Ten Thousand Islands, the easy way
EVERGLADES CITY — Vast and remote, the Ten Thousand Islands off Florida’s southwest coast seems challenging to visit, a labyrinth of twisting channels through thousands of remote mangrove islands.
But even the casual visitor can get a taste of this scenic maze.
Boat tour: The easiest way to see the Ten Thousand Islands is a narrated boat tour based at the Gulf Coast Visitor Center of Everglades National Park in Everglades City (239-695-3311). The 90-minute tour is $31.80 for adults. Children 5 to 12 are $15.90.
You’ll learn about the islands’ unique environment and will often see dolphins play in the tour boat’s wake. You will undoubtedly see a variety of bird species, including soaring bald eagles, hawks, nesting osprey and colorful roseate spoonbills.
For details about boat tour, go to evergladesnationalparkboattoursgulfcoast.com.
Paddle: Take an easy kayak or canoe paddle out to Sandfly Island. The Sandfly Loop kayak trail is about 5 miles, out and back from the Visitor Center, a 2-3 hour paddle. Add an hour to explore Sandfly, where you can dock, use a restroom, picnic and walk a milelong trail past vestiges of pioneer homes.
For a park service brochure with map, go to nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/upload/Sandfly.pdf
Camping: Plan an overnight kayak camping trip to an outer island for a brilliant night sky from your own private beach. We like Tiger Key and Picnic Key, just north of Indian Key Pass, the main channel out of Everglades City. Sites on both islands are limited and must be reserved at the Visitor Center no more than 24 hours in advance. (Weekdays are best). It’s a 9-mile paddle, about four hours, each way.
For a wilderness trip planner, go to nps.gov/ ever/ planyourvisit /upload/Wilderness-TripPlanner-2015corrected .pdf
Be sure to use tide tables to plan any paddle trip in these islands. The currents can be tough to navigate against the tide. Ideally, you should paddle out on the falling tide and return on a rising tide, using the tide tables for the Barron River at Everglades City as your point of reference.
You can rent single or double kayaks or canoes from the concession at the Gulf Coast Visitor Center. Call 239-695-3311.
Everglades City/Chokoloskee Island: Explore historic Everglades City and neighboring Chokoloskee Island by car, bicycle or on foot. These outposts off the Tamiami Trail (US 41) have a legendary past as fishing village, smuggler’s haven and hideout to more than a few notorious characters.
Visit iconic buildings from the 1920s, including the Old Collier County Courthouse, Bank of Everglades Building and the legendary Rod and Gun Club, which has hosted Presidents Hoover, Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower and Nixon, as well as Er- nest Hemingway.
On Chokoloskee Island, visit historic Smallwood Store, which opened in 1906 when this was the Wild West and Ted Smallwood was a pioneer.
This former Indian trading post overlooking Chokoluskee Bay served a small community of hardy and often ornery individualists. Admission is $5.