Florida's eleven National Parks challenge YOU to get out get paddling and find your park! Through 2016, the centennial year of the National Park Service, visit at least three of Florida's national parks and get out in a canoe, kayak or stand-up-paddleboard and paddle for 100 miles! Don't worry! You don't have to do all 100 miles at once! You'll have all year to get out and discover new places, and rediscover old favorites.Some parks may have rentals available, and some parks may offer guided paddling opportunities as well. Be sure to log your miles (download a convenient log sheet here) and take a selfie at each park. Don't forget to share your progress on social media using the hashtags #FLNPS100PaddleChallenge and #FindYourPark. When you reach 100 miles (or more!), stop into any of the national park visitor centers, show your log and your selfies, and you'll earn a specially-designed, one-of-a-kind iron-on patch to mark your achievement! Here is a list of parks where you can log your miles: Castillo de San Marcos National Monument Fort Caroline National Memorial Fort Matanzas National Monument Gulf Islands National Seashore Timucuan Ecological and Historical Preserve Questions about the Florida National Parks Centennial Paddle Challenge?E-Mail us! The Florida National Parks Centennial Paddle Challenge is made possible through the generous support of theSouth Florida National Parks Trust. Paddling at Dry Tortugas National Park
Depending on your level of experience there are many trips that can be made in the park. From quick paddles near Garden Key to longer open water paddles. Bush and Long Key are the closest to Garden Key and home to thousands of nesting birds in the spring. A trip around these two islands generally takes a few hours. Loggerhead Key is 3 miles to the west of Garden Key and can take several hours to paddle round trip. Loggerhead is the largest island in the park and offers great snorkeling and nearby empty beaches. This trip involves crossing deep, open water with very strong currents. |
Last updated: December 21, 2017