10,000 Islands Experience
January 16-21, 2023
Base Camp: Collier Seminole State Park
Total Distance: 30-55 miles over 5 days
Full Trip Fees:
Includes camping, meals, river maps, a t-shirt, water bottle, and evening programs.
$550/Adults
$525/Seniors (65+) and college students
Registration Deadline: January 2, 2023, or when trip capacity of 50 paddlers is reached
Official Outfitter: Burnham Guides (mary@burnhamguides.com), please contact Mary at 305-240-0650 or copy the link to your browser: https://checkout.square.site/buy/OSGEM2W7G642S4YDZT5R5S5I
ALL OTHER INQUIRIES – please email janice@paddleflorida.org
Paddling Itinerary:
From our basecamp at the boat basin at Collier-Seminole State Park, we will have easy access to explore the Blackwater River and paddle the 13.5-mile Collier-Seminole State Park Loop. The launches for the East River, Turner River, and coastal paddles to White Horse Key and Cape Romano are a 15 to 30-minute drive from the park. We will provide parking at Collier-Seminole State Park. Sign-up for the paddles will be the night before and group sizes will vary depending on capacity (parking etc.). The locations we will visit are weather and tide-dependent and launch times will vary depending on conditions. The paddle choices shown below may also include a longer option on the Turner River to Chokoloskee with a visit to the Smallwood Store. And a shorter paddle from the Gulf Coast Visitor’s Center in Everglades City to Chokoloskee with an exploration of the Halfway Creek Paddling Trail.
| Choice | Paddle Choices | Type | Total Miles | Drive Time |
| 1 | East River Paddle Trail | Easy | 7 | 15 |
| 2 | Turner River Canoe Trail | Easy | 8-10 | 30 |
| 3 | Blackwater River Mud Lake | Short | 6-7 | 0 |
| 4 | Blackwater River - Collier-Seminole State Park Loop | Long | 13.5 | 0 |
| 5 | Goodland to White Horse Key | Short | 7-12 | 35 |
| 6 | Goodland to Cape Romano | Long | 14-16 | 35 |
| 7 | Isles of Capri Paddlecraft Park to Keewaydin Island | Short | 8 | 15 |
Evening Programs
Evening programs will include presentations from authors, historians, environmental experts, and one night of live music.
Refund Policy
Due to the financial outlay and costs incurred by Paddle Florida during event planning, any force majeure, which includes but is not limited to water levels, inclement weather, and any other Acts of God not mentioned herein, shall not result in the refund of any fees paid to Paddle Florida. Absolutely no fees will be refunded after 15 days before the event begins. Before each trip registration deadline, requests for fee refunds will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
***You will receive a confirmation email message 7 - 10 days before the event with all the latest details on the trip***
Shuttle Details
Paddlers will self-shuttle to the launch each day.
Boat & Gear Recommendations
For this trip, we recommend either a 14 foot or longer sit-in kayak (for our easy paddles) or a 16-foot sit-in kayak for our short or long open water paddles. The easy paddles are for beginner paddlers or nature lovers, and you should be in moderately good physical condition and know how to swim. For the short and long open water paddles, we recommend a rudder or skeg and a spay skirt. You should also have solid kayaking, rescue, wet exit, and swimming skills. If you have any questions about the kind of environment you will encounter on this trip, please contact Janice Hindson at janice@paddleflorida.org
Paddle Florida Policies
All paddlers must attend the trip overview and orientation on the first evening. Paddlers must adhere to the safety guidelines presented.
Every Paddle Florida participant must wear a Coast Guard-approved NON-INFLATABLE personal flotation device while on the river (no ifs, and, or buts).
Every kayak and canoe should have a bow line, 8-10 feet in length, secured in such a way that it is readily accessible, but cannot come loose accidentally. Loose ropes increase the risk of entanglement in the event of a capsize.
Kayaks should have grab-loops at both bow and stern.
Paddlers under age 18 are the responsibility of and must be accompanied by, a parent or guardian. No more than two children under the age of 12 per adult guardian.
Sorry, no pets allowed.
All paddlers must provide emergency contact information and sign a Waiver of Claims and Release of Liability form. Parents must sign for their children under the age of 18.
People-powered watercraft only.
Paddle Florida adheres to all rules put forth by the public parks we stay in, including the ban on alcoholic beverages.
All paddlers must respect private property along waterways.
All paddlers must have basic paddling and swimming skills
Violations of any of these policies can result in the paddler being removed from the event without a refund.
Trip Itinerary
Day 1/Monday, January 16:
Collier-Seminole State Park, Paddling Miles: 0
Trip participants will check-in at Collier-Seminole State Park between 1-5 PM. After checking in, they will set up their tents in the boat basin/group camping area. Collier-Seminole State Park lies partly within the great mangrove swamp of southern Florida, one of the largest mangrove swamps in the world. A wide variety of wildlife, including several imperiled species, inhabits this unusual blend of temperate and tropical native plant communities. You can experience the park on a beautiful 3.5-mile bike trail, and on the water on the Blackwater River trail which we will be exploring together. The Bay City Walking Dredge and the Royal Hammock Nature Trail are also worth a visit. Dinner will be served at 6 PM, followed by an overview of the trip and an educational presentation by regional waterway advocates as part of our place-based learning programs. Afterward, we’ll light the campfire.
