Little Manatee River

The Little Manatee River flows 51 miles (82 km), from east of Fort Lonesome, Florida South of Hwy 674 and Earl Reynolds Rd In Hillsborough County through southern Hillsborough County, Florida including towns such as Sun City, Florida, and Gulf City, Florida and northern Manatee County, Florida into Tampa Bay. It has a drainage basin of 222 square miles (570 km²). It flows along the Little Manatee River State Park for part of its route. Portions of the river Such as Hayes Bayou and Mills Bayou have been designated as an Outstanding Florida Water and are part of the Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve.

Kayaker on the Little Manatee River

Map of the river (highlighted in dark blue at the center)

Heading up river from the Little Manatee River State Park kayak launch

References

• Florida Online Park Guide -Little Manatee River State Park
• Lamm, Greg. 1990. Little Manatee River. in Marth, Del and Marty Marth, eds. The Rivers of Florida. Sarasota, Florida: Pineapple Press, Inc. ISBN 0-910923-70-1.
• http://www.tampabay.wateratlas.usf.edu/River/?wbodyid=54&wbodyatlas=River