View topic - Florida's Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail

There’s a salt-water paddling route that circumnavigates Florida. It’s called, not surprisingly, the Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail. The State has it all planned out. Check out this link:

http://www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/paddling ... 20Home.htm

littleredcanoe, you mentioned in another thread that you were doing the Big Bend portion this winter. I’ve been looking at paddling from Suwannee down to Tampa in late March in an open tandem canoe.

The link above provides lots of detail with references to things like where permits are required and how to get them, Park reservation requirements and private campground contacts etc. Are there other references you rely on when planning your trip(s)? I’ve read you article on Everglades camping.

Krusty I stopped planning Big Bend canoeing when I found out this
http://myfwc.com/viewing/recreation/wma ... g-permits/

Its a bunch of horsecrap.. You could try to fib. We could do it in a sea canoe and a kayak and the bureaucracy would not know the difference between a sea canoe and a kayak

For now we will paddle the St Joseph to St George part of that trail in about three weeks..on day paddles then drop down to Cedar Key for more day paddles. Alas though there are keys in the Cedar Key area I have not found one amenable to stealth camping. Too many noses!

http://myfwc.com/viewing/recreation/wma ... g-permits/

If I were you I would put in at Suwanee. Don't get a permit.. The Shell Mound Camping area is not remote.. there may be others as its car accessible . Its at the end of 326. Its a Levy County campground which charges maybe $10. But it is high and dry.

Be real careful of the tides . You will be going under Bridge 4 ( Route 24)near Cedar Key.. Its got a deep channel but the rest of the time the best route is to follow a local.. Its not at all marked. Do not ask how I know this...
Now once below Cedar Key campsites are not officially permitted ( YAY)
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/paddling ... MapSet.pdf

You have several choices though Yankeetown is just UGHLY.

Chassahowitzka Campground is very nice though its car camping. I love that Homosassa River area.. You will see people

http://www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/paddling ... MapSet.pdf

You probably know to take along a lot of drinking water in March.. Though this area is more temperate. There really is a demarcation at Tampa between oven and just warm

I'm trying to arrange time to paddle the Suwanee from the Okefenokee to the Gulf, then down the coast to Tampa. Looks good so far.

Tides and wind on the salt-water portion are my biggest concerns. Running out of water to paddle in (and to drink) and getting stuck out in the sea-grass with the wind picking up sounds unpleasant.

Best would be early morning under a high-pressure system on a rising tide. Unlikely that'll work out for me - plan has to include provision for shore-bound days. I certainly prefer "primitive" campsites or stealth camping in a quiet backwater, but also looking forward to experiencing the smaller outposts scattered along the shore.

WTF? OK, so bring 2 poles, tie canoes together before making landfall and have a permit for a catamaran. Or sleeping in the canoe anchored off-shore is "boating" so no "camping" permit is required. Hard to refrain from going on an off-topic rant .... but things are what they are.

Thanks lrc, much appreciate you taking the time to share your knowledge.