Day 2-5, Tuesday, January 17 - Friday, January, 20:
Paddler’s Choice of the easy, short, or long paddles. Paddling Miles will vary depending on paddler's choice.
Breakfast will be served at 7:30 a.m. From 8:30-9:30, paddlers will shuttle to the launch site of their chosen paddle. Please note that shuttle and launch times will vary depending on weather and tides. Paddlers will pack their lunch in the morning so they will have it with them for their chosen paddle. Paddle Florida will provide a water bottle at check-in, and we will have water jugs available to refill it each day.
After their chosen paddle, paddlers can relax for the afternoon or explore the park’s hiking trails or the Bay City Water Dredge. After our 6 PM dinner, paddlers will be treated to the educational speaker or musical entertainment for the evening. We’ll end the evening around the campfire.
Day 6/Saturday, January 21:
Paddlers have a relaxing breakfast, strike camp and prepare for the journey home.
A hearty breakfast will be served at 8:00am, paddlers will then have a couple hours to strike camp and pack for the journey home. All tents and gear need to me taken down by 11am paddlers will head back home with fond memories of a great few days spent on the water.
Trip Choices
East River
Paddlers will launch from Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park to complete the East River Paddle Trail.
The East River canoe launch is tucked away down an unmarked dirt drive off U.S. 41, five miles west of State Road 29, on the south side of the road. The river is a primarily brackish water and tidal responsive creek that flows southwest to Fakahatchee Bay and the Ten Thousand Islands. It is a beautiful and varied creek, passing through a succession of small lakes and canopied mangrove tunnels before widening into a tidal river. The mangrove tunnels are particularly beautiful, becoming larger and more majestic with each passing lake.
2. Turner River Canoe Trail
Turner River meanders through the freshwater marsh, mangrove habitat, and sawgrass prairie. The mangrove tunnels can be narrow and sometimes easier to push through than paddle. Smaller kayaks and canoes are the best choice here. Starting at the Tamiami Trail, a few miles east of Everglades City, it begins in an achingly beautiful freshwater cypress forest of Big Cypress National Wildlife Refuge. Then the giant cypress trees, maples, and pond apples give way to saltwater-loving mangroves as you make your way through mangrove tunnels too tight for paddles: Finally, the trail continues through open sawgrass marsh.
3&4. Blackwater River - Mud Lake & Collier-Seminole State Park Loop
Explore the mangrove forest of the Everglades 10,000 Islands at Collier-Seminole State Park. Journey through the Blackwater River for the adventure of a lifetime. The tidal river system is host to a variety of birds and other wildlife including the Florida Manatee throughout different times of the year. The Blackwater River is part of a 13.5-mile paddling circuit that winds through Collier-Seminole State Park. This includes tidal creeks and bays as well as the Blackwater River. A diverse community of wildlife, including roseate spoonbills, inhabits the preserve. The first 0.5 mile is on a wide man-made channel to the Blackwater River.
The upper river narrows and winds through the mangrove forest where you will see red and black mangroves. Mud Bay will be at approximately 2.5 miles. For those paddlers completing the loop, we will continue on to Royal Palm Hammock Creek, Palm Bay, and Blackwater Bay before re-entering the Blackwater River.
5. Goodland to White Horse Key & Cape Romano
The Goodland Boating Park is a 5.22-acre park on Goodland Bay. Goodland Boating Park provides direct access to the Ten Thousand Islands and to the Gulf of Mexico. Located on Goodland Bay, the park has a two-lane boat launch ramp. White Horse Key is located 6 miles southeast of Goodland. It has sandy beaches on the south side, nicely sheltered from prevailing winds. The surrounding water is very shallow, not suitable for the motorized craft.
Goodland to Cape Romano is at least a 14-mile loop, much of it in open water on Gullivan Bay in the Ten Thousand Islands. This is a short and relatively easy paddle for intermediate paddlers with several route options depending on weather conditions.
6. Isles of Capri Paddle Park to Keewaydin Island
The Isles of Capri Paddlecraft Park is the only public access facility in Collier County designed exclusively for launching paddle crafts, which are non-motorized vessels such as canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards. The facility features a ramp, picnic pavilions, and restrooms which will also be accessible to pedestrians from the nearby Collier Boulevard boat ramp. The Park provides public access to McIlvane Bay, a shallow mangrove fringed bay that provides outstanding opportunities for wildlife viewing and exploring quiet backwaters in a relatively unexplored part of the Reserve. Keewaydin Island is a primary barrier island located off the coast of Naples, in Collier County. It can be reached only by boat. It is managed by the State of Florida's Coastal Office, in cooperation with NOAA, within the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. Keewaydin Island is monitored nightly for Loggerhead turtle nesting activity by The Conservancy of Southwest Florida.
