DUNNELLON — With the summer now over, the number of people flocking to the Rainbow River is expected to decline.
The river is about 6 miles long, with roughly half of the water located within the Dunnellon city limits. Usually, the number of people on the river begins to increase April 1 and then wind down after Sept. 30. Depending on the current, it usually takes about four hours by tube to cover the river, officials said.
The river has several entry points. One is at KP Hole, which is operated by Marion County government. Another is at Rainbow State Park, which is controlled by the state. Officials said there are no public entry points to the river within the Dunnellon city limits.
Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Dunnellon Police Department officers patrol the river. While going up and down the vast river, officials said they’ve seen their fair share of violators. They hope visitors for the remainder of 2024 and into 2025 will obey the rules and regulations when traveling on the river.