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