| All Rights Reserved. Copyright Constance Mier, 2007-10 |
Thanksgiving 2009: Two nights on Watsons Place and one night on
Rabbit Key
A photo tour of our Mormon Key loop trip, from the backcountry to
the gulf, March 2009
A surreal overnight trip to Picnic Key, February 2009
Bringing in 2009 with our 9-day canoe expedition through the
Everglades backcountry
Selling the Kayak and preparing for a 9-day canoe expedition, Nov
2008.
Fisheating Creek, March 2008
New years eve 2007: Flamingo to Everglades City
Thanksgiving, 2007; Picnic & Rabbit Keys
The Lostmans River New Years Eve Trip, 2006
To Hells Bay and Back, Jan, 2007
Rabbit Key
A photo tour of our Mormon Key loop trip, from the backcountry to
the gulf, March 2009
A surreal overnight trip to Picnic Key, February 2009
Bringing in 2009 with our 9-day canoe expedition through the
Everglades backcountry
Selling the Kayak and preparing for a 9-day canoe expedition, Nov
2008.
Fisheating Creek, March 2008
New years eve 2007: Flamingo to Everglades City
Thanksgiving, 2007; Picnic & Rabbit Keys
The Lostmans River New Years Eve Trip, 2006
To Hells Bay and Back, Jan, 2007
Some recommended routes for kayakers or canoeists
Generally, these paddling trips are no more than 16 miles per day
(average about 10 miles for multi-day trips). Basically, we like to
take our time photographing and fishing on the shorter trips (6-8
miles). These are not recommended trips for someone who wants
to cover great distances in one day. Rather, these are great trips
for those who are novice or intermediate kayakers or canoeists, or
new to the Everglades and not wanting to push their limit.
All the trips described here are within the 10,000 Island area, north
of Lostmans River and are loop trips beginning and ending at the
same point. These are trips that I have taken and are most
familiar. Mileage is provided (the mileage is an approximation and
can vary by route).
Once you become familiar with the routes, you can devise an
endless combination of loop routes for multi-day trips. Always take
the tides into consideration when planning a trip.
Overnighters (1 night, 2 days):
Two nights, 3 days:
Three nights, 4 days:
Five nights, 6 days:
Generally, these paddling trips are no more than 16 miles per day
(average about 10 miles for multi-day trips). Basically, we like to
take our time photographing and fishing on the shorter trips (6-8
miles). These are not recommended trips for someone who wants
to cover great distances in one day. Rather, these are great trips
for those who are novice or intermediate kayakers or canoeists, or
new to the Everglades and not wanting to push their limit.
All the trips described here are within the 10,000 Island area, north
of Lostmans River and are loop trips beginning and ending at the
same point. These are trips that I have taken and are most
familiar. Mileage is provided (the mileage is an approximation and
can vary by route).
Once you become familiar with the routes, you can devise an
endless combination of loop routes for multi-day trips. Always take
the tides into consideration when planning a trip.
Overnighters (1 night, 2 days):
- Everglades City to Picnic or Tiger Key, 15 miles round trip
- Chokoloskee Island to Lopez River via Turner River & Cross
Bays, 12-14 miles round trip - Chokoloskee Island to Sunday Bay, 14 miles round trip
- Everglades City to Camp Lulu, 17 miles round trip
Two nights, 3 days:
- Everglades City (or Chokoloskee Island) to Picnic Key to
Rabbit Key; 7 or 10 miles, 8 miles, 5 miles
Three nights, 4 days:
- Chokoloskee Island to Watsons Place to Turkey Key, to
Pavilion Key; 16 miles, 6 miles, 8 miles, 7 miles - Chokoloskee Island to Lopez River, Watsons Place, Pavilion
Key; 8 miles, 11 miles, 7 miles, 7 miles
Five nights, 6 days:
- Chokoloskee Island to Watsons Place, to Lostmans Five, to
Willy Willy, to Hog Key, to Pavilion Key (73 miles roundtrip) - Chokoloskee Island to Mormon Key, to Hog Key, to Lostmans
Five, to Watsons Place, to Lopez River (61 miles roundtrip)
Three essential things that go into your preparation for a kayak or canoe trip
through the Everglades:
1. Buy a marine chart of the area! Go to the website:
waterproofcharts.com
Purchase chart #41 for the 10,000 Islands that includes Everglades City and
Chokoloskee. It includes the area north of Lostmans River. Every recommended
route I describe on my website are included on #41. The exception is the trip that
includes the campsite Willy Willy, which can be routed from map #39.
