Paddling Southern Florida by Foster Nigel;

Author:Foster, Nigel;
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781493025671
Publisher: Falcon Guides

From Cabbage Key to Pine Island

If you follow the buoyed channel, your return is simply the reverse of that outward journey. Otherwise, leaving from the inn, paddle due east to Useppa Island (0.45 mile). Then paddle to the southern tip of Useppa (300 yards). Cross due east to Part Island (1.1 miles) and follow its coast to the northern tip (1 mile). Paddle east to the red buoy number 10 (0.9 mile), taking care while crossing the boat channel here. Continue east until you hit Pine Island (0.9 mile), then paddle south to return to your launch site at Pineland Marina (0.5 mile).

If the weather deteriorates or you decide on a change of pace, it’s possible to arrange to be ferried back with your kayak from Cabbage Key Inn to Pineland Marina.

Side Trip 1 to the “Tunnel of Love”

A trip from Cabbage Key to the “tunnel of love” mangrove channel on Cayo Costa and a peek at the Gulf from a sandy beach will be a round-trip of little more than 2 miles. Paddle to the northern shore of Cabbage Key, and then head due west until you reach Cayo Costa. Follow the shore south until Cabbage Key disappears behind land (mangrove). Continue another 0.5 mile before checking the mangroves on your right for a hidden tunnel. The tunnel leads from the back of the bay.

The tunnel opens into a pool with a sandbank on your left side. Keep this sand to your left as you paddle north until you find a suitable spot for landing. There is a superb beach here, with the Gulf just a few yards away. Reverse your route to return to Cabbage Key.

Side Trip 2 to Overnight on Cayo Costa

To camp on Cayo Costa, paddle from Cabbage Key west to Cayo Costa, then follow the coast north until you see the obvious landing in Pelican Bay (about 2.7 miles). You’ll need to register at the trailer office by the dock. The campground itself is 0.5 mile away on the northwest side of the island. Depending on the weather and sea conditions on the Gulf, you may choose to paddle around the northern end of the Cayo Costa through Boca Grande Pass to reach the campground from the beach on the west side of the island. Check at the office for directions to your site. You can also reach the campground from the west coast via the “tunnel of love” mangrove channel, portaging to the Gulf and paddling north. (See Cayo Costa contact information under Camping in Local Information, below.)

Side Trips for the More Experienced Paddler

If you’ve taken the “tunnel of love” route to the west side of Cayo Costa (see details above), you now have a couple of interesting alternative return routes. One is to the north, with a passage through Boca Grande Pass, returning via the Intracoastal Waterway to Cabbage Key. The other is to turn south, with a passage through Captiva Pass followed by a return northward along the Intracoastal Waterway to Cabbage Key.

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