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Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail
Florida’s Longest and Most Ambitious Sea Kayaking Trail
It’s
the saltwater version of the Appalachian Trail.
Beginning at Big Lagoon State Park near Pensacola,
extending around the Florida peninsula and Keys, and ending at Fort
Clinch State Park near the Georgia border, the Florida
Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail is a 1,515-mile sea kayaking
paradise. The trail includes every Florida coastal habitat type, from
barrier island dune systems to salt marsh to mangroves. Several
historical sites and points of interest are accessible by kayak along
with colorful fishing communities and urban centers.
The Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail
has been divided into 26 segments. Each segment is unique, ranging from
the remote Big Bend Coast and Everglades/Florida Bay wilderness, to the
more urbanized coastlines of Pinellas County and Fort Lauderdale. Once
complete, the trail will likely be utilized by thousands of Florida
residents and visitors alike who will paddle the trail for a few hours,
days, weeks or months. Some hardy souls will want to paddle the entire
trail, or complete the trail in segments over several years, similar to
how hikers often tackle the Appalachian Trail.
The trail is a strategic long-term priority of the
Florida Department of Environmental Protection, being coordinated by the
Office of Greenways and Trails (OGT), but it relies heavily on the
involvement and cooperation of numerous other government agencies at the
federal, state, regional and local levels, along with private
outfitters, businesses, paddling clubs and individual volunteers.
Already, in some segments, partnerships of city/county, state, federal,
and non-profit land managers and local outfitters have been formed to
help with trail planning and long-term management. The trail will
incorporate several existing local and regional trails such as the Big
Bend Saltwater Paddling Trail, The Nature Coast Trail and the Gulf and
Wilderness waterways in Everglades National Park. Also, the trail
connects, incorporates and complements several blueways trails that have
been or are being developed by Florida coastal counties.
The trail serves to highlight and educate paddlers about
Florida’s rich history and fragile coastal environment, including 20
national parks, seashores, wildlife refuges and marine sanctuaries, 37
Florida aquatic preserves and 47 Florida state parks, along with
numerous local parks and preserves. Sea kayaking is one of the country’s
fastest growing outdoor sports and requires less infrastructure and
fossil fuels than most other coastal boating activities. It is
especially suited for Florida’s growing population of retirees and
senior citizens because new materials and manufacturing designs are
helping to make kayaks lighter and easier to maneuver.
In an effort to provide greater accessibility to the
trail, segment guides, photos and maps can be downloaded from this
website at no charge. A guidebook will eventually be available for
purchase in conjunction with the website.
Doug Alderson is OGT’s field director for the project.
Alderson is a professional writer and photographer who worked with the
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to produce a trail
guide for the Big Bend Saltwater Paddling Trail.
Scouting for the circumnavigational trail began in 2004
and concluded in 2007; most of the trail is now open. A
non-profit statewide support group, the Florida Paddling Trails
Association www.floridapaddlingtrails.com, was launched in late 2007. If you are interested in being
added to the group's e-mail list, contact John Norris at
recumbentjohn@yahoo.com For questions about the trail, contact
Doug Alderson at doug.alderson@dep.state.fl.us
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