

# Event Details

- **Event Name**: 28th Annual Florida Training Camp- Unofficial
- **Event Start and End Date**: Sat, 07 Mar, 2026 at 12:00 pm – Sat, 14 Mar, 2026 at 12:00 pm
- **Event Description**: Main Camp- March 7-14 Manatee Springs State Park

Updated 7/3/2025

Tentative Schedule 2026

3/7 Saturday- Paddle from camp as you arrive
3/8 Sunday- Paddle 3 hours upstream from camp, then paddle back to camp
3/9 Monday- Paddle downstream from Branford to Manatee Springs State Park
3/11 Tuesday- Rainbow River/Florida Withalacoochee Women's Day
3/12 Wednesday- Santa Fe/Itchetucknee
3/13 Thursday- Silver Springs
3/14 Friday- Paddle from camp up 2 hours
3/15 Saturday- Intervals from Manatee Springs State Park




Suwannee River State Park is open, but we are having a hard time finding open sites.  We do want to go back there when it becomes available again.

So we are moving (for 2026)!

Where: Manatee Springs State Park 11650 NW 115th St, Chiefland, FL 32626

This is approximately 1 hour further south and still on the Suwannee River with access from the campground.  It will be wider/deeper in this area, but when we looked at all of the options it seems like it will be the best alternative for our group.

CAMPING: At time of posting, the Manatee Springs State Park has several sites available for the whole week ( March 7-14) and several others available for parts of the week.  We plan to stay on the Hickory Loop which is smaller and most of the sites are still available.  The sites look large, there are showers and electric.  

CANOEING: We can launch right from the park and paddle up or down several miles.  We are 1 hour from the Rainbow and Florida Withlacoochee.  We are 1 hour from the Ichetucknee, and closer to the Santa Fe. We are 1 hour 10 minutes from the Silver.  As we research the area more we will develop a plan for the layout of the days.

BIKING/RUNNING: There are 8.5 miles of nature trails in park itself, and they link to 32 miles of coastal bike trails.  
See you all in 2026!











CAMP IS MOVING FOR 2026 to Manatee Springs State Park- the information below is reference for future camps so I don't lose it.


Everything is tentative until the afternoon before- check the information regularly, as I will update it here.

Saturday- on your own
Sunday - Meet at Gibson Park, paddle up 3 hours and back (5-6 hours total)
Monday - White Springs to Suwannee River State Park  (5-6 hours)
Tuesday- Women's/Men's Paddle Deese-Howard Boat Launch ( 3 1/2 hours)
Wednesday- Gibson Park Canoe Race  (1 1/2 hours race time), Alternate Trip to Silver Springs
Thursday- Santa Fe Day (4 1/2 hours)
Friday- Withlacoochee Day (3 1 /2-4 hours)
Saturday- Intervals, location TBD

Saturday- from Camp as you arrive
Sunday- 9 AM from Camp 3 hours upstream on the Suwanee (5-6 hours total)
Monday- Caravan 8 AM White Springs to Suwanee River State Park (5-6 hours)
Tuesday- Caravan 9 AM Women's (&amp; Men's Day) from Deese Howard Boat Launch (3 1/2 hours)
Wednesday- 10 AM Riverman Invitational Gibson Park (1 1/2 hrs) and picnic, then paddle down to camp. Alternate day Silver River (2-4 hours)
Thursday- Caravan 8 AM Santa Fe River (4 1/2 hours)
Friday-  9 AM Route TBD (3 1/2 hours)
Saturday- 8 AM from Camp Sprints on the Suwanee (1 1/2 hours) 

All canoes and kayaks welcome. The more the merrier!

This camp is unofficial- that means that each day you do what you are comfortable with, the schedule is what the Barton/Davis clan has planned for the day.  All activities are at your own risk.

A great way to kick off the new training season and see some friends. 

Suwannee River State Park is a wonderful base camp with the Suwannee, Withalacoochee, and Alapaha Rivers all within an hour's paddle from the boat launch.  There are beautiful hiking/walking trails perfect for running or biking in the park.  Laundry and showers are available on site, plus electric and water.  

