Peace River
Fossil Hunt

The Peace River is a couple of hours drive time south west of Kennedy Space Center.

The water clarity of the Peace River runs from clear in the shallows to tannic dark in the deeper sections.

A small river 106 miles in length, (We did a 75 mile trip) the Peace is a fun paddle although often on this river we had to get out of the kayaks and walk though the rocky shallows. Some folks might call them "shoals" however I just call them rocks or even rapids.

Footing was very uneven in the Shoals.

Florida winter paddle on the Peace River (ten degrees above freezing)

Other paddlers in plastic boats or canoes just powered through the rocky shoals-scratches and dings be dammed.

Walking the boats through the shallows

River of fossils

Of the group of "modern explorers" with whom we were paddling with---only my wife and I had come prepared to experience the world famous Peace River fossil hunting.

We had forsaken the normal fishing poles for a short shovel and floating screens because the Peace flows through an area of Florida known as Bone Valley.

Pleistocene and Miocene reptile, bird and mammal fossils are common as well as sharks teeth and petrified sand dollars from the time when most of Florida was submerged under a shallow sea.

Stopping for the night

Homemade screen that could be rolled up and put in the hold when needed. The shovel went on the back of the kayak.

The Peace River is famous for the fossil hunting and renown for fossil hunting tours.

However I was unprepared for the shear amount of people fossil hunting in the river.

The fossil hunters ranged from curious children to whom we gave our sharks teeth and sandollars; to what appeared to be full time fossil hunters in scuba gear. 

Untold numbers of holes and pits scarred the rivers edge, sand bars and occasional islands

Crowd of kayaks

I could see there was a certain fossil hunting addiction - type of Bone fever and I suppose we we victims of the fever.

Co-workers at the space center had regaled me with stories of five gallon buckets of sharks teeth and flint arrowheads sifted from the sandy bottom. (Florida law now prohibits the collection of native American artifacts from under the water)

And indeed upon my insistence my KSC co-workers had showed me their Peace River megaldon (giant shark) teeth. -Yep I was envious.

Also the Internet is awash with personal collections of imperial mammoth teeth, llama bones, jaguar, alligator and dugong fossils. So I could understand the crowds-I just was not expecting them or the crater pits along the banks.

Pioneer Park boat ramp

Our personal finds? Lots of tiny shark teeth. Fossilized sand dollars and buckets full of fossilized bird bones-proving Florida was the bird capital of North America even in the Miocene era.

Nothing to brag about- "yet"

The Peace River alternates from deep to shallow water.

Would I do the Peace River fossil hunt again?

Oh heck yes. In fact my wife and I both take notice when the Peace River goes into flood stage- an perhaps the flood waters expose new fossils.

The fact that we would paddle a river more than once is a true compliment.

Of note there is a water fall one foot in height (really a rock ledge) that requires either portage around the ledge or the use of the rather rocky side channel around the falls.


Planning the next trip......



Return Home from the Peace River page



Do you need the perfect gift?

For pet lovers around the globe, "It's a Matter of Luck" is a collection of heart warming stories of horse rescues from the slaughterhouse. 

Available on Amazon: 



Kim ryba

It's a Matter of Luck: Inspirational, Heartfelt Stories of Horses Given a Second Chance.

by Kim Ryba & Lina T. Lindgren

Warning: This book may cause your eyes to water in a good way. (speaking from experience after reading it)

Please give Kim and Lina a heartfelt review on Amazon!



Author Bruce Ryba

Author Bruce Ryba at Kennedy Space Center Launch Pad 39B & Artemis 1. "We are going to the Moon!"

Author's discussion (that's me) on You Tube of a book review on Amazon


For the video versions of information, please check out my YouTube Channel (Turkeys, Flintknapping, dive stories etc.)


My fictional series/stories on Florida history:

Freedoms Quest (book one)
Struggle for the northern frontier and other lost tales of old Florida. 

Available on Amazon

End of Empire

Desperate times call for bold action.
In a desperate move to retain Florida and protect the treasure-laden galleons on their dangerous return journey to Europe, the King of Spain issues a royal decree offering refuge to all English slaves who escape Florida and pick up a musket to defend the coquina walls of Saint Augustine.
In another bold gamble, the King offers refuge to the dissatisfied Indian nations of the southeast who will take up arms against the English.
Clans, traumatized by war and disease, cross the Spanish Frontier to settle the cattle-rich land and burned missions of Florida.

Follow the descendants of the conquistador Louis Castillo in remote Spanish Florida, a wild and swept by diseases, hurricanes, and northern invasions.

 Book Two: Available on Amazon!