Fla. Big Bend Saltwater Paddling Trail - Thanksgiving Week

[Anonymous]

A group of us Texans had a ball paddling the Big Bend kayak trail. We started off messing about Cedar Key, spent two days on the Suwanee above Fanning Springs, then paddled the lowest section of the trail from Steinhatchee, FL to Suwannee. Cool breezy nights kept the bugs away and clear days with NNW winds made for ideal conditions. Kudos to the Fla Fish & Game Commission for laying out a great adventure. Big thanks to Bills Fish Camp and River Haven Marina for accomodations and shuttle. Can't wait to go back.

 

[oldsparkey]

Mullet Key

If you really liked there services and that area now about some links for everything. Some more folks might want to do the same trip and that information would sure help them.

In fact, I know of one group that will be doing it later and I am sure they would like any and all information you were able to gather. It really helps when a person has been there and has done it and not just looked things up on the web.

Besides I have always been curious about that area and have never been there as a paddler........ Some in depth , inside information would be nice.
You know .... Permits, restaurants, places to camp or stay before the trip, the waters and campsites when out on the water ... heck the whole ball of wax, not just a teaser.

Talk to us ........... We want to know. (anyway I do) Pretend you saw our campfire and decide to join us...... You pulled in for the night, got a cup of you favorite beverage, threw a log on the fire and proceeded to tell us about your travels for the last few days after leaving home.

Any trouble finding camping places. Is that your boat, what kind is it, do you like it for this area , what do you use for a shelter, how was the water and paddling.

Chuck.

 

[Anonymous]

Trial tips

No problem, we booked rooms at Bill's Fish Camp. Each room in their cabins can sleep 4. Clean room with shower, sink & microwave. Cooking is done on a three burner gas stove back at the screen room on the water. We cooked one night and went out for dinner once at Salt Creek Restaurant. Suwannee Cafe looked good too. http://www.suwanneeriverchamber.com/lod ... urants.htm

The one local shuttle service is provided by River Haven Marina out of Steinhatchee. http://www.riverhavenmarinaandmotel.com Tim can carry 6 kayaks and six people. Gear pretty much has to stay in the kayak.

Tim & Shari are real nice. They also have lodging choices. We stayed in the motel, which had 2 or 3 beds in each room. We also used their shower at the marina when we got back. Safe place to park cars too. Bridge End Cafe is a cool place to eat. Fiddlers and Roys were both good, but they are like any seafood restaurant anywhere in Fla. Another good place to stay would be the Paradise Suites: http://www.paradisesuites.net just a simple place with 3 beds each right on the water at the edge of town.

The trail, personal advice: spend your time on the water paddling, birding and fishing instead of packing, re-packing and more packing. Keep it simple and quickly repeatable. Follow the tides closely, but don't be dissapointed if you have to walk a bit at low tide when coming or going at the campsites.

The campsites are clean, flat and very welcoming. Keep them healthy by making bathroom visits away from the camp area. Bring some line to isolate trash from the racoons.

Watch out for rocks offshore when you think you have good 2' of water. The rock grass (looks like a big squirrel's tail) is the give-away. Stay offshore in 3' of water. PM me anytime for details. I only have local knowledge of the lower section of the trail and Cedar Key.

 

[Anonymous]

Here is the link to the trail: http://myfwc.com/recreation/big_bend/paddling_trail.asp BUY THE GUIDE!! Its very well written, tells you everything you need to know. Liz Sparks in the Tallehassee trail office is very helpful. The link to obtain the permits are on the website.

Locate Doug Alderson's book, "Water's less Traveled" It's all about the trail. http://www.upf.com/book.asp?id=ALDERS06

Read this blog: http://www.burnhamink.com/work5.htm

Expect to be relaxed on this trip. I bought some charts on line, marked up the trail, with GPS coordinates, mileage, etc. Then cut out 8 x 10 sections and laminated them for easy use on the trail.

Long days on the water, get conditioned. MK

 

[oldsparkey]

I have been to both of those restaurants and was never disappointed in the food or service..... except for the fact I might of eaten to much.

http://www.neilbank.com/phpBB2/viewtopi ... f6cb32070f

http://www.neilbank.com/phpBB2/viewtopi ... d89b4eeb6e

Chuck.

 

[dangermouse01]

Hey Mullet Key;
Our group of 8 starts paddling the Big Bend Trail this Saturday (Dec 02) from Econfina and plan on going all the way to Suwannee and take out the next Saturday (Dec 09).

Weather forecast has lows on Monday & Tuesday of about 29-31F. Bbbbbuuuuurrrrrrrr!!!
Then back to the 40's for lows.

We are (and have been) looking forward to it.

Did any of you do any fishing along the way?

DM

 

[Anonymous]

Fishing the trail: We made a few attempts at casting, no luck. The fish are there. Recommendation, get some miles behind you each day, knowing that you've reached your campsite or have paddled close to it. On too many days, we goofed around in the mornings and had no time to fish before setting up camp at dusk. Hope the water temps are not too low to fish the shallows and the grass edges.

Be prepared to walk a few flats towing your kayak when the low tides and N winds blow the water out. Tie a 10' line to your paddle for a handle or fashion a makeshift ski rope type handle to save your hands. Wind and waves, we found the offshore forecast not representative at the coast 2-3 miles offshore in 2-3 of water. Conditions were better close in, but please be prudent when judging condtions. MK. Please report on your trip -

 

[Anonymous]

Photo from Thanksgiving trip on Big Bend Saltwater Trail

Didn't mean to wait so long to provide the photo-link to WebShots. I'd cull the duplicates if I can figure out how.

http://community.webshots.com/user/mullet_key

Here are photos taken by Scott Holstein, a photographer working for the Tallehassee Democrat

http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dl ... s=Itemnr=1

 

[Kayak Jack]

Nice shots. Musta been feeding those paddler happy juice to get all those smiles that early in the morning or that late in the day. You guys look like you had a GREAT time.

I must admit, that I don't know where this trail is. Do you have some town names, landmarks, or Lat/Long? Looks nice.

 

[Anonymous]

Trail Info

Smiles all day long! The best information is available through the trail organizers in Tallahassee [Link below]. I strongly recommend ordering their trail guide, it's good reading. Most of this area is South of Tallehassee and West of Gainesville, Fl on the Gulf's "Forgotten Coast".

http://myfwc.com/recreation/big_bend/paddling_trail.asp

 

[Kayak Jack]

Thanks. You'll have to come join us when we paddle lakes up here in the Great Lakes Canadian Shield Country. We manage to wrestle a few smiles outa folks too.

 

[dangermouse01]

Heres a Google Earth picture of the start and end points.
Starts at the Aucilla Boat Ramp.
Ends at Salt Creek Boat Ramp.
Distance to paddle the entire trail, approx 105 miles.
(Notice Tallahassee in the photo for locational reference)

DM

 

[Kayak Jack]

Thanks, DM, confirmed what I started to figure out with my DeLorme Street Atlas. I appreciate the clarification. It's north of the Everglades we're looking at for an '08 trip.