Pithlachascotee River

The Pithlachascotee River is a blackwater river in Pasco County, Florida, and is often called the Cotee River. It starts near Crews Lake and flows more than 23 miles, first south and west through Starkey Wilderness Park and then northwest through downtown New Port Richey. It enters the Gulf at Miller's Bayou near Port Richey. The river lies in the Springs Coast watershed of the Southwest Florida Water Management District. Because it connects to the Gulf, the lower river rises and falls with the tide, and development increases closer to salt water.

The lower river is a Florida designated paddling trail, about 6 miles long. The state guide lists four access points: James E. Grey Preserve, Frances Avenue Park, Sims Park and Nick's Park at the US 19 bridge. At Frances Avenue Park, boats must be carried 100 yards to the launch. Below the preserve, the river can be busy with boat traffic on weekends and holidays. Because the water is dark, submerged logs are the main hazard for paddlers. The City of New Port Richey runs the Sims Park Boat Ramp, which is free to use and takes boats of 25 to 30 feet at high tide. The city also has paddlecraft docks at Jasmine Park and Grand Boulevard Park. The City of Port Richey has a kayak launch at Port Richey Waterfront Park.

An 1851 U.S. Coast Survey chart translated the river's name as "Boat Building River." The name comes from the Creek words pithlo (canoe) and chaskita (to chop out). The 80-acre Grey Preserve is a site on the Great Florida Birding Trail, with more than 140 bird species recorded.