FAQs:

Camping/Lodging:

Make reservations to stay at the park as soon as possible, as it fills up quick! Reservations can be made at Suwannee River State Park 11 months in advance. 

If you don't get a reservation at the Suwannee River State Park:

1. You can book different sites for different days of the week. This may require you to move once or twice, but you will be able to stay in the park.

2. Ask around and see if someone has extra room, or a site they are not using. 

3. Stay at Gibson Park Campground. Gibson Park sometimes fills up as well if you wait too long.

4. Spirit of the Suwannee Campground- this campground has a big musical theme, so there are a lot of folk artists and musical performances here.

5. Rent a cabin/Airbnb or hotel in the Live Oak area.

Do I need to bring a partner?:

No!  People pair up and switch partners all week, so finding someone else looking for a partner is pretty common.  However, it does help if you bring a "seat" per person in your party (C1/C2/Kayak, etc) so that you have a boat to paddle either alone, or with a partner that you find.  

What time do we start/ where do I go?:

Typically, we leave the Suwannee River State Park at either 8 or 9 AM.  Some days that is putting in; on driving days that is when we line up to caravan.  We put in ON TIME, so slower teams make sure to be ready to put in, because the faster teams won't wait past the designated put in time.  

Each night the plan is posted for the next day's activities on this Facebook page, usually with a location or directions for your GPS if you choose to meet us at the put-in spot

If the day's paddle seems a little long, or not what you had in mind, there is an alternate group most days that either stays at Suwannee River State Park, or goes shorter. 

Are there other activities?:
YES! We have 
-Morning runs
-Afternoon runs
-Yoga on the lawn
-Beer Paddles 
-Fireside Chats


Typical Paddles include:

- 3 hours upstream on the Suwannee/Alapaha (5 1/2 hours total)
- Downstream White Springs to Suwannee River State Park (6 hours)
- Santa Fe River Loop (5 hours)
- Silver River Loop (2-3 hours)
- Withalocoochee downstream (3 1/2 hours)
- 2 hours upstream from Deese-Howard Boat Launch (3 1/2 hours)- Women's Day!
- Sprint Intervals the last Saturday before we head out of town
- **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/chiefland/28th-annual-florida-training-camp-unofficial/200029748514321
- **Event Categories**: trips-adventures, sports, workshops, trekking, camping, live-music, health-wellness, international-womens-day, parties, art, entertainment
- **Interested Audience**: 
  - total_interested_count: 41

## Ticket Details

- **Ticket URL**: http://facebook.com/200029748514321?utm_source=AllEvents.in&utm_medium=event-discovery-platform&utm_campaign=chiefland-events

## Event venue details

- **city**: Chiefland
- **state**: FL
- **country**: United States
- **location**: Manatee Springs State Park
- **lat**: 29.4904
- **long**: -82.9771
- **full address**: Manatee Springs State Park, Chiefland,FL,United States

## Event gallery

- **Alt text**: banner
  - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events3/banners/d72e478f15d50ff9a1c5c2e17bcb8fd7a57aa4d6d586b191dbb51e7de81ef426-rimg-w960-h720-dc1a1a1a-gmir?v=1772909930
- **Alt text**: thumbnail
  - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events3/banners/d983eb08c96c9362a0075eed02626405750ee60df0c78815f72b6d507773e37b-rimg-w300-h300-dc1a1a18-gmir?v=1772909931

## FAQs

- **Q**: When is the event happening?
  - **A:** Sat, 07 Mar, 2026 at 12:00 pm
- **Q**: Where is the event happening?
  - **A:** Manatee Springs State Park, Chiefland,FL,United States
- **Q**: What type of event is this?
  - **A:** trips-adventures, sports, workshops, trekking, camping, live-music, health-wellness, international-womens-day, parties, art, entertainment
- **Q**: Where can I find ticket details about 28th Annual Florida Training Camp- Unofficial ?
  - **A:** You can find ticket details about this event on AllEvents.

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