If you kayak or canoe in Florida and you're looking for new paddling destinations, you've come to the right place. The links on this page point to high-quality government, commercial and private websites that will help you find the perfect location and make your day on the water safe and enjoyable.

Aquatic Preserves - Part of DEP, covers 41 preserves and 2 million acres of marshes, estuaries and coastline.

Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail - 1,515 mile saltwater version of the Appalachian Trail.

Florida Springs - Learn about and experience the magic of Florida springs.

Florida State Parks - Extensive site and two-time winner of Gold Metal award for best state parks in US.

FWC Freshwater Boat Ramps - Web guide to FWC Commission freshwater boat ramps.

Office of Greenways and Trails - Explore recreational areas and Florida designated paddling trails.

Apalachicola Paddling Trail - Northwest of the Big Bend; has fun named trails - Thank You Ma'am, Whiskey George.

Big Bend Saltwater Paddling Trail - Multi-day expeditions along the Gulf Coast, 105 mile trail, 7 primitive campsites.

Charlotte County Blueway - 40 trails and paddling opportunities in and around the Charlotte Harbor estuary.

Everglades Wilderness Waterway - 99 mile long wilderness trail that starts in Everglades City and ends in Flamingo.

Florida Keys Overseas Paddle Trail - 111 mile long sea kayak trail starting in Key Largo ending in Key West.

Hillsborough Blueways - Paddling trails on the rivers, creeks, bays and estuaries throughout Hillsborough County.

Lake County Blueways - More than 130 miles of scenic waterways in and through Lake County.

Paddle Manatee - 75 mile long paddling trail system south of the Tampa Bay area. Beautiful free guide book.

Paradise Coast Blueway - A southwest Florida and Collier County paddling trail system covering Everglades City to Naples.

Pinellas County Blueway - Detailed paddling trail system located along the Gulf of Mexico near Tampa Bay.

Suwannee River Wilderness Trail - Extensive 170-mile trail from White Springs to the town of Suwannee on the Gulf.

The Great Calusa Blueway Paddling Trail - 190-mile marked trail that meanders along the coastal waters Lee County.

Volusia County Blueways - Northeast Florida water trail system including Mosquito Lagoon and Halifax River.

Club Kayak - Paddlesport community for kayaking and canoeing. Hosts top Florida paddling club websites.

Florida Paddling Trails Association - Non-profit organization dedicated to "connecting paddlers to water trails".

Florida Professional Paddlesports Association - Florida outfitters and retailers association.

Florida Springs Database - Over 750 Florida springs listed with maps, weather and additional information.

JAX Kayak Fishing - Kayak fishing community for the greater Jacksonville area.

My Florida Club - Database of over 900 Florida outdoor clubs including paddling and other water sports.

American Canoe Association - Promotes education, competition, stewardship and the environment.

Paddling.net - Source for kayak and canoeing. Extensive forums, boat reviews, articles, classifieds.

Trails.com - Trail guides, photos, maps, reviews and more for North America.

EveryTrail - Global website for sharing travel experiences and planning trips. Extensive GPS use.

Flickr - Excellent site to search for location photos for trip planning and posting your own photos afterward.

Float Plan - A simple trip/float planner to keep you safe.

Google Maps - Well known online mapping tool useful for finding the put-in. Has street level and satellite views.

Google Earth - PC/Mac program for trip planning. Able to create maps, routes, display waypoints and more. Free version.

GPS Babel - Free PC/Mac software for GPS data conversion and transfer.

Reserve America - Campgrounds and camping reservations for Florida State Parks.

Spot Satellite GPS Messenger - Personal satellite messaging for your multi-day trips and expeditions.

USGS Real-Time Water Data - Statewide system that lets you check water levels and flow rates.

YouTube - Popular video sharing site useful for finding location videos for trip planning.

Canoe and Kayak Magazine - US and International destinations, canoeing, kayaking and whitewater.

Dave's Yak Tales (blog) - Dave purchased his first kayak in 2005 but already has racked up 1000s of miles in Florida.

Kayak Paddle Tales (blog) - Incredible photography and trip reports by a woman who loves the sport.

Paddler Magazine - Official magazine of the American Canoe Association.

Sea Kayaker Magazine - Sea Kayak articles from around the globe.

WaveLength Magazine - Articles, forum, buyers guide and other resources for paddlers.

This page was created for the 2009 Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival held in Fort Myers, Florida. You can also view the accompanying Microsoft PowerPoint presentation here (6.4 MB).