Chart #39 includes Flamingo and the cape, Hells Bay area, Whitewater Bay and
north to Lostmans River.
2. Check the tides. Go to saltwatertides.com, which includes the Florida gulf coast
tides. In order to make sense of these, you need your map. For instance, if you're
planning a trip to Pavilion Key and you are leaving from Everglades City, get your
tide readings for both days of paddling and for both Everglades City and Pavilion
Key. Be flexible and adjust your paddling schedule to give you a tide advantage
whenever possible.
3. Purchase Johnny Molloy's book: A Paddler's Guide to the Everglades National
Park, and read it. The latest edition is out and includes some recent changes in the
park.
through the Everglades:
1. Buy a marine chart of the area! Go to the website:
waterproofcharts.com
Purchase chart #41 for the 10,000 Islands that includes Everglades City and
Chokoloskee. It includes the area north of Lostmans River. Every recommended
route I describe on my website are included on #41. The exception is the trip that
includes the campsite Willy Willy, which can be routed from map #39.
Chart #39 includes Flamingo and the cape, Hells Bay area, Whitewater Bay and
north to Lostmans River.
2. Check the tides. Go to saltwatertides.com, which includes the Florida gulf coast
tides. In order to make sense of these, you need your map. For instance, if you're
planning a trip to Pavilion Key and you are leaving from Everglades City, get your
tide readings for both days of paddling and for both Everglades City and Pavilion
Key. Be flexible and adjust your paddling schedule to give you a tide advantage
whenever possible.
3. Purchase Johnny Molloy's book: A Paddler's Guide to the Everglades National
Park, and read it. The latest edition is out and includes some recent changes in the
park.
When paddling in the Everglades, be mindful of the following:
The tide schedule Alligators
Oyster beds Bugs
Mud flats Racoons
Summer afternoon storms Rats on Pavilion Key
Lack of fresh water The weather
forecast
Have a question or information you would like to share? Email me:
constance@cmierphotoandfitness.net
constance@cmierphotoandfitness.net
If you are interested in joining a hiking or paddling group in the south Florida area,
check out Palm Beach Pack and Paddle Club and The Florida Trail Association. I
belong to both. The Florida Trail Association has many chapters, choose the one
specific to your area. I belong to the Broward County (Happy Hoofers) chapter, for
which I lead and co-lead paddling and hiking trips in the Everglades and Big
Cypress.
check out Palm Beach Pack and Paddle Club and The Florida Trail Association. I
belong to both. The Florida Trail Association has many chapters, choose the one
specific to your area. I belong to the Broward County (Happy Hoofers) chapter, for
which I lead and co-lead paddling and hiking trips in the Everglades and Big
Cypress.
A few photos from our 2008-2009 camping season
(click on thumbnail to see larger view).
(click on thumbnail to see larger view).
Paddling and Camping in the
Everglades
Everglades
You can check out my blog for information on camping and paddling in the
Everglades including the preparation that goes into a multi-day paddle trip.
Also visit my paddling partner Vivian's blog for more stories and photos. Especially
interesting to those who like to fish the Everglades.
Everglades including the preparation that goes into a multi-day paddle trip.
Also visit my paddling partner Vivian's blog for more stories and photos. Especially
interesting to those who like to fish the Everglades.
Read the latest trip story about our 9-day circumnavigation of
Whitewater Bay
Whitewater Bay
| "You won't get to where you want to go if you only travel on sunny days". Anonymous |
Stories and Diaries about Exploring the
Everglades
Everglades
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