PALM
BEACH KAYAKING & CANOEING GUIDE Places To Paddle In South Florida, Pictures, Tips & Information
Incredible
paddling adventures await you in South Florida.
Welcome to Palm Beach Kayaking And
Canoeing Guide. Thank you for visiting.
This web site highlights the various places to paddle in
Florida's West Palm Beach area and other great paddling destinations
around South Florida. It also provides current local weather, tide and sea
condition information.
This site provides online
pictures, maps,
local knowledge and "how to" information needed to enjoy the
area
waterways.
WEST PALM BEACH AREA PADDLING DESTINATIONS Click on the links below to explore the West Palm Beach area's
top paddling destinations: # 1 Loxahatchee
River
(Jupiter, Florida) Freshwater River
# 2 Munyon
Island - MacArthur Park (Singer Island, Florida) Estuary
# 3 Peanut
Island (Riviera Beach, Florida) Intracoastal
Waterway
# 4 St. Lucie Inlet Preserve
Park (St. Lucie Inlet, Florida) Estuary
# 5 Coral
Cove Park (South Jupiter Island) Ocean
# 6 Loxahatchee
Sandbar (Jupiter, Florida)Brackish River # 7 Peck
Lake (Martin County, Florida) Intracoastal
Waterway
# 8 Jupiter Rope Swings
(Jupiter, Florida) Fun Destination
# 9 C-18
Canal (Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens) Freshwater Canal
You can find additional South Florida paddling destinations listed
below.
ON
THE WATER TODAY: LOCAL PADDLING FORECAST
Click below to see today's paddling conditions in the West Palm
Beach area:
Bookmark this page in your web browser's
"favorites" so check conditions before each paddle trip.
A
VARIETY OF PADDLING DESTINATIONS
Few places offer as many diverse
paddling experiences as South
Florida. The types of kayak and canoe destinations in Florida
include:
The
Everglades: Shallow freshwater inland marshes with
abundant wildlife. Rivers:
Freshwater slow moving rivers lined with ancient Cypress trees. Lakes:
Large and small water containment areas at parks and in most Florida
urban developments. Estuaries:
Brackish mangrove coves that are havens for marine life and birds. Intracoastal
Waterway: Long, protected north-south waterway between the
barrier islands and Florida's main peninsula. Ocean:
Clear blue water from the gulf stream affords excellent snorkeling and
reef views.
To enhance
the enjoyment of your kayaking or canoeing adventure, why not consider
a
sunset, full moon or star gazing
paddling trip?
KAYAKING
& CANOEING: LOCAL DANGERS
The area is not without its dangers. Kayakers and canoers
should be aware of the following:
Alligators:
It's safe to assume that any freshwater lake, river or canal in South
Florida is home to alligators. Alligators are naturally afraid of
people. However, alligators occasionally attack swimmers when
they mistake swimmers for prey. A sick alligator may also attack
humans without cause.
Fear of alligators shouldn't keep
you from enjoying Florida's freshwater destinations. However you
should be aware of your surroundings. Be careful when launching
your
boat (alligators may be resting on the bottom or camouflaged on a
nearby bank.) Don't swim or splash around in fresh water area
unless you
know it's safe to do so. Don't wear flashy jewelry in the
water. Spring is alligator mating season.
This is when most problems between alligators and humans occur. Click here
for more on alligator safety.
Sharks:
It's also safe to assume that during any ocean kayak trip you will be
in the
proximity of sharks. Sharks like the same near shore reefs that
ocean kayakers like. Reefs are havens for fish. Sharks are
of greatest concern during periods of migration. They generally
do not attack humans unless provoked or they mistake humans for food
(in rough or murky water conditions.) Kayak near beaches with
lifeguards. Ask the lifeguard about the presence of sharks before
you start your paddle. Click here for
more on kayaking near sharks.
Mosquito-Borne
Illness: Florida's abundant rainfall creates a lot of
standing water. That standing water is the perfect environment
for mosquitos. Mosquito-borne illnesses (such as West Nile Virus)
are a problem in South Florida, especially during the rainy season
(April-October.) The problem gets worse the further inland you
paddle. Protect yourself by wearing long sleeved clothing and
using bug spray that contains DEET. Apply bug spray on all
exposed skin and clothing. Click here
for more on protecting yourself from mosquito-borne illness.
