The Everglades is vast. This large wetland has so many “hidden” or hard-to-get-to places or controlled areas where airboats cannot reach. With that said, after you take an airboat tour, you may want to explore the Everglade further, or just in a different way. For those of you who enjoy being active and want that up-close-and-personal experience, try out canoeing and kayaking to take in all the beautiful sites that the Everglades has to offer.
By hopping into a canoe or kayak, you can explore the National Park in freshwater marsh, mangrove forests, and in the open waters of Florida Bay. There are a variety of trails and areas for you to explore and the canoe and kayak trips all vary in time in length and complexity depending on which trail you choose.
As a visitor, you can bring your own canoe or kayak and launch them from several locations around the park. If you don’t own a canoe or kayak, you have the option to rent one (or several) from the Flamingo Marina or Gulf Coast Visitor Center in the park.
Here’s a brief overview of the canoe/kayak trails you can head out on:
Flamingo Canoe Trails – These trails are about 38 miles south of the main park entrance in Homestead. These trails go from a beginner to advanced levels. People can access these trails from the Flamingo Marine or the main park road. Trails and loops range from 1.6 to 7.7 miles. In these trails, people will go around grassy marsh, mangrove islands, narrow passageways, mangrove creeks, and more.
Nine Mile Pond Canoe Trail – This particular trail is favorited by visitors. It is off the main park road before the Flamingo district of the park. People get the chance to see alligators, wading birds, turtles, and fish on this 5-mile loop. This loop, on average, takes about 4 to 5 hours.
Hell’s Bay – If you want to really enjoy the mangroves, this trail takes you right through them. It’s a very popular trail, but also challenging. It’s accessible from the man park road south of the Homestead entrance.
Gulf Coast – These trails are accessible through Florida City. These trails can take anywhere from 4 to 9 hours to complete. Trails include: Sandfly Island Loop, Turner River Canoe Trail, and Halfway Creek and Loop Trails.
If your arms are getting tired from paddling a canoe or kayak or if you want to see the Everglades with a guide, call Captain Mitch of Captain Mitch’s Airboat Tours today. To book a reservation, call 800-368-0065 or click here.
