took a kayaking trip on Rainbow River beginning at KP Hole, upriver to the spring, and back down.

It’s been one of my favorite float trips we’ve done so far so I wanted to make a guide so you can try it out too!

Starting the Kayaking Trip at KP Hole State Park

As you begin your kayak trip, you will start at KP Hole State Park and paddle upriver to Rainbow Springs State Park.

State Park & Rental Fees

Admission into the park is $7 per person and is charged at the window of the park’s office. 

If you have your own paddleboard or kayak that’s great, you won’t have to rent one onsite and you’re able to easily launch your own at the park. 

Since we flew into Orlando, we needed to rent kayaks. Rental prices for upriver trips at KP Hole run at the following:

• Single kayak: $10 per hour
• Double kayak: $12 per hour
• Canoe: $10 per hour
• Paddleboard: $12 per hour

Do note that those rates are only for upriver paddle trips going up to Rainbow Springs which is what this guide is meant for. If you want to go downriver the rates will be a little more expensive and you can read more about that here.

The nice thing about kayaking up the river and back down, is that you don’t need to pay for a shuttle service.

Unlike other state parks in Florida, kayak and paddleboard rentals are available year-round at KP Hole.

What to Expect Kayaking Up Rainbow River From KP Hole

Rainbow River is very slow moving, so it isn’t too difficult to paddle upriver. It will be a good challenge and workout, but it is doable for the average person. 

If you are stationary for too long you could start to float backwards, but if you continuously paddle at a decent pace you will be fine. 

I also want to mention that my partner and I rented a double kayak so it was a lot easier to paddle upriver since we had both of us paddling.

If you are going to do this trip with a friend or someone else I highly recommend a double kayak if it’s your first time. It’ll be cheaper and easier.

How Long Does it Take to Kayak to Rainbow Spring?

We had to stop for a few brief breaks, but we were pretty much paddling the whole time (even if it was very slow!) and it took us a little under an hour to get to the spring.

From the launch site at KP Hole State Park to Rainbow Spring it’s a 1.5 mile trip one way.

Visiting Rainbow Springs State Park

As you paddle closer to the spring, there will be signs in the water that say ‘if you dock your kayak and want to get out and explore Rainbow Springs State Park, you will have to pay the park’s admission’.

However, none of the workers hassled or asked us to pay. We confirmed with them if we could dock our kayak and walk around and they said that was perfectly fine. So, you can essentially get two state parks for the price of one.

The dock is a little ways downriver from the swimming area. You are easily able to attach your kayak to the dock so it doesn’t float away.

Just a short walk from the dock you will find the swimming area and hiking trails.

Swim & Snorkel in Rainbow Spring

The spring waters are the clearest and bluest water you’ll see on your entire paddle trip. It is absolutely gorgeous. 

There is a large area marked off with buoys as a swimming area open to visitors. Seen below.

This is the perfect opportunity to snorkel and take in the underwater beauty. 

You probably won’t find too many fish. You can see them from a distance outside the swimming area boundaries, but I only saw one or two swimming along the ground away from us humans.

There’s really not a whole lot to see underwater, but it’s just fun to swim in such beautiful place.

Hike the Waterfall Trails

As we were paddling up to Rainbow Spring, I was pleasantly surprised to see and hear waterfalls along the river.

From the dock, you can take a right and walk past the swimming area and restrooms to find the trails that lead you to the waterfalls.

All these trails are paved and short in distance. You can see all the waterfalls within a mile walk. 

These waterfalls are not natural, but man made. However, they are still relaxing and beautiful to see! 

Floating Back to KP Hole

As you have already assumed, the trip back downriver to KP Hole is significantly easier and goes by a lot quicker. You don’t even have to paddle at all to advance yourself. The river will carry you all the way back.

But again it is a slow moving river, so we ended up lightly paddling to get us moving a little quicker.

Going back was so nice after all the work we put in paddling up. 

I love this kayak trip so much because you save the easy part for last! Starting at KP Hole is the way to go.

There are also a few little coves we explored on the way back which are neat. The one seen below went on for quite awhile.

From the spring, back to KP Hole it took us about 30 minutes.

In total this kayaking trip is 3 miles and takes roughly 2.5 hours including exploring and swimming at Rainbow Springs.

Best Time to Visit Rainbow Springs

I would recommend visiting during a warm season like spring or summer because getting in the water feels a lot better when it’s warm out! 

But, you will find fewer people here during the winter so if you’re not looking to swim (or you have a wetsuit) and want a more quiet experience this could be a good option for you. 

You’re also going to want to visit the park on a sunny day to get the full experience to see that beautiful teal water. Of course you can’t always plan according to the weather, but it is definitely worth it to wait and paddle on a sunny day.

As you probably have already noticed, we didn’t get very lucky with the weather and this was our only day to do this kayak trip. However, swimming underwater was at least still really beautiful.

I would also recommend that you visit on a weekday if possible because this place will definitely get crowded on the weekends. 

What to Bring Kayaking at Rainbow Springs

• Dry bag to store phones
• Water bottle
• Hat
• Snorkeling gear
• Lifejacket or some kind of flotation device if you need it for swimming
• Wear shoes that you don’t mind getting wet/ can swim in. I always love my Tevas
• I would recommend wearing a swimsuit and bringing a T-shirt or water-wicking shirt to wear over it
• Remember to throw on some sunscreen before heading out

Conclusion

Paddling from KP Hole to Rainbow Springs is an amazing kayaking trip and something you should definitely consider doing when you’re in central Florida.

These gorgeous freshwater springs can often get overlooked as an outdoor destination in the state. 

This route is perfect for beginners and more experienced paddlers alike. I think it would make a great place for someone to try out kayaking for the first time. It’s a good challenge, but not impossible.

I think all the things you can do and see at Rainbow Springs makes this park the best kayaking in Florida you can find.

I hope you got some valuable insight from this post and enjoy your visit to Rainbow River in Dunnellon as much as I did! Thank you for reading!