Wilderness Equipment

Secret Kayak Location – Florida Everglades Kayaking

Unique and wild. That is one way to sum up the 10,000 Island Wilderness in Florida’s Everglade National Park. This tropical location is one of the greatest US destinations for paddling! Aptly named, the Ten Thousand Islands and the mangrove estuaries by which they are composed are known for their plentiful wildlife to include manatees, dolphins, otters, birds, and sharks to name just a few. The small towns you may encounter during your travels contain tropical plants found no where else in the US. Rare tropical trees such as Plumeria, Heaven Lotus and others can be found here.

Don’t expect to go to this area and find thousands of islands awaiting your enjoyment. There are hundreds of them, but not thousands. Most of these are not suitable for camping or hanging out. Though most are not considered islands, just mangroves growing up out of the water, some are very nice. So Despite the name, there are nowhere near ten thousand islands in this region-just a few hundred.

If you don’t have good navigational skills, make sure to bring someone along who does. Do to the many creeks, channels, and bays in this area, it is very easy to lose your way. Caution and planing is needed. You will need at least a waterproof marine chart based on NOAA charts. You will need a good chart that is waterproof. The regular paper charts tend to fall apart when they get wet. Also, you’ll need a reliable compass. You will be in a good position if you can take a GPS tracking device so you are more likely to get back on track if you get lost. Please be sure you know how to use these valuable tools in a pinch.

Do you enjoy fishing about as much as Florida everglades kayaking? If so, head off to Chokoloskee Island for a relaxing day trip of fishing and kayaking together. Kayaking and fishing are top activities on this quaint and quiet island. The variety of fish species available here is vast and includes Redfish, Snook, Tarpon, Sea Trout, Catfish, and many more. Along with that selection is a wide selection of opportunities for kayaking and canoeing. You can even take trips on the water that last more than one day.

This is not Disneyland. This is true wilderness and there are precautions that a kayaker needs to be aware of. The powerful sub-tropical sun can cause severe sunburn. Be sure to take sunscreen and have protective clothing (hat, long pants, and long-sleeved shirt) available when you need it. Since all the water in the area is saltwater, all you will have access to is what you bring with you. Everyone coming on your trip will need to bring a gallon of water per day spent in the area. Protect your water supplies from the raccoons. They will chew a hole through a plastic water container to get at the freshwater inside.

Other than winter months, sand flies and mosquitoes can be just as big of pests as the raccoons. Take lots of insect repellent. Be sure your mosquito netting bars the tiny sand flies as well as mosquitoes. Our trip in late May was comfortable but I think we were lucky as the bugs were not in full force just yet.

The Ten Thousand Islands present many opportunities to explore some of the wildest areas Florida has to offer. Be sure you’re in good physical shape for what could be a challenging canoe/kayak trip (depending on winds and tides), and know your wilderness navigation. You will be roughing it in some of the more natural and remote areas of the state. This is a great place to visit just be sure to have all your ducks in a row and do your homework. The solitude and beauty of the coastal Everglades awaits you. Start planning now!
Algonquin Outfitters – Wilderness Canoe Trips