Kayak Florida Keys Overseas Paddling Trail

Add to My List Check Off

The Keys are unlike any other segment in that you can paddle up and back and choose paddling on the Florida Bay/Gulf of Mexico side or along the Atlantic Ocean. Distance and duration will be determined by which side is chosen but wil be around 100 miles and take 9-10 days. It starts at John Pennekamp State Park in Key Largo and ends at Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park in Key West. The Bay side is longer as the shoreline is more sinuous and there are numerous opportunities to explore a multitude of islands, especially in the Lower Keys. You can also weave in and out between the bay and ocean through several creeks and channels, taking advantage of prevailing winds and weather conditions. Many of the same campsites can be utilized since they often border channels between the main islands. All mileage estimates in this guide are for the Atlantic side of the keys; they are measured in statute miles, not nautical miles. A global positioning system (GPS) unit is highly recommended to find campsites and points of interest. For long-distance circumnavigation paddlers arriving from Everglades National Park and Florida Bay, the current point of connection to this trail is to come in from a primitive campsite at Rabbit Keys to the Indian Key Channel between Upper and Lower Matecumbe Keys. Efforts are being made to establish a primitive campsite to the south in Everglades National Park so long-distance paddlers have the option of beginning this segment in Key Largo. Paddling in the Keys is a great way to experience both tropical splendor and unique culture. The Overseas Highway is busy, powerboats abound on weekends and holidays, and some of the island towns can become congested during the peak winter tourist season, but by paddling just a short distance to lush, uninhabited islands or down winding tunnels through mangrove forests, it is easy to taste wildness and to experience solitude. Paddlers can enjoy viewing a rich diversity of marine life, ranging from manatees and sea turtles to lobsters, fish and stingrays. An array of bird life can also be spotted, from migrating hawks to magnificent frigate birds to brightly-colored warblers. Conversely, civilization in the form of great restaurants, lodging, and evening entertainment is often within easy reach of the water. Thus, the best of both worlds can be experienced! History, too, is a strong part of the keys experience. Visual reminders of Henry Flagler’s overseas railroad of the early 1900s can be seen in the arching concrete columns of several old bridges, including the original Seven Mile Bridge between Knight’s Key and Ohio Key. Remnant railroad depots still exist, and the Flagler Station Over-Sea Railway Historeum can be visited at the Key West Seaport. The Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 destroyed much of the railroad. Historic sites such as Indian Key Historic State Park and Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park can be visited from the water. Shipwrecks can sometimes be spotted in the gin-clear waters, testament as to how treacherous the Keys’ waters were for navigation. Salvaging shipwrecks, known as wrecking, was once the main industry in the Keys. Because the Keys are a popular winter destination for tourists and snowbirds, advanced reservations for desired motels and public or private campsites are highly recommended. Source

Write a Review

No Ratings Yet

Flag as inappropriate ›