I am wondering what it's like conoe/camping here in the winter months being I live nearby. Has anyone here done the Wilderness Waterway?
Everglades National Park Map

i've made a number of trips on the ww leaving out of everglades city. truly a special place. best months to go IMHO are january or february.

as a bird watcher the everglades was a lifelong dream. however i was a bit creeped out by these scaly monsters.

I hear ya jwartman59.. Wayyy more dangerous down in the swamp than up in the BWCA woods.

shawhh do you have a trip report? What are the Camping facilities like? Many people? Issues or Concerns? I have canoed down here on a few rivers but, no serious swamp experience.

i only did day trips. there was no way i could talk any of my family into doing an overnight trip. i would still love to try it. as it was i saw plenty of people canoeing who didn't have a clue as to how to handle a canoe. these gators were everywhere, that fact that no gets eaten must mean it quite safe.

My two BILs have done two trips. One by kayaks and one by canoe. They really enjoyed both trips. It is on my list. I have a buddy who lives just north of Tampa/St. Pete and I am going to try to talk him into joining me.

quote wildernessfan2: "... What are the Camping facilities like? Many people? Issues or Concerns? I have canoed down here on a few rivers but, no serious swamp experience. "

I saw pictures of these platforms erected by USFS specifically for camping on. They look pretty cool and I don't think gators can get up on them. There is some Indian name for them, but I can't recall it right now. Anyone know what they are called??

Looked it up. They are "chickees"

permits are first come, first served. 3 types of camping sites: chickees (platforms raised above the water) are the least buggy, have portajohns, and can accomodate multiple free standing tents. beach sites may be quite buggy or not very at all, allow for leg stretching walks, and also can handle a large group. shell mounds (ancient indian oyster shucking sites that actually raised up a bit of land) are probably the buggiest places to camp, can handle large groups, and are kinda cool just thinking of how many generations of indians it took to eat that many oysters. you must stay at the place you reserve on the night you reserve it for. your route to the site is up to you and there will be many options. the mangrove environment is challenging to navigate. competence with map/chart and compass and/or gps is critical. there is no fresh water so plan on at least a gallon/person/day. sun protection, even during the winter months, is needed. pay attention to the tide as flats cover and uncover depending on the tide, and you could wind up paddling upstream both ways on one of the "rivers", or stranded in a sea of mud depending on your timing. i've seen many gators and sharks on the ww, but don't consider them a great concern, with the one exception being gators around chickees that have been fed by the ignorant. i'd save the swimming for somewhere else. the everglades national park website has a great trip planner. trips can be point to point, or there are many options for loop trips (my preference). as anywhere the closer you are to civilization, the more people you'll see. get more than a day's journey in and the people sightings fall off dramatically, though you'll still encounter the odd paddling group or powerboating fishermen. a great place to visit.

Thanks for the input everyone! Being the campsites are few is there an issue with people taking sites without permits? Thanks for the details shawhh.. Drinking water and map reading sound like critical issues I have not considered an issue canoeing before. Tides as well. Much more challenging than the BWCA..I like it and am set on making a trip this winter. NOO WAY until after the first cold front has passed usually around Halloween.

never have had a problem with too many on a chickee, though i imagine it can happen. one other consideration is the wind. though some passages are protected there is a lot of open water paddling. the possibility exists, just as in the bwca, that you could be windbound. the difference being that there are not nearly as many places to land and wait it out. carefully assess the weather before committing to a big open water crossing. using your head you shouldn't have problems and the rewards are worth any of the risks.

Important information here. Glad I asked..lol Thank You!

Johnny Molloy's book a Paddlers Guide to the Everglades is well worth it.

Gives many route options..there are many besides the Wilderness Waterway.

http://www.johnnymolloy.com/Books/books.htm

I will be going back this winter for my seventh ten day trip. Because the water is shallow and the tides a major influence and its always windy, be prepared to paddle early. I often paddle at night. Usually winds daytime are over 15 mph and often go to thirty or more if a cold front arrives. Old time Glades paddlers plan to be done with the paddling day by 11 am.

