Kayaking in the Florida Keys?

[Jnich77]

Anybody have any favorite spots int he Florida Keys thew could be so kind as to recommended? I am going in September for a week, and dragging my Kayaks down with me. I have paddled around the trails at John Pennekamp State Park, but that's all the Kayaking I have done down there.

I woudl really love to find a place where I could Kayak out too and then go snorkeling.

Any tips, advice, or locations woudl be of great help...thanks :-)

[Jis4Jeep]

Destin Florida is big Kayak fishing location with snorkeling. It really nice out there, wish I could go have fun!

[AFSOC]

I have Kayaked the mangroves around Key West it was nice. I haven't done it (yet) but some of the more sparsely populated lower Keys look like they present excellent yak opportunities. If you fish, you could settle over the reef or even hit the flats to cast in the direction of surfacing fish.

[FAW3]

Our family loves the northern keys...if you take a look at Google Earth or Bing you can study the area and get a good idea of some areas that offer nice paddling and close road access/parking.

Since you mentioned doing some of the Pennekamp Park mangrove trails...you already have a concept of the general environment of the mangrove areas which abound. Typically 4-20' wide channels with good kayak passage.

Coming in from the north, as you near KL there are several areas you can just pull off the road and park and have direct water access to the protected waters "gulf side". Some are mangrove areas and some are more open water with small islands easily paddled to. In KL itself Pennekamp, Key Largo Kampground (mangrove type water trails), and Calusa Campground (open bay water) offer easy water access and camping. There is a "cut" that you can go through to hit both sides of the key running from Largo Sound to the Gulf side - easy if tide going your way.

If your in to a treat...try the Fish House Restaurant on left heading south about MM102, near Pennekamp.

Going further south from KL you will see repeated areas along RT1 where parking is permitted and great open water or mangrove areas are easily reached. No fees, can use all day...but no overnighting.

If you can, try getting a reservation at Bahia Honda state park...stunning.

Suggestions: 1: Once outside a park trail system with signs...you better carry a GPS and perhaps some survey tape (that you put up and take down as you go/come). Getting confused as to your location is not fun. 2: Buy a wide brimmed hat and a separate bug net for your head (just saw these at wallyworld by Coleman for $2.00). 3: carry snorkeling gear. 4: carry more drinking water than you think you need. 5: the coral rocky terrain is very rough on shoes...I save my nice water/kayak shoes and just wear old tennis shoes when down there.

We went down last month and had a ball in our RV and kayak. Have a blast!

[Jnich77]

Our family loves the northern keys...if you take a look at Google Earth or Bing you can study the area and get a good idea of some areas that offer nice paddling and close road access/parking.

Since you mentioned doing some of the Pennekamp Park mangrove trails...you already have a concept of the general environment of the mangrove areas which abound. Typically 4-20' wide channels with good kayak passage.

Coming in from the north, as you near KL there are several areas you can just pull off the road and park and have direct water access to the protected waters "gulf side". Some are mangrove areas and some are more open water with small islands easily paddled to. In KL itself Pennekamp, Key Largo Kampground (mangrove type water trails), and Calusa Campground (open bay water) offer easy water access and camping. There is a "cut" that you can go through to hit both sides of the key running from Largo Sound to the Gulf side - easy if tide going your way.

If your in to a treat...try the Fish House Restaurant on left heading south about MM102, near Pennekamp.

Going further south from KL you will see repeated areas along RT1 where parking is permitted and great open water or mangrove areas are easily reached. No fees, can use all day...but no overnighting.

If you can, try getting a reservation at Bahia Honda state park...stunning.

Suggestions: 1: Once outside a park trail system with signs...you better carry a GPS and perhaps some survey tape (that you put up and take down as you go/come). Getting confused as to your location is not fun. 2: Buy a wide brimmed hat and a separate bug net for your head (just saw these at wallyworld by Coleman for $2.00). 3: carry snorkeling gear. 4: carry more drinking water than you think you need. 5: the coral rocky terrain is very rough on shoes...I save my nice water/kayak shoes and just wear old tennis shoes when down there.

We went down last month and had a ball in our RV and kayak. Have a blast!


I already have two camp sites at Long Key State Park, I tried for Bahia Honda but by the time the army decided to tell my my lave dates, the park was full.


Thanks for the tips, I had forgotten all about the pull off on RT1.

[Nullifier]

Contact Florida Bay outfitters. There is also a decent book on paddling the keys that tells you how to get alot of great reefs and sunken boats.

[Jnich77]

Contact Florida Bay outfitters. There is also a decent book on paddling the keys that tells you how to get alot of great reefs and sunken boats.

Ahhh thanks, I am digging through there website right now. I wish I had the routs they use for the kayak snorkeling trip...lol

[Jnich77]

Ahhh, just ordered a book on kayaking the Florida Keys, and a book on snorkeling down there too...amazon makes it to easy to spend money

[jh504]

How did your trip go? I wish I had seen it before. We kayaked for two days in the Keys this past May. The waters around Duck Key were very nice with a few private islands to chill out on. We also hit Long Key State Park.

[Jnich77]

It was great, I actually camped at Long key for the entire week, it was awesome!!! I didn't really get to kayak much, too many severe thunderstorms, but I still had a blast!!

[jh504]

It was great, I actually camped at Long key for the entire week, it was awesome!!! I didn't really get to kayak much, too many severe thunderstorms, but I still had a blast!!

Yeah Florida at the end of summer can get pretty wet! Luckily it was beautiful when we were there. We spent a day paddling around on the ocean side and the water was crystal.

[MuckSavage]

I'm going to the keys this coming May & taking our kayaks.

Is the book mentioned this one?

Florida Keys Paddling Atlas (Paddling Series) by Bill Burnham and Mary Burnham (Paperback - Sept. 1, 2007)