7. Turner River to Chokoloskee - 8.5 Miles - 6 hours
TWe will launch at the Turner River and head to Chokoloskee with a stop at the Havana Café and at the Smallwood Store. In the heart of Chokoloskee, the island connected to Everglades City, there is a piece of Havana, Cuba waiting for you to discover. Havana Café of the Everglades is a small hole in the wall restaurant that you will never forget after visiting. From delicious Cuban sandwiches to delectable seafood entrees, Havana Café serves the best Caribbean-style dishes (your meal here is at your own expense).
8. Gulf Coast Visitor’s Center at Everglades National Park to Chokoloskee with Exploration of Halfway Paddling Trail
This route is a microcosm of South Florida, it offers a good view of the beauty left under park protection. Everglades National Park is an American national park that protects the southern twenty percent of the original Everglades in Florida. The park is the largest tropical wilderness in the United States, and the largest wilderness of any kind east of the Mississippi River.
Mission Statement
PADDLE FLORIDA is a non-profit corporation that promotes water conservation, wildlife preservation, springs restoration, and waterways protection via fun and educational multi-day paddling trips in Florida’s most spectacular river and coastal environments. The vehicle for carrying out this mission is the staging of the multi-day paddling/camping trips in each of Florida’s five water management districts from October to April each year. Paddle Florida also seeks to promote Florida as an international destination for nature-based tourism in general, and paddling in particular.
Ranging from three to six days, trips are open to all paddling skill levels and designed to maximize enjoyment of Florida’s natural environments while engaging and empowering citizens so that they may become involved in the protection and restoration of our waterways.
If you wish to be pampered by professional guides, this isn’t the trip for you. But, if you want to experience a real community brought together under a common goal and by the thrill of adventure, Paddle Florida is the trip for you
General Guidelines
Baggage:
Each paddler is limited to two bags and a total of 40-pounds of luggage. You have to haul your baggage from your car in the designated parking area to the camping area at the beginning of the trip, and then back at the end. We recommend you pack as lightly and tightly as possible.
Please place a label on your luggage with your name on it and make sure your bags are secure.
The Meal Plan
Your Paddle Florida trip fee covers the meal plan, which provides hearty catered breakfasts and dinners, plus daily lunch snacks of assorted fruits, sandwich items, snacks, and drinks.
Suggested Packing Lists
For Water: [Note: Unless you’re wearing it, every item you bring should be secured to your boat. Carabiners and bungee cords can be handy devices for this purpose.]
Boat and paddle. Need to rent? Mary at BurnhamGuides.com 305-240-0650.
PFD. Every Paddle Florida participant must wear a Coast Guard-approved NON-INFLATABLE personal flotation device while on the river (no ifs, and, or buts).
Every kayak and canoe should have a bowline, 8-10 feet in length, secured in such a way that it is readily accessible, but cannot come loose accidentally. Loose ropes increase the risk of entanglement in the event of a capsize. Kayaks should have grab-loops at both bow and stern.
An extra throw rope in case of emergencies should be stored safely in each boat.
Attach a whistle to your PFD or body to signal for help in case of emergency.
A knife.
Waterproof matches or other fire source in waterproof covering.
First aid kit—each vessel should bring a first aid kit stored inside a waterproof covering.
Repair kit—each vessel should be able to make their own repairs (i.e., duct tape, sealant, waterproof tape).
Rain gear—be prepared to get wet and potentially cold. Every participant should have access to a lightweight jacket or fleece, rain jacket, and rain pants or kayak skirt.
Dry change of clothes—be prepared to take an unexpected swim. Every participant should have access to a dry change of clothes kept in a waterproof covering.
Appropriate close-toed footwear that will protect your feet from unseen underwater hazards and permit you to walk comfortably on slippery and jagged limestone when launching and taking out. Flip flops do not meet these criteria.
Sun protection—sunburn might be the trip’s biggest hazard. Bring ample sunscreen and wear a protective hat and sunglasses.
Mask and snorkel? We may have a chance to snorkel out by the islands.
Water—drinking water will be readily available along the Paddle Florida route. Bring sufficient water bottles for the day’s paddle for everyone in your boat.
Food—there is little access to restaurants or grocery stores along the Paddle Florida route. Lunch snacks each day are provided to registered participants. You may also want to bring along your own snacks.
Dry Bag or Ziploc—bring a waterproof bag to protect additional items you don’t want to get wet, like your camera or cell phone.
GPS unit? We’ll give you a map, but a GPS unit might also be handy to note locations of campsites and stops.
For Land:
Tent
Sleeping bag, pad, and pillow
Camp chair
Clothes to keep you comfortable in temperatures generally ranging from 50-85 degrees. Think layers. You’ll likely be wearing more during potentially chilly mornings, then peeling off layers as the day progresses. Remember dry shoes for when you’re in camp and keep in mind there are often hiking trails available at the parks we camp in.
Bathing suit, plus maybe a mask, snorkel, and/or fins.
Headlamp and/or flashlight.
Toiletries and medications.
Other tent items: reading materials, iPod, ear plugs…?
A camera to record the awesome memories you’ll be making!