Cross Florida Greenway - Withlacoochee Bay Trail - 4.5 mile Canal Side Kayak Launch is a saltwater boat ramp on Withlacoochee River (west Central Florida) Barge Canal, and it earns its spot in Citrus County thanks to easy access and quick water. Boaters here tend to be a friendly, early-rising bunch — get there at first light and you'll see why. As of the last FWC inventory update, launching is free here.
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At a glance
- County
- Citrus
- City
- Crystal River
- Waterbody
- Withlacoochee River (west Central Florida) Barge Canal
- Water type
- Salt or Brackish Water
- Ramp type
- Hand Launch Only
- Dock
- No Docks
- Parking surface
- Paved - Asphalt or Concrete
- Restroom
- Composting Toilet
- Fee required
- No
- Managed by
- Florida Department of Environmental Protection
- Status
- Open for Business
- Hours
- 8:00 AM to Sundown, gates are locked at sundown
Address: 1020 North Suncoast Boulevard, Crystal River, FL, 34428 · Coordinates: 28.997258, -82.729437
Get directions on Google Maps →
Where it is
Live NEXRAD radar from Iowa State Mesonet — past ~65 minutes animated. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Ramp location from the FWC boat ramp inventory. Not for navigation.
On-water restrictions nearby
No mapped state manatee-protection or boating-safety zones were found within 500 m of this ramp in the current FWC dataset. This does not mean the area is unrestricted — posted signs and other local, state, or federal rules may still apply.
Restriction zones: For general awareness only — not for navigation or legal determination. Florida Administrative Code and posted on-water signs prevail. Other local, state, or federal restricted zones may exist that are not shown here. Source: FWC manatee protection & boating-safety GIS layers. Zone data as of .
What to know before you launch
- Rinse your trailer and engine with fresh water after launching in salt — corrosion is the enemy on Florida's coast.
- Parking and lane space can be tight on weekends; have your gear staged and your plug in before you back down.
- Always check current tides, wind, and marine forecasts before you launch — Florida afternoons can turn stormy fast.
Tides at the nearest station
The closest NOAA tide station is Cedar Key, about 21 miles away. Here are today's predicted highs and lows (referenced to MLLW):
Boater discussion
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