Kayak Florida’s Cypress Forest with The Paddling Center

Shingle Creek, running through Kissimmee, Florida, offers an exceptional glimpse into one of Central Florida’s last remaining stretch of old-growth cypress forests. At the heart of this green corridor, The Paddling Center at Shingle Creek specializes in guided kayak nature eco-tours that put visitors right in the middle of this remarkable freshwater ecosystem. The Cypress Forest Guided Kayak Nature Eco-Tour is more than a standard paddle—it’s an opportunity to thread silently through towering cypress knees and moss-draped branches while learning how the watershed shapes both the environment and local history.

This waterway is unique in that it serves as the northernmost source of the Florida Everglades, making it an ecological crossroads with abundant plant and animal life. Paddlers on these tours glide along calm waters beneath shading cypress trees that change with the seasons. The experience showcases native wildlife such as anhinga, great blue herons, and occasionally the elusive river otter. The guides emphasize environmental stewardship, explaining how protecting this area helps safeguard water quality for the region.

The Paddling Center’s eco-tours offer an accessible outdoor adventure that suits beginners and nature enthusiasts alike. The scenery combines the distinctive swampy feel of a southern cypress forest with subtle reminders of Kissimmee’s role in Florida’s broader conservation story. The site’s history ties back to Native American habitation and the waterway’s importance to early settlers.

For travelers seeking an intimate outdoor experience just a short drive from Orlando, this guided kayak trip delivers quiet discovery amid a rare ecosystem. It’s an active, educational way to disconnect from the theme park crowds and reconnect with Florida’s native landscape.