Everglades Kayaking Weekend Map

Day 1 of 3

Everglades City to Sunday Bay Chickee · ~9 miles

Arrive at the Gulf Coast Visitor Center in Everglades City, pick up your wilderness permit, and launch into Chokoloskee Bay. The opening stretch is exposed, so watch the wind and tide, then follow the marked channels and mangrove islands south toward the Wilderness Waterway.

4 stopsDay one

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⠿Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.

1. ⠿↑↓1Ebyabe / CC BY-SA 3.0
   Drive from where are you driving from?~1.5 hr from RSW · car required · Drive

   Base your logistics out of Everglades City, the gateway to the western Everglades. The Gulf Coast Visitor Center and marina are your launch point, about 1.5 hours from RSW (Southwest Florida International) and roughly an hour from Naples. No public transit reaches the put-in, so a car is required, and kayak or canoe rentals are available in town if you reserve ahead.

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   Gulf Coast Visitor Center & permit pickupLaunch point · wilderness permit desk · Viewpoint

   Check in at the Gulf Coast Visitor Center, pick up your wilderness permit, and launch into Chokoloskee Bay. Reserve the permit online at Recreation.gov (opening 90 days out, daily at 10 a.m. ET) or walk up in person within 24 hours. It is your last chance for restrooms, water, and cell service before the backcountry.

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3. ⠿↑↓3Ebyabe / CC BY-SA 3.0
   Paddle Chokoloskee Bay to Sunday Bay Chickee~9 mi · open bay + mangrove channels · activity

   Launch from the visitor center and paddle across Chokoloskee Bay, following marked channels south toward the Wilderness Waterway. The route mixes exposed open water with narrower mangrove passages, so watch the wind and tide and keep an eye out for dolphins and wading birds along the way.

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   Overnight on Sunday Bay ChickeeRaised platform over water · no amenities · lodge

   Arrive at Sunday Bay Chickee, a raised wooden platform over open water. Set up your freestanding tent or bug net, secure all food from raccoons, and enjoy sunset over the bay. Bring every drop of water you need, and pack out all trash.

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Day 2 of 3

Mangrove Tunnels to Sweetwater Bay Chickee · ~5 miles

Today is shorter but twistier. From Sunday Bay you thread the winding mangrove tunnels of the Wilderness Waterway toward Sweetwater Bay Chickee, roughly 5 miles of precise steering through canopy-shaded corridors of dense roots. It is the most immersive paddling of the trip.

3 stopsDay two

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⠿Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.

1. ⠿↑↓1Koika / CC BY-SA 3.0
   Sunday Bay to Sweetwater via mangrove tunnels~5 mi · tight, winding channels · activity

   Depart Sunday Bay and thread the winding mangrove tunnels of the Wilderness Waterway toward Sweetwater Bay. Today is shorter but far twistier, roughly 5 miles of precise steering through canopy-shaded corridors of dense roots. It is the most immersive paddling of the trip.

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   Wildlife watching & side creeksManatees, spoonbills, ospreys · Viewpoint

   With a short paddling day, take time to explore side creeks and watch for manatees in the channels and roseate spoonbills, ospreys, and wading birds along the mangrove edges. Dawn and dusk are the best windows. Keep a respectful distance and never feed or approach wildlife.

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   Overnight on Sweetwater Bay ChickeeOpen-water platform · great stargazing · lodge

   Arrive at Sweetwater Bay Chickee, a quiet open-water platform far from any land. Its distance from shore means fewer mosquitoes after dark and superb stargazing on a clear night. If there is no toilet on the platform, a WAG bag system is required.

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Day 3 of 3

Paddle Back to Everglades City · ~13 miles

Break camp early and retrace the route north, back through the channels and across Chokoloskee Bay to the Gulf Coast Visitor Center. This is the longest leg, roughly 13 miles, so start at first light to beat the afternoon wind that funnels across the open bay.

2 stopsDay three

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⠿Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.

1. ⠿↑↓1Pietro / CC BY-SA 3.0
   Sweetwater back to Gulf Coast Visitor Center~13 mi · open bays + channels · activity

   Break camp early and retrace the route north, back through the channels and across Chokoloskee Bay to the Gulf Coast Visitor Center. This is the longest leg, roughly 13 miles, so start at first light to beat the afternoon wind that funnels across the open bay. Ride the tide window if you can.

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   Land & stay in Everglades CityMarina services · stone-crab lunch in season · lodge

   Land at the marina, return any rental gear, and reset at the visitor center. From here it is an easy drive back to Everglades City or Naples, or a short detour to a stone-crab lunch in town to celebrate two nights out on the water.

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