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Routes

This trip is better for kayaks and low tide if you want to do the whole trip. During high tide, the overhead branches are a good bit tighter but it is still doable if you’re limber. The map starts across the highway, but you can begin this trip at PADDLE! the Florida Keys in Tavernier. The wildlife there is usually good, and by staying along the edge, you can avoid the short section which has boat traffic. If you have extra time, add on the first cove on your right, otherwise head straight for the second cove to get to the good stuff. Even the high tide halfway trip is good, but at low tide, you can get a kayak all the way back to the secret lagoon.Toward the end, give up the paddle and pull yourself along by the mangrove roots. Your diligence will be greatly rewarded when you reach the two lagoons. The first one is not very big, but after pulling through, it will feel rather roomy. But the second one is the real deal. That’s all I’ll say to keep from spoiling the effect, but it’s not to be missed. From Tavernier Creek, you can also access Florida Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.

This is one of our two main race loops, leaving and returning from the PADDLE! the Florida Keys Tavernier location and circling around the island. It can be done on a nice day, but due to the open water, please check with the shop personnel to get the latest update on conditions. There are always a lot of fish and wildlife hanging around the island. If you’re heading that way, consider renting a mask and snorkel so you can discover a couple of interesting places where the fish, stingrays, and baby sharks love to hang out.

This 7-mile loop can be quite a task. While not for the faint of heart, you will be rewarded with the best of the best. Winds, tidal currents, motor boat traffic, and the elements all play a major role in this route, but it is also a very rewarding place to kayak or paddleboard. Discover Cowpens Cut, come back through the infamous “Toilet Seat Pass” and return to the shop on Tavernier Creek all in the course of a day. Sometimes we use this loop for our elite race course.

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