TOP-RATED
Rated The World’s #1 Tour Company by TripAdvisor, and the Best in the USA by USA Today! Get Up And Go Kayaking – 30A is the top-ranked activity in the area.
SMALL GROUPS
Our max group size is 10 paddlers – the perfect size to hear our guides and enjoy conversations along the way. (Larger private parties may be available upon request.)
GREAT VIEWS
Don’t let a normal kayak hinder your view! Our clear kayaks are the absolute best way to view the surroundings, and there’s plenty of opportunities to snag some Reels or videos for TikTok!
GIVING BACK
We’re passionate about the outdoors and conservation! We believe in being good stewards of the environment, which is why we donate a portion of each tour to the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation.
BEST GUIDES
Soak up the sights – and some knowledge! Learn unique facts along the paddle about the local waterways, wildlife, and more from our awesome local guides.
↠ ABOUT THE TOUR ↞
Discover the beauty of Lake Powell, the largest coastal dune lake in North America, with our clear kayak eco guided tours in Panama City Beach, Florida. Nestled along the stunning Emerald Coast in Bay County, Lake Powell is one of only a handful of rare coastal dune lakes found in the entire world, making it a truly unique natural wonder to explore.
Because Lake Powell is a living, dynamic ecosystem, every tour offers a different experience. Some days may feature stunning, clear blue water, while other days may reflect the lake’s natural tannins, sediment movement, or tidal activity. The beauty of paddling here isn’t just in the water clarity, it’s in the ever-changing wildlife, peaceful surroundings, and the unique coastal dune lake environment that makes each visit one of a kind.
Our friendly, expert guides lead small groups through marshy flats, and dune fringed shores, with a special stop at the beach where Lake Powell meets the Gulf, a rare one of a kind ecosystem, where you can swim in both fresh and salt water during your tour.
From the comfort of your completely transparent kayak, you’ll have a front-row seat to the incredible wildlife that calls Lake Powell home. Keep an eye out for coastal birds, watch fish swim beneath your kayak, and explore where the lake meets the ocean.
Perfect for families, couples, and adventurers alike, our eco tours offer a fun, safe, and unforgettable way to experience 30A’s natural beauty. Whether you’re visiting Destin, Panama City Beach, Rosemary Beach, Inlet Beach, or anywhere along Scenic Highway 30A, this is one activity you don’t want to miss!
Explore Lake Powell from a New Perspective
- Paddle in 100% transparent kayaks for a full 360° view below the surface
- Tours suited for beginners and seasoned paddlers alike
- Small group sizes of 10-12 ensure personalized attention
- Stops for swimming, photography, and quiet moments with nature
- Learn about dune lake ecology, flora, fauna, and the unique hydrology of this rare ecosystem
- Beach stop included: step onto the sandbar where the lake and ocean merge, swim in the refreshing waters, and take in stunning views of the Emerald Coast
- Wildlife sightings possible: fish, turtles, birds, crabs, and more!
Book your clear kayak tour on Lake Powell today and see why paddling through this rare coastal dune lake is one of the most unique experiences you can have in Florida.
↠ LAKE POWELL ↞
Why Visit Lake Powell in 30A?
A trip to Lake Powell is unlike any other outdoor experience in Florida. It combines the peacefulness of freshwater paddling with the unique chance to explore a habitat connected to the Gulf of Mexico. Visitors can swim, paddle, and even step onto the beach where the lake meets the ocean, a rare opportunity to experience both environments in a single place.
Lake Powell is not only beautiful, it’s also vital to the health of the entire 30A region. It has also been honored with an Outstanding Florida Waters designation, which is a prestigious, protective status awarded to water bodies with exceptional ecological, recreational, or natural value.
What “Outstanding Florida Water” Means for Lake Powell:
- Highest Protection Level: The Outstanding Florida Water designation acts as a safeguard, ensuring that Lake Powell’s existing, excellent water quality is maintained and not degraded.
- Exceptional Significance: This designation is given to waters deemed worthy of special protection because of their unique, rare, or natural attributes.
- Rare Ecosystem: Lake Powell is the largest coastal dune lake in North America, a rare, fragile ecosystem found in only a few places worldwide.
- Natural Character: As a “dark water” or “tannic” lake, its water often has a natural tea-colored appearance due to organic material, which is part of what makes it a pristine, functioning, natural, ecosystem.
- Recreational Activities: The lake is a prime location for, kayaking, paddle boarding, swimming, bird-watching, fishing, and nature studies.
- Conservation Focus: The status means that developments or activities (like docks or outfalls) must not harm the existing, high-quality, water, which is protected for its, natural value, rather than, just its, aesthetic appeal.
