(Keywords: Hiking, Paddling, Boating - Florida)

Everglades City

Featuring:
Mangroves and Coastal Marsh

paddling in the florida everglades Paddling through mangrove tunnels, meandering through the marsh. While you may not get lost, you will certainly spend some time wondering where you are. Especially when you know you're way ahead of the boat behind you, yet you can hear them as if they're a few feet away. Download this GPS Map for a birds-eye perspective of the water trails.

Click on the binoculars to see a demonstration ExpertGPS displaying an aerial view of the canoe trial connecting Halfway Creek and the Turner River. mangrove_expert.jpg (Approx. 84 KB) opens in a new window.

GPS Map

Download the free GPS Map in GPS eXchange (.gpx) file format, which can be read and transferred to your GPS using free GPS software. (The .gpx file will appear in a new window where you can File > Save as... on your computer).

GPS Map Details

File Name: everglades.gpx
File Size: 277KB
Revised: 24 May 2011
Datum: WGS84
Class A1 and B1 Data

Route and Tracks

Wilderness Waterway
Rabbit Key Pass
Sandfly Pass
Indian Key Pass
"Le Mans" Backcountry Route to Picnic Key from Indian Key Pass
Halfway Creek Canoe Trail
Turner River
Concho Billy Hiking Trai
Sandfly Island Hiking Trail
Canoe Trail connecting Halfway Creek and Turner River
Guided tour from Everglades City to Huston Bay
Chokoloskee Bay route from Everglades City to Rabbit Key Pass
Pavilion Key to Huston Bay

Adventure Travel Tip

In the marsh, the bugs are downright oppressive except in Winter. Best time to go is December through February. If you can be flexible during marginal months, plan your trip after a cold front has come through. In summer, you'll go insane without a toxic slathering of DEET insect repellant. Better yet, wear a Baja Shirt* and Bug Netting*.

Adventures in Print:

For more trip options, check out the Guide to Sea Kayaking in Southern Florida by Nigel Foster* which includes details about multi-day trips on the Wilderness Waterway beyond the Lopez River.

More Info

Slow is the fastest way. In the narrow passageways, obstacles abound - above and below. Break your paddle down and stroke with half. This is no "tunnel of love" if you happen to be in tandem with someone who's not a good team player. I high recommend a short-length, sit-on-top kayak for trails like Halfway Creek.

Halfway Creek and the Turner River are excellent ways to explore the Everglades' Mangrove Ecosystem (see links below for maps to adjacent areas). These water trails are good day trips in the Everglades City area. Most paddlers put-in off Tamiami Trial (U.S. Hwy 41) and head towards the big water, although the trip can be done in either direction. You will need to arrange for parking and shuttle service. A loop trip from Everglades City can be made by connecting on a canoe trail between Turner Lake on Halfway Creek and the Left Hand Turner River.

For a full-service outfitter, I recommend North American Canoe Tours. Operated in conjunction with Ivey House Bed 'n' Breakfast in Everglades City, NACT provides kayak and canoe rentals, naturalist-guided tours, shuttle service, and private boat launch in addition to first rate accommodations. (They don't pay me a commission for this link, but if you make a reservation, please say you heard about them through the Travel by GPS web site anyway.)

This area straddles two, Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve. For more info, rules and regulations regarding these areas, see: