the singing river

SUP Lessons

Are you interested in trying out Stand Up Paddle Boarding but not sure how or where to start? Schedule a class! While Booking one of our eco-tours is a great introduction; a personal lesson will provide you with the confidence to SUP on your own! Justin will walk you thru all you need to know about SUPing. You’ll start with the basics like learning the best height for your paddle and go on to receive helpful techniques to maximize your time on the water. When your lesson is over, you will be standing up with ease and paddling like a pro!

The Mangrove Adventure

Enjoy a leisurely paddle along the Manatee River through the mangroves. Justin will guide you on a 2.5-mile adventure that is great for both beginners and intermediate paddlers. Learn about mangroves and their importance to our ecosystem and keep your eyes and ears open for dolphins, manatees, local birds, and schools of fish. This tour is a great introduction to Stand Up Paddle Boarding and a treasured way to see the river from a new height!

The Upper River Paddle Adventure

This two-hour paddle tour takes you up the river one mile (two miles round trip) and just West of the Manatee River damn. As you venture towards the damn, the river gets much more narrow with extra twists and turns to make for a challenging but fun time for a novice or experienced stand up paddler. We also make several stops along the trip to search for shark teeth!

The Nature Hike

The nature hike takes you through a tailored route of the multiple trails the Preserve offers to optimize your experience. The 2-mile round trip hike includes a panoramic view of the river, the Rye Family Cemetery and a nature-made bridge crossing the creek. Along the way you will hear about the history of the historic town of Rye and see many native Florida plants and wildlife.

The River

Once referred to as The Singing River by the Calusa and Timicuan peoples, the river was later named as the Manatee River by settlers. Located in Manatee County, Florida, this 46-mile river flows from Lake Manatee all the way to the Tampa Bay and Gulf of Mexico. The Upper Manatee River is a mixture of fresh water and salt water (also known as brackish water) and home to a variety of species and subtropical vegetation that changes with the salinity.

The Preserve

Rye Preserve's trail system leads you through four distinctive ecosystems, including sand pine scrub, xeric oak scrub, oak hammocks and the river wildlife. The most common but rare animals seen on the trails are the gopher tortoises and Florida scrub-jays. Rye Preserve is home to a piece of Manatee County's early pioneer history.