Extreme UV Exposure:
South Florida's sun is intense. Sunscreen, hats, sunglasses and
long sleeve shirts are a must. Polarized sunglasses are
recommended so that you can better see obstructions and sea life under
the water. Carry plenty of water to prevent dehydration while
paddling in the strong Florida sun.
Sea Lice:
Tiny jellyfish larva (don't worry, they're not lice) are found in South
Florida ocean water from March until August (they're only found in
saltwater.) Sea lice are mostly a problem between Mother's Day
and Father's day. The unseen sea lice get trapped in your
swimsuit and sting. They cause skin irritation similar to poison
ivy.
There are preventative lotions available at dive shops. There are
also treatments available if you should encounter sea lice. The
best advice is to simply avoid swimming in saltwater areas between
Mother's Day and Father's day. Click here to read
more about sea lice.
Jellyfish &
Portuguese Man-of-War: These stinging sea creatures can be
found at local beaches and in the Intracoastal Waterway. They are
not always here. Their presence depends on the season, wind
direction and the location of the Gulf Stream. Stings are painful
and can cause an allergic reaction. Remedies should be included
in
your paddling first aid kit. Click here
for information on treating jellyfish stings.
Lightning &
Extreme Thunderstorms: Florida's wet season runs from May
until October. It's common for a nice day to quickly turn
dangerous with lightning and strong thunderstorms. Watch the
forecast carefully. Get off the water if you see lightning in the
area. Click here
for local real-time lightning strike information displayed on a South
Florida map.
Rip tides:
Ocean rip tides usually claim several lives each year locally.
They are caused when winds drive a lot of water (waves) on to the
beach. The excess water needs a way to exit the shore area.
Excess water gathers as a strong current (rip tide) heading away from
shore.
Kayak near beaches with
lifeguards. Ask the lifeguard about the presence of rip tides
before you enter the water. If you find yourself getting sucked
out to sea in a rip tide, simply swim (or paddle) parallel to shore
until you exit the rip tide current. Click
here for more on surviving rip tides.
Power Boats:
South Florida waterways are congested.
Power boats move quickly and frequently can't see paddle boats.
Boat captains may be distracted by their passengers, music, beers or
cell
phones. Paddlers can increase their visibility by wearing bright
colored clothing, using paddles with bright colored blades and
selecting bright colored kayaks/canoes. Paddle boats are required
by law to have navigation lights at night. Keep a flashlight with
you in case you must paddle after dark.
Propeller Strikes:
The law requires use of a dive flag when diving or
snorkeling. Diving flags will help you avoid the serious
consequences of being struck by a propeller.
PERSONAL SAFETY Palm Beach Kayaking and Canoeing Guide
urges you to make your personal
safety a priority. Bring a cell phone (preprogrammed with local
emergency numbers) or handheld VHF marine radio. Wear a life jacket. Carry a first aid kit. Select brightly colored clothing and equipment.
Paddle defensively. Carry
plenty of drinking water to
avoid dehydration. Bring sunscreen
and bug spray. Bring maps and charts of the areas you
paddle. Carry a flashlight
so you can be seen
paddling after dark. You may also consider carrying an emergency
strobe light (found at boating stores) to signal help after dark. TIP: Many old cell phones can still can call
9-1-1, even if they doesn't currently have monthly
service. Keep fully charged old cell phones in your car and dry
bag in case you need to call for help. If you don't have an old
phone, buy one at a yard sale or thrift store. TIP: Wilderness paddlers should carry an old compact disc. The
shiny side of old CDs can make an excellent signaling mirror. TIP: Wrap reflective tape on your paddle (near
the base of the blade) to be better seen at night. The
alternating motion of the paddle helps catch the light and makes you
easier to see. Click
here to see some good "how to" articles on paddling safety.
OTHER
SOUTH FLORIDA KAYAK AND CANOE DESTINATIONS
These paddling
destinations are found in Southeast Florida listed from north to
south. Click on a highlighted link for more information about a
specific destination:
CONTACT
Please feel free to be in touch with any questions or to share
your local paddling knowledge on this web site. Click
here for contact information.
Thank
you for visiting Palm Beach Kayaking
& Canoeing Guide.
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