- Unique Characteristics: The lake connects to the Gulf of Mexico via an “outfall” channel, allowing for, a mix of, freshwater and, saltwater, which, contributes to, its unique ecosystem, and biodiversity.
Exploring it on a guided eco tour is the best way to appreciate its beauty, understand its importance, and help support its conservation.
How the Tides Affect the Clarity of Lake Powell
Lake Powell is one of Florida’s rare coastal dune lakes, meaning it has a unique connection to the Gulf. Because of this natural outfall, tides play an important role in the lake’s water clarity.
When the lake’s outfall is open and tides are actively moving, fresh Gulf water flows in and out of the system. Incoming saltwater can help flush the lake, improve circulation, and sometimes increase water clarity. During outgoing tides, water movement can stir up natural sediments near the outfall, which may create temporary cloudiness.
When the outfall is closed and tidal exchange is limited, the lake becomes calmer. These still conditions can allow sediments to settle, often resulting in clearer water in certain areas. However, wind, rainfall, seasonal changes, and water levels also influence visibility, so clarity can shift from day to day.
↠ 30A FAQ’S ↞
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- You will EXPLORE an ecosystem like no other in Florida, as you paddle on a beautiful, rare coastal dune lake, with unique views and wildlife.
- You are contributing to preserving this UNIQUE ECOSYSTEM as a portion of each tour is DONATED to the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation Non-Profit.
- Our tours allow you to ESCAPE THE CROWDS for a serene adventure in nature.
- You will LEARN about the rare dune lake ecosystem and WILDLIFE from our passionate, expert, CPR-certified guides.
- Located ALONG the 30A corridor, a perfect distance from Destin, Panama City, and Tallahassee.
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- Proper kayaking clothing (plan to get wet – swimming is allowed).
- Water – please use reusable bottles if possible.
- Hat & Sunglasses
- Towel for after the tour
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- Reservations are required for all tours.
- Our 30A tour departs from the Lake Powell Public Boat Ramp, but Parking is not on site and the address will be sent in your confirmation email after booking.
- Every tour group is small and given in our completely clear kayaks.
- Private tours may be available by request.
- Our guides are always helpful and entertaining (they love tips)!
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Our 30A tour is great for all skill levels (beginners welcome)! This paddle is simple and our guides are amazing at giving extra paddle tips to make it even simpler. We welcome all skill groups!
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Each of our kayaks are tandem (made for 2 paddlers) however, if you have an odd number of guests in your party we can easily reconfigure the kayak to accommodate solos.
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We highly recommend booking as far in advance as possible to secure your spot!
Since all sales are final, we also suggest adding Trip Protection at checkout, it gives you the flexibility to cancel/reschedule up to 12 hours before your tour, just in case plans change.
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Yes! We love having the entire family out and kids 3 or older love this tour! If you do plan on having more children than adults on the tour please give us a call at (850) 608-1763 so that we can accommodate. If you have kids younger than 3, please checkout our springs location just north at Get Up And Go Kayaking – Merritt’s Mill located in Marianna, Florida.
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Trips that are canceled by Get Up And Go Kayaking due to inclement weather, will be rescheduled or refunded.
All sales are final, however, we do offer Trip Protection for 10% of the ticket price to allow you to cancel for a full refund for any reason up until 12 hours prior to the trip time.
No-show participants will not be refunded. This includes showing up with less paddlers than the original amount booked for.
Get Up And Go Kayaking will not launch in unsafe weather conditions. Because of this, trips may need to be cancelled or rescheduled due to safety issues. If this is the case, your reservation will be refunded in full (if it has already been paid). We will not be held responsible for any reservation that you fail to keep due to any unforeseen circumstances. We also reserve the right to change or cancel any tours due to circumstances beyond our control. In this instance, Get Up And Go Kayaking can refund the tour price, not any other expenses that may have been incurred.
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At this time, dogs are not permitted on this tour. A portion of our tour route travels through an area where dogs are restricted, and we strictly follow all local environmental and wildlife protection regulations to help preserve the natural ecosystem.
However, if you’re hoping to bring your pup along, dogs are allowed at another location just north at Get Up And Go Kayaking – Merritt’s Mill in Marianna, Florida.
For Get Up And Go Kayaking – Merritt’s Mill, they welcome well-behaved dogs with a couple simple guidelines:
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Dogs must be on a leash
- The total combined weight in the kayak (guests + dog) must not exceed 425 lbs.
- Please bring a towel or blanket for your furry companion to sit on to help prevent scratches to the kayak.
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We don’t offer rentals, just our guided clear kayak tours which is the best way to explore Lake Powell.
