If Florida has a last frontier, it’s wet. And it’s waiting. The Ten Thousand Islands — a labyrinth of mangrove islets, oyster reefs, hidden coves, and open water — stretch from Everglades City to Flamingo like a tangle of emerald lace. It’s a place where GPS can falter, the horizon blends into sky, and your paddle becomes a compass for memory.
What it is
The Ten Thousand Islands is a coastal wilderness at the edge of the Everglades, protected largely by Everglades National Park and Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge. Despite the name, the archipelago consists of hundreds (not quite ten thousand) of mangrove islands and shoals that blur the line between land and sea.
This region is one of the most pristine and remote marine environments in the continental U.S. — a haven for manatees, dolphins, roseate spoonbills, sea turtles, and backcountry paddlers seeking silence.
Here, the air smells of salt and decay and life. The light bounces differently. And every turn in the mangrove tunnel feels like a secret.
How to Paddle It
You can explore the Ten Thousand Islands in a single afternoon — or spend a week weaving through its wild watery maze. The best way to experience it is by kayak or canoe, though experienced paddlers sometimes go by paddleboard or skiff.
Launch from:
Everglades City
The traditional jumping-off point. Kayak rentals, outfitters, and guide services abound. Everglades Area Tours
Chokoloskee Island
A funky, shrimp-boat village with big Old Florida energy. Launch from the marina and you’re in the backcountry in minutes.
Port of the Islands
Further north, near Naples. Offers a quieter entry to the southern fringe of the Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge.
For long adventures, consider the Wilderness Waterway, a 99-mile paddling trail connecting Everglades City to Flamingo through mangrove creeks, beach campsites, and chickees (elevated wooden platforms above water).
Best Routes and Campsites
Day Trip: Sandfly Island Loop
- Distance: ~4 miles
- Launch: Everglades City Ranger Station
- Highlights: Mangrove tunnels, archaeology, wildlife, and a shell mound built by the Calusa over 1,000 years ago.
Overnight: Camp at Picnic Key
- Launch: Chokoloskee or Everglades City
- Highlights: Open Gulf vistas, white shell beach, dolphins at dusk, and stargazing without a single man-made light in sight.
Multi-Day: Wilderness Waterway (Up to 10 Days)
- Challenge level: High
- Reservation required via Everglades National Park
- Prepare for: Tides, bugs, open water crossings, and soul-shifting solitude.
Wildlife Encounters
This region is one of Florida’s richest biodiversity zones:
- Manatees: Gliding like submerged potatoes through channels
- Dolphins: Bow-riding beside your kayak
- Alligators: Generally chill unless surprised
- Birdlife: Roseate spoonbills, ospreys, herons, egrets, skimmers, and the occasional bald eagle
- Fish: Tarpon, snook, redfish, and the flicker of mullet skipping the surface
When to Go
Dry Season (November–April) is best. Lower water levels, cooler temps, fewer bugs, and more wildlife. Avoid summer unless you like dehydration and mosquitoes with ambition.
Tides matter. So do wind and weather. Plan accordingly, bring maps (yes, the paper kind), and always tell someone where you’re going.
Why It Matters
The Ten Thousand Islands are a wilderness rare in today’s world: roadless, untrammeled, unscripted. To paddle here is to remember that Florida isn’t just theme parks and traffic — it’s also raw, vast, and humbling.
This is the kind of place that reshapes your internal compass. Where a plastic bottle feels like a betrayal. Where time is marked by tide, and silence is thick enough to touch.
The Sunshine Republic counts this place among its sacred spaces.
Here’s What I’d Do:
Put in at dawn. Let the fog burn off the water as the spoonbills take flight. Paddle into a mangrove tunnel and don’t speak for a while. I once spent 20 minutes watching a manatee nap, its breath rising like a slow kettle. That night I camped on Rabbit Key, the stars so bright I felt like I was floating through them.
Directions + Official Info
- Everglades National Park: nps.gov/ever
- Ten Thousand Islands NWR: fws.gov/refuge/ten-thousand-islands
- Gulf Coast Visitor Center: 815 Oyster Bar Ln, Everglades City, FL 34139
Where to Stay
- Ivey House Everglades Adventures Hotel – Rustic-luxe and right in Everglades City. Booking link
- Rod & Gun Club – An old-school lodge with a Hemingway vibe. No TVs. Lots of stories. Booking link
- Camping – Reserve chickee or beach sites through Everglades NP. Pack out what you pack in.
Where to Eat
- Camellia Street Grill (Everglades City) – Funky riverside eatery with gator tacos and Key lime pie. Tripadvisor
- Island Cafe – A local staple for stone crab and air conditioning. Tripadvisor
- Triad Seafood Market & Cafe – Stone crab claws and shrimp by the water. Tripadvisor
Conclusion
The Ten Thousand Islands aren’t for everyone. There’s no Wi-Fi. No roadside attractions. Just water, wind, and wilderness. But if you want to disappear — and come back changed — this is your place. Bring a paddle. Bring a map. Bring a willingness to get quiet inside.