Mangrove tunnels, tidal creeks and island crossings from Sarasota to the Ten Thousand Islands.
23 locations, 10 with a beginner route.
Southwest Florida · Hillsborough County · Alafia River
A 10-mile point-to-point on the Alafia River from Alderman's Ford to Lithia Springs near Tampa, a lively run with shoals and easy rapids whose difficulty rises sharply with the water level.
Southwest Florida · Lee County · Clam Bayou
A City of Sanibel kayak launch at Bowman's Beach for paddling the Gulf coast or the more sheltered Clam Bayou, distinct from the Tarpon Bay access; hurricane-recovery work is ongoing.
Southwest Florida · Pinellas County · Caladesi Island bayside mangroves / seagrass flats
A boat-access-only Gulf Coast island paddle with a 1-mile beginner loop and a 3-mile mangrove route to historic ruins.
Southwest Florida · Pinellas County
A no-fee public boat ramp at the Clearwater Beach Recreation Center, managed by the City of Clearwater. A paved one-lane ramp with courtesy docks and restrooms; FWC lists it as open 24 hours.
Southwest Florida · Collier County · Water Turkey Bay / Wiggins Pass
A bring-your-own-boat paddle into the protected mangrove backwater of Water Turkey Bay at Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park near Naples, with an optional, more exposed extension toward Wiggins Pass.
Southwest Florida · Hillsborough County · Hillsborough River
A popular, well-maintained 4-mile stretch of the Hillsborough River from John B. Sargeant Park to Morris Bridge Park, with easy concrete-ramp access near Tampa.
Southwest Florida · Hillsborough County · Hillsborough River
A 3-mile point-to-point on the North Section of the Hillsborough River, from the canoe and kayak launch at Hillsborough River State Park downstream to Dead River Park. A shuttle or second vehicle is required.
Southwest Florida · Lee County · Tarpon Bay
A protected estuarine bay paddle from the Tarpon Bay Recreation Area on J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, where the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service allows kayaks and canoes to launch and the refuge concessionaire rents kayaks and paddleboards.
Southwest Florida · Lee County · Ding Darling estuary
Cartop kayak and canoe access into the J.N. "Ding" Darling refuge estuary from Wildlife Drive, where vessels pole, paddle or float. Bring your own boat: nobody rents equipment on the drive, which is open every day except Fridays and charges a $10 entry fee.
Southwest Florida · Lee County · Estero River
A calm, protected paddle on the brackish tidal Estero River from Koreshan State Park, with a boat ramp and an accessible kayak launch; the river reaches the more open Estero Bay about 3 miles downstream.
Southwest Florida · Hillsborough County · Little Manatee River
An easy 10-mile paddling trail on the Little Manatee River near Tampa Bay, with several access points so you can run a short 6.5-mile trip to 24th Street or the full 10 miles to Wildcat Park.
Southwest Florida · Lee County · Estero Bay
A protected 2.5-mile mangrove-estuary paddle at Lovers Key State Park from the Main Lagoon accessible kayak launch, with kayak and paddleboard rentals; Estero Bay and Gulf extensions are more open.
Southwest Florida · Lee County · Orange River
A calm freshwater-to-brackish paddle on the Orange River from Manatee Park, the county's designated launch for this stretch, with seasonal kayak rentals and seasonal manatee presence nearby.
Southwest Florida · Sarasota County · Myakka River / Upper Myakka Lake
A major Florida river paddle where water level changes the experience dramatically, from shallow dry-season portages to strong wet-season current.
Southwest Florida · Sarasota County · South Creek / tidal connection toward Gulf waters
A quiet brackish blackwater creek paddle through mangroves and palms inside a Sarasota-area state park, with an accessible launch and camping nearby.
Southwest Florida · Pasco County · Pithlachascotee River
A 6-mile point-to-point on the Pithlachascotee (Cotee) River from the ADA-accessible kayak launch at James E. Grey Preserve down to Nick's Park, with optional shorter turnarounds at Francis Avenue and Sims Park.
Southwest Florida · Manatee County · Robinson Preserve tidal creeks / Perico Bayou / Palma Sola Bay
A large Bradenton coastal preserve with more than 3 miles of internal mangrove/tidal paddling trails and an optional 5-mile roundtrip to Palma Sola Bay.
Southwest Florida · Lee County · Rock Creek
Protected Rock Creek paddling and Great Calusa Blueway access from Bunche Beach Preserve, with purpose-built paddlecraft launches, on-site rentals, and San Carlos Bay beyond.
Southwest Florida · Sarasota County · Sarasota Bay / Brushy Bayou / South Lido mangrove tunnels
A highly accessible Sarasota paddle from a dedicated non-motorized launch into Brushy Bayou and the South Lido mangrove tunnel network.
Southwest Florida · Sarasota County · Little Sarasota Bay / Turtle Beach tidal lagoon
A sheltered one-mile loop around the Jim Neville Marine Preserve in Little Sarasota Bay, from the county canoe and kayak launch at Turtle Beach Park on the south end of Siesta Key.
Southwest Florida · Manatee County · Manatee River (Upper)
A 6.5-mile downstream point-to-point on the Upper Manatee River, from the canoe and kayak launch at Rye Preserve to the Fort Hamer boat ramp. Florida DEP calls it an easy half-day.
Southwest Florida · Pinellas County · Weedon Island mangrove waterways / Tampa Bay estuary
A Tampa Bay mangrove-estuary paddle from a dedicated preserve launch, with self-guided marked routes and strong wildlife/cultural context.
Southwest Florida · Pasco County · Gulf salt marsh and tidal creeks
Calm salt-marsh, mangrove and tidal-creek paddling on the Pasco Gulf coast, with a park launch open to private kayaks and canoes and rentals on site.
