Alafia River Canoe Rentals, Inc. has served Southeastern Hillsborough County, Florida since 1976 — nearly 50 years, and the oldest, sole surviving canoe rental for the Alafia River (two competitors that once sprang up nearby have since closed). Founder and owner Sybil still operates the business beneath her own house on the banks of the river, just off Lithia Pinecrest Road, and remains the genuine epitome of customer service, happily sharing her deep knowledge of the river and area with every guest.

The business began in 1976 when Sybil’s husband went out for a single canoe to navigate periodic flood waters near their home — and came back with four. Over the following decade, that grew into a fleet peaking near 200 canoes and kayaks in the 1990s. Today, rentals run about $25 for a full day, letting guests paddle as long as they like, provided they return before sundown.

Kayaking the Alafia River brings a genuine surprise for Florida paddling: shoals, riffles, and rapids created by limestone rock outcroppings along an otherwise sandy-bottomed river — a rare-for-Florida whitewater thrill scattered across a roughly 12-mile route. The river connects to nearby Alderman’s Ford Park, home to a popular 1.9-mile paved loop trail and primitive camping.

Guest reviews are largely warm and personal, with reviewers describing friendly cats around the property and Sybil’s genuine hospitality, though at least one recent visitor found the stand unstaffed despite an “open” website status — worth calling ahead to confirm availability.

For paddlers near Valrico/Lithia, Florida looking for a genuinely historic, nearly 50-year family-run canoe rental with real Old Florida character — and a rare taste of whitewater — Alafia River Canoe Rentals offers a deeply personal operation with owner Sybil.