Its common to go off permit because of weather but that is usually on the Gulf side not the Waterway side. Park Rangers regularly cruise the campsites and check permits. Its considered a no no to bivouac on a chickee if you are off permit. Ground campsites have more room and beach campsites are not a problem. Park staff expect you to be safe first. What is not tolerated is not keeping to permit simply because you were lazy.

Plan on eight mile days. Its much different than Quetico paddling. Its quite a bit harder unless you have a tailwind and a favorable tidal current.Winds play havoc with the tide timetable.

More good stuff! Thank You!

If anyone wants to join me or wants another paddler this fall or winter please let me know.

i have canoed in the everglades, enough to satisfy my curiosity anyways. this photo was near everglade city.



bears don't seem so scary after paddling within ten feet of this. dam scary stuff. not going back but sure as heck am glad i was there.

I went to the Everglades in college for a class, spent seven days paddling in a tandem kayak. I loved it and have always wanted to go back. My wife doesn't want anything to do with the clod and portaging involved with a Spring or Fall BW trip (our schedule doesn't allow summer trips). I think I have convinced her to go this winter, I am thinking of the route leaving form Everglades City to Rabbit Key, Jewel Key, Watson's Place, etc. and then back to Everglades City. Hoping to get her to agree to 6 or 7 days. I have the National Geographic map for planning, and a couple of guide books, I will purchase the John Molly book as well.

Any advice for me that hasn't been mentioned already? Words of encouragement for a wife that isn't interested in working too hard? We will be traveling in aluminum canoes most likely since I have several and we want to make this cheap. We will have one more couple joining us.

an excellent book on everglades city and south west florida history is peter Matthiessen's killng Mr. watson. you'll definitely want to go after reading this. this is a cool old town and the town is making efforts to retain the old south florida ambiance.

quote jwartman59: "an excellent book on everglades city and south west florida history is peter Matthiessen's killng Mr. watson. you'll definitely want to go after reading this. this is a cool old town and the town is making efforts to retain the old south florida ambiance. "

That book is fiction. However there is nothing quite like reading it while camped at Watson's Place. You find yourself looking across the Chatham River for an arm sticking up...

quote yellowcanoe: "

quote jwartman59: "an excellent book on everglades city and south west florida history is peter Matthiessen's killng Mr. watson. you'll definitely want to go after reading this. this is a cool old town and the town is making efforts to retain the old south florida ambiance. "

That book is fiction. However there is nothing quite like reading it while camped at Watson's Place. You find yourself looking across the Chatham River for an arm sticking up..."

We just went to Lake insula and listened to "Missing in the Boundary Waters" on the way. I was so glad that we did that. We were talking about the book the whole trip. I will have to do the same thing with this book. Thanks for the suggestion. Fiction or not it's fun to have a story to go with your destination.

Going in Jan 10 for two weeks out of Everglades City. Inland route (but not the Wilderness Waterway..mine is a little more remote) to Camp Lonesone and then down the Broad River to the Gulf of Mexico and back up the outside coast to Everglades City.. If anyone else is in the vicinity it would be nice to hook up.



Map gives you an idea of mileage

But you can be so beat after 8-10 miles down there. Its the toughest paddling around. Tidal currents and winds and shallow water are such an evil mix.

This year's trip is out of Everglades City starting on Jan 30 and going for eight days.

Mostly open Gulf paddling with some creeks..like Charley Creek. Very little paddling on the Wilderness Waterway. (which I don't mostly care for).

This will be our tenth trip. Anyone welcome. Though I am not a professional guide there I have some good experience re winds, waves, tides and how not to get stuck.

Reason for going as ever is the awesome birdlife. Charley Creek is the epitome of wildlife sightings.

