Paddling

Between gentle sea breezes and beautiful scenery, the Everglades have some of the best paddling in the country, with water trails through freshwater marshes, mangrove forests, and open bays. Canoe and kayak trips in and around the park range from a few hours to a few days, and while you can rent a kayak from Flamingo Marina or the Gulf Coast Visitor Center or bring your own, you can also choose to hire a guide and have your entire trip outfitted. Looking for a short and simple day excursion? Flamingo's canoe trails can be accessed directly from the Flamingo Marina, which has programs for every experience level. Nine Mile Pond is also a popular destination, offering a half day of exploration through marshes, mangroves, and gator habitats. Hells Bay, like Nine Mile Pond, is great if you want to explore the mangroves, and it's accessible from directly off the main park road. The Gulf Coast area also offers opportunities to meander through cypress forests, shallow estuaries, and wildlife habitats, and is a nice option for those looking for an intermediate-to-challenging paddle. There are also many opportunities for multi-day trips in the waters of the Everglades. You can paddle into Florida Bay, among the 10,000 Islands, or along the 99 Mile Wilderness Waterway to experience the Everglades at its fullest. While these trips require time and planning, they are certainly worth the effort. [Everglades National Park Boat Tours](http://www.evergladesnationalparkboattoursgulfcoast.com/) rents canoes and kayaks in Flamingo and Gulf Coast; rentals include 17-foot aluminum canoes and sit-in single and tandem kayaks. Life jackets, paddles and floatation cushions are provided. For information, call 239-695-2591, 866-NATPARK, or e-mail boattours@enpbt.com. For those paddling the 99-Mile Wilderness Waterway one-way from Flamingo to Gulf Coast/Everglades City, Everglades National Park Boat Tours also offers pick up/drop off service. The company also runs paddle tours of the 10,000 Islands and a Mangrove Wilderness tour.