Florida Kayak the many backwaters and bays with kayak tours provided by many Florida kayaking outfitters all around Florida. These kayak tours are conducted by professionals with an emphasis on safety. Be sure and tell them that you found out about their Florida kayaking or kayak tour
from Florida-Kayak-Tours.com

Florida Real Adventures
Coastal Bliss Adventures in BC
www.seakayakbc.com

---

The information below is provided by the 
Florida Kayaking Association.

There are 5 types of flatwater kayaks; sit-on-top, recreational, Florida touring inflatable and pedaling kayaks.  Each have their advantages and disadvantages.

 

Sit-on-top kayaking

 do not have a closed cockpit, so they are easy to get into and out of.  They are usually wider than most, so they have good primary stability.  They are nice for fishing because all of your gear is easily accessible.  They have a huge disadvantage of sometimes being a wet Florida  ride, if you are careful you can stay dry, but most of the time you will get a little wet from splashes, which is nice in the summer, not so nice in the winter.   With some practice you can enter some of these kayaks while floating in deep water, which is nice if you go for a swim, intentionally or unintetionally.

 

Recreational kayaking

have a closed cockpit, but it usually a fairly large opening, Large enough to put a small child in there with you.  They are shorter than touring kayaks, usually 12 feet or less.  They are nice because in the summer you can leave the cockpit open for a nice cool ride, but in the winter you can use a skirt and have a dry warm trip.  They are significantly cheaper than touring kayaks and since they are shorter they are easier to store and transport.  They are shorter, so they are not as fast as touring kayaks because they don't track as well. Tracking is the ability of a kayak to go straight instead of turning when you don't want it too. A Florida kayak that does not track well will turn to the right when you paddle on the left and vice versa.  Generally the longer the kayak the better it tracks.  Some recreational Florida kayaking get better tracking by the use of a skeg or rudder.

 

 Touring Florida kayaking

 are usually 12 feet or longer they generally have smaller cockpits.  They are also narrower.  The smaller cockpit also has thigh braces in it so that if the kayak rolls over the paddler uses his thighs and hips to roll himself back upright.  These kayaks are the most expensive of the different kayaks, usually about $800 used and $1200 or more new.  They are very fast because they are so narrow and long.  They are also difficult to store and transport because of their length.  These kayaks are more often used on long trips across large bodies of water and are not as useful for the family on an afternoon trip to the lake where a recreational or sit-on-top would be better.

---

Florida Kayaking

RELAXING: Relaxing Florida kayak tours are for the whole family. This is a tour everyone can participate in, and even though it's a little slower paced than other tours, it surely does not lack adventure. These tours go through various types of saltwater and freshwater environments. From mangrove channels that enclose the trail forming tunnels filled with small fish, crabs, and nesting birds, to one of the few remaining natural barrier keys along Florida's Gulf Coast, you will be captivated. Experience white, sandy shores and rivers that meander through various natural environments where the scenic views and wildlife make every turn a discovery beneath cypress, oak, and hardwood hammocks. These areas provide habitats for animals we may spot. This is a piece of pristine, natural Florida. Parks include: Fort Desoto, Caladesi Island, Honeymoon Island, Weedon Island, Hillsborough River, Alafia River, and Little Manatee River.

MODERATE: Moderate kayaking tours kicks things up a notch. You don't have to be a tri-athlete to participate in this tour, but you better be ready to get a solid workout. Parks include: Fort Desoto, Caladesi Island, Honeymoon Island, Weedon Island, Hillsborough River, Alafia River, and Little Manatee River.

ADVANCED: Advanced kayaking tours are only for the experienced. It requires extensive paddling skills, due to the distance involved, and the ability to paddle in open water. Parks include: Fort Desoto to Shell Key, which is 4 hours and Hillsborough River, which is 6 hours long.

Programs Greenways & rails Home Acquisition Community Assistance Designation Developers Ecological/Trail Networks Recreational Trails Program (RTP) OGT Managed Greenways & Trails

Highlights Trail Segment Descriptions, Maps, and more Trail Status Report- Dec. 2007 (PDF 5.3mb) Trail Planning Map Setting GPS Location Format

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. Several 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. To learn more, log onto www.floridapaddlingtrails.com .

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 and the Gulf and Wilderness waterways in Everglades National Park. Also, the trail connects, incorporates and complements several county blueways trails.

 

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.

Thinking of paddling on the Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail? See the long distance trip considerations and recommendations web page before planning your trip.