Florida Bay

Paddling the open waters of Florida Bay can be a great alternative to the park's narrow water trails.

Plan Around Florida Bay

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Florida Bay Details

Paddling the open waters of Florida Bay can be a great alternative to the park's narrow water trails. Crossing the bay means about 25-30 miles of paddling, and because of the tides you will almost certainly have to stop at one of the keys along the way. Camping on the keys is an awesome experience, and is highly recommended if you want to get a little bit off the beaten path and onto "island time." Paddle to any of the islands you see and set up camp for the night; just be sure to obtain a backcountry permit beforehand. If you're not camping, just paddle for a few hours, go for a swim, and return to your launch point. Paddlers can expect to see manatees, sea turtles, lobsters, fish, and stingrays, as well as a variety of birds. Don't expect to have much contact with the outside world if traveling the bay for more than a day, so plan accordingly.

Difficulty

Open

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