Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail

Florida's Longest and Most Ambitious Sea Kayaking Trail
 

Beginning at Big Lagoon State Park near Pensacola, extending around the Florida peninsula and Keys, and ending at Fort Clinch State Park near the Georgia border, the Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail (commonly referred to as The CT) is a 1,515-mile sea kayaking paradise. The trail includes every Florida coastal habitat type, from barrier island dune systems to salt marsh to mangroves. Numerous historical sites and points of interest are accessible by kayak along with colorful fishing communities and urban centers.

The CT is divided into 26 segments. Each segment is unique, ranging from the remote Big Bend Coast and Everglades/Florida Bay wilderness, to the more urbanized coastlines of Pinellas County and Fort Lauderdale. The trail is utilized by thousands of Florida residents and visitors alike who paddle the trail for a few hours, days, weeks or months. Some hardy souls have paddled the entire trail, and others seek to complete the trail in segments over several years, similar to how hikers often tackle the Florida or Appalachian Trail.

The CT is a strategic long-term priority of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, being coordinated by the Office of Greenways and Trails, but it relies heavily on the involvement and cooperation of numerous other government agencies at the federal, state, regional and local levels, along with private outfitters, businesses, paddling clubs and individual volunteers. The non-profit Florida Paddling Trails Association was formed in 2007 to act as volunteer stewards of the CT, along with other paddling trails. The "Paddling Community" page of their website shows paddlers who have completed the entire trail.

The CT has incorporated and partnered with several existing local and regional trails such as the Big Bend Saltwater Paddling Trail, The Nature Coast Trail, the Gulf and Wilderness waterways in Everglades National Park, and several county blueways trails.  Also, the trail now connects to the states of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia via the Southeast Coast Saltwater Paddling Trail. Also, long-distance hikers on the Eastern Continental Trail may want to consider the CT for all or part of their Florida journey.

Highlighting and educating paddlers about Florida's rich history and fragile coastal environment, the CT traverses 20 national parks, seashores, wildlife refuges and marine sanctuaries, 37 Florida aquatic preserves and 47 Florida state parks, along with numerous local parks and preserves. Sea kayaking is one of the country's fastest growing outdoor sports and requires less infrastructure and fossil fuels than most other coastal boating activities. It is especially suited for Florida's growing population of retirees and senior citizens because new materials and manufacturing designs are helping to make kayaks lighter and easier to maneuver.

Segment guides, photos and maps can be downloaded from this website at no charge. If desired, all of the text information in the form of a printed guide is available for purchase on Amazon.com, with proceeds directed to the Florida Paddling Trails Association. Color maps must still be downloaded from this website, and a link to all of the maps in one document is available on the Trail Segment Descriptions, Maps, and more page.  Also, thru paddlers have posted blogs and trip reports on the Florida Paddling Trails Association website.

If you are planning a through trip on the CT please contact us for GIS data and let us know a little about your plans. We are happy to answer any questions. We also appreciate your comments and updates so we can keep maps and segment guides up to date.   Contact OGT Assistant Chief Doug Alderson at doug.alderson@dep.state.fl.us.