Riverbend Outfitters

Three bayous are run and each is described differently. Big Cypress Bayou is the cypress-lined corridor, its bald cypress hung with Spanish moss; Little Cypress Bayou is offered as the quieter and more intimate paddle through dense cypress forest; and Black Cypress Bayou is the dark, tannin-stained water that the outfitter says gives the bayou its name. Single kayaks, double kayaks and canoes are used, with a pontoon boat kept for the wildlife tour on Lake O’ the Pines. A full day in a single kayak is priced at sixty dollars and a canoe or double kayak at eighty. Every rental comes with the boat, a paddle, a personal flotation device and a dry bag, and guided trips add a local guide with route planning and a safety briefing. Shuttle service is available.