Rumor has it that manatees aren’t the only gentle giants that like to enjoy the cool, clear waters of the Florida Nature Coast’s natural springs. A number of paddleboards in the Crystal River area are distinctly marked with giant footprints hinting that paddleboarding might be a favorite activity of a certain big-footed vacationer.
As an avid paddleboarder with a Bigfoot-obsessed son, I had to investigate.
I imagined a gentle, misunderstood Bigfoot letting his bushy hair down in a remote part of Florida far away from theme parks and beach traffic. Along the Florida Nature Coast, he could spend his summer vacation frolicking with manatees, diving for prized Crystal River scallops and chasing mermaids through the crystal clear waters of the area’s beautiful natural springs.
Paddleboarding the Bigfoot Way
Naturally, we started our search for Bigfoot at the Big Foot Paddle Boards shop in the heart of Crystal River. There we found impressive custom paddleboards that were big and sturdy enough for Sasquatch himself. Equipped with a seat and useful storage compartment, these functional boards seemed ideal for long paddle excursions. Intricate drawings inside the shop showed Bigfoot hauling one of the well-built boards toward the bay.
At the shop, we were welcomed by Ben, a vocal doppelgänger for actor Seth Rogen. Ben gave us some tips on navigating Kings Bay to Crystal River’s famous Three Sisters Springs nearby. He told us to keep an eye out for his brother Josh, the artisan behind Big Foot Paddle Boards and Crystal River’s own Captain Jack Sparrow. Perhaps the captain could clue us in on Bigfoot’s last-known location.
As we launched our boards at Hunter Springs Park and began to paddle toward Three Sisters Springs, we quickly spotted manatees and dolphins but no sign of Bigfoot.
Following Bigfoot’s Paddling Trail to Three Sisters Springs
It’s an easy paddle from Hunter Springs Park to Three Sisters Springs, but knowing the landmarks to look for helps in navigating Kings Bay. Once you paddle south of Pete’s Pier marina, hang left and paddle under the bridge ahead. Head straight on past a small waterfront neighborhood until you come to the entrance to Three Sisters Springs on your left.
With pylons set at the entrance to keep boats from entering, the path to the Springs seemed a bit too narrow for Bigfoot. Maybe our gentle giant wasn’t able cool off in these pristine waters after all. As we paddled to the entrance, kneeling on our boards made squeezing through the narrow opening seem a bit easier.
During the winter season, manatees congregate at the Springs to keep warm as temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico drop. When the manatees migrate here, Three Sisters Springs closes to swimmers and paddlecraft. If you go, make sure to check the Springs website for access information and plan your visit accordingly.
While we did encounter a few manatees near the Springs, the other gentle giant we sought was nowhere to be found.
Where Else Might Bigfoot Paddleboard in Florida?
Back at our launch spot at Hunter Springs Park, we found Captain Jack (paddleboard craftsman Josh) and checked out the one-of-kind pirate ship paddleboard strapped to the top of his van. We encouraged him to bring the board down to Tampa’s legendary Gasparilla Pirate Festival in January.
Perhaps the elusive paddleboarding Bigfoot will tag along for the festivities.
I’ll be on the lookout.