Paddle Out!
Everything You Need To Know About Cruising Our Local Waters
Let’s hear it for paddle power! Leave those noisy motorboats behind, and explore South Florida’s pristine waterways on muscle-powered watercraft: canoes, kayaks and paddleboards.
You’ll experience a more intimate connection with nature and, as a bonus, hone your upper body. And the sightseeing is amazing. You’re likely to discover wading birds, curious manatees, sun-bathing turtles, and a glorious variety of native plants and trees.
Don’t own any equipment or know where to find the best venues? No worries. Here’s our guide to top area paddling spots, where you can rent everything you need for an idyllic day on the water.
Lauderdale-by-the-Sea
Dubbed Florida’s “Beach Diving Capital,” Lauderdale-by-the-Sea is also a great place for paddleboarding. Paddle out to see the living coral reef within 100 yards of shore – an underwater habitat teeming with spiny lobsters, tropical fish and rust-colored barrel sponges. Paddleboards and kayaks are available for rent.
Entry fee: free
Information: paddleboardfl.com
Outfitter: Paddle Board of Florida, 218 Commercial Blvd., #107, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, 305-206-0248
George English Park
This alluring park next to the Sunrise bridge in Fort Lauderdale is an especially good spot for experienced paddlers who enjoy exploring on their own. A sandy beach area in the corner of the park is a perfect place for launching kayaks.Don’t have your own? Blue Moon rents kayaks and paddleboards. Guides are available to lead day or night kayak tours through scenic areas focusing on history, architecture and nature.
Entry fee: free
Information: bluemoonoutdoor.com
Outfitter: Blue Moon Outdoor Center, George English Park, 1101 Bayview Drive, Fort Lauderdale, 954-781-0073
Virginia Key
Rent a paddleboard or a single, double, triple or quad kayak, or bring your own. Lamar Lake, a small, tranquil mangrove-lined bay, provides a great start before venturing out into Norris Cut and the Atlantic Ocean. Lessons are available. Arrive early in the day to have a better chance of seeing manatees, dolphins, sea turtles, stingrays and sharks.
Entry fee: free
Information: vkoc.net
Outfitter: Virginia Key Outdoor Center, 3801 Rickenbacker Causeway, Virginia Key, Miami, 786-224-4777
Oleta River State Park
This picturesque park 30 minutes from downtown Miami, bisected by its namesake waterway, features a stunning oasis of hardwood hammocks and mangroves. It’s not only Florida’s largest urban park but also has access to the 1,515-mile Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail, a haven for canoers, kayakers and paddleboarders. Rent equipment, or bring your own. Guided tours (sunset and full moon) are available.
Entry fee: $6 per vehicle
Information: floridastateparks.org/oletariver
Outfitter: BG Oleta River Outdoors, 3400 N.E. 163rd St., North Miami Beach, 305-919-1844
John D. MacArthur Beach State Park
The scenery and bird life at this park are spectacular, but the saltwater marshes offer no shade. Paddlers – who can rent kayaks, canoes and paddleboards onsite – are encouraged to bring a hat, sunscreen and lots of water. Kayak around the lagoon, or venture into the broader, choppier Lake Worth. Also good for exploring is Munyon Island, about a one-mile paddle away. Be aware of tides because, during low tide, the area around the island becomes a mud flat.
Entry fee: $5 per car; $4 per car with single occupant; $2 per pedestrian or bicyclist
Information: macarthurbeach.org
Outfitter: Beach Outfitters Gift Shop & Kayak Rentals, 10900 Jack Nicklaus Drive, North Palm Beach, 561-776-7449, ext. 102
Loxahatchee River & Riverbend Park
Rent a canoe or kayak to paddle the Loxahatchee River, a nature lover’s paradise and a nationally recognized Wild and Scenic River. The river starts out narrow and twisty as it meanders along downstream from Riverbend Park toward the ocean. A round-trip tour, which begins at the park, lasts about two hours. Paddlers will pass through a cypress swamp and some sandy areas and see several species of plants and animals. Tours are also available in and around the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse area, the Loxahatchee River Aquatic Preserve and the Indian River Lagoon.
Entry fee: free
Information: jupiteroutdoorcenter.com
Outfitter: Jupiter Outdoor Center, 9060 W. Indiantown Road, Jupiter, 561-747-0063
Snook Islands Natural Area, Lake Worth Lagoon
Explore the Snook Islands, part of the Lake Worth Lagoon that has been transformed from a dead zone to a harbor that attracts hundreds of species of birds and marine life. Ecological tours there are designed to give paddlers a relaxing experience, no matter their skill level, as well as a refreshing dose of nature, including jumping mullet and soaring osprey. If you’re interested in sharpening your paddle skills, Kayak Lake Worth offers guidance. Paddleboards and kayaks are launched from the Beach Club at the Lake Worth Golf Course.
Entry fee: free
Information: kayaklakeworth.com
Outfitter: Kayak Lake Worth, 1 Seventh Ave. N., Lake Worth, 561-225-8250
Whiskey Creek, Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park
Designed as a “haven to escape the hectic pace of the metropolis and connect with nature,” according to its website, the Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park in Dania Beach offers a scenic place for paddling enthusiasts who enjoy birdwatching and photography. Kayak, canoe and paddleboard rentals and guided tours (full moon, sunset and eco) are available on its mangrove-lined waterway.
Entry fee: $6 per car; $4 per car with single occupant or motorcycle; $2 per pedestrian or bicyclist
Information: whiskeycreekhideout.com
Outfitter: BG Whiskey Creek Hideout, 6503 N. Ocean Drive, Dania Beach, 954-929-4970
Miami Beach & Monument Island
After a few basic instructions, you’ll be ready to start your adventure via paddleboard or kayak. Head southwest for a view of Miami’s downtown skyline, or paddle north along the shoreline to see some of Miami Beach’s most secluded real estate. Guided tours to Monument Island often include manatee and dolphin sightings en route to Flagler Memorial Island (Monument Island), a secluded, uninhabited beach that can only be reached by water.
Entry fee: free
Information: southbeachkayak.com
Outfitter: South Beach Kayak, 1771 Purdy Ave., Miami Beach, 305-975-5087
Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge
Paddle through the River of Grass at this 143,954-acre refuge west of Boynton Beach. Take the five-mile canoe trail that starts from the boat ramp at the Main Visitor Center, and make your way deep into the Everglades. (It’s the only surviving portion of the northern Everglades.) You can also join a group paddle through the sawgrass marsh or a full moon trip. Canoe rentals are available.
Entry fee: $5 per car
Information: fws.gov/refuge
Outfitter: Loxahatchee Canoeing, Inc., 10216 Lee Road, Boynton Beach, 561-733-0192
Okeeheelee Park
With more than 1,700 acres, Okeeheelee is one of the largest parks in Palm Beach County and an ideal place to paddleboard, kayak or canoe. Launch from the canoe rental kiosk or at the boat launch nearby. You’ll have access to a butterfly-shaped pond with views of golfers, joggers, walkers and Muscovy ducks. Kayaks, canoes and paddleboards are available to rent.
Entry fee: free
Information: discover.pbcgov.org/parks
Outfitter: Kayak-King Watersports Inc., 7715 Forest Hill Blvd., West Palm Beach, 561-304-1344 O