On the 29th and the 8th of Feb we will be stuffing ourselves with raw oysters and stone crabs at Seafood Depot.

We'll be in Florida in January and February, but going to miss you again this year. I'd love to get together for a day trip or longer sometime. I admire your experience and willingness to share it. It would be fun to meet another member and I would love to paddle the Everglades. If you're ever in the area while we're there and want to stop by to chat or stay a while, you're always welcome. We're a little farther north in fort myers. Or I could meet you farther south for a mini- wing. I think there are a couple( at least) of active Florida members right now.

We are day tripping on Halfway Creek Jan 30! Leaving for the backcountry the next day.

We will be back in time for the Everglades City Seafood Festival starting Feb. 7.

How long does the festival last? I'll be there February 10th.

quote giddyup: "How long does the festival last? I'll be there February 10th. "

It ends on Sunday the 9th! Sooo close..

quote yellowcanoe: "Going in Jan 10 for two weeks out of Everglades City. Inland route (but not the Wilderness Waterway..mine is a little more remote) to Camp Lonesone and then down the Broad River to the Gulf of Mexico and back up the outside coast to Everglades City.. If anyone else is in the vicinity it would be nice to hook up.

But you can be so beat after 8-10 miles down there. Its the toughest paddling around. Tidal currents and winds and shallow water are such an evil mix."

YC and other who enjoy the Everglades:

I passed through here in March this year and wasn't much impressed. What do you do if you're taking your time. Seems like you're either paddling or stuck on a chickee with a blazing sun beating down on you? I was not there to hangout as I was paddling hard doing over 40 miles per day but kept thinking what would I do here if I wasn't paddling. Seems like once you've seen one patch of mangroves you've pretty much seen the Wilderness Waterway portion of the glades.

I'm sure there's probably good fishing in Florida Bay, but not many options to camp anywhere out there.

Just wondering what brings you back to the Everglades?

quote BeaV: "

quote yellowcanoe: "Going in Jan 10 for two weeks out of Everglades City. Inland route (but not the Wilderness Waterway..mine is a little more remote) to Camp Lonesone and then down the Broad River to the Gulf of Mexico and back up the outside coast to Everglades City.. If anyone else is in the vicinity it would be nice to hook up.


But you can be so beat after 8-10 miles down there. Its the toughest paddling around. Tidal currents and winds and shallow water are such an evil mix."

YC and other who enjoy the Everglades:


I passed through here in March this year and wasn't much impressed. What do you do if you're taking your time. Seems like you're either paddling or stuck on a chickee with a blazing sun beating down on you? I was not there to hangout as I was paddling hard doing over 40 miles per day but kept thinking what would I do here if I wasn't paddling. Seems like once you've seen one patch of mangroves you've pretty much seen the Wilderness Waterway portion of the glades.


I'm sure there's probably good fishing in Florida Bay, but not many options to camp anywhere out there.


Just wondering what brings you back to the Everglades?"

Eight ecosystems. You are right in it looks all the same with a cursory glance. Sort of like the boreal forest. But when you get acquainted with the micro systems you can find dry ground with some species of palms. Also the area is absolutely astounding with human history. Folks have lived there and made a living for hundreds of years. My current curiousity is finding old stills.
The bird life is incredible; hundreds of species in January.
Watching dolphins is incredible.

The Wilderness Waterway is but 99 miles out of the 1000 miles of paddling trails. Chickess are not the norm in Everglades camping. Beaches and ground sites are more than half of the campsites. All the chickees are roofed.
I never paddle the WW anymore.. I take shortcuts north and south of it if I want an inland traverse.. I still have not found the jet engine north of Oyster Bay

In January you need shoulder season camping gear. It can get near freezing. You also need sunshade. Northwest Cape has a beach miles long but with no trees.

Yes it is tough paddling at times. That's the beauty of night paddling.. not as much wind.

So its about taking your time and noticing the details like the incredible array of cacti.. Not something you can do on 40 mile days.