Paddling in the mangroves at Biscayne National Park

The Kayak the Mangroves tour is a 1.5-hour paddling tour offered by the Biscayne National Park Institute that departs multiple times each day from the canoe launch at the Dante Fascell Visitor Center on Convoy Point in Homestead, Florida. Ages 6 and up can participate (3 and up if you book a private tour), though obviously toddlers will be riding along in their parents’ boat, not paddling. The only other requirement is that you wear protective footwear such as water shoes or sneakers that you don’t mind getting wet. Flip flops and sandals are not allowed.

Canoe launch at Biscayne National Park’s Dante Fascell Visitor Center

The Biscayne National Park Institute has an office inside the Visitor Center, so you can book a tour on the day of your arrival. I don’t think there is any limit to the number of participants, so signing up at the spur of the moment shouldn’t be a problem. There were only four people on the tour I did in January. You can also book a tour in advance on the Institute’s Kayak the Mangroves web page (get the latest schedule and fees on this page as well).

Before departing, all participants must sign a waiver. If you make a reservation online, you will get instructions about filling out the waiver online. However, I found the instructions to be confusing—I couldn’t even find the link in the email—so I just signed one at the Visitor Center.

In addition to the waiver, everyone must register at the Visitor Center prior to departing to let the tour guide know you have arrived. Once registered, wait outside near the restrooms at the bottom level of the building. There may be other tours departing at the same time, but your tour guide will make an announcement when the trip is ready to depart. You don’t need to arrive way ahead of time. As long as you can sign the waiver and register before the tour begins, you’re in like Flynn. Fifteen minutes should do the trick.

The paddle is billed as a semi-guided tour. The general idea is that the guide will paddle with you for a little while to make sure you know what you’re doing and perhaps tell you about the ecology of the area. After that, you are free to go wherever you’d like as long as you are back by the time the tour ends. In truth, you can take off on your own from the start, but that basically equates to paying $40 for an hour-and-a-half kayak rental, and for that price you can typically rent a kayak for all day. Thus, if you want to get your money’s worth, stick with the guide. He or she will take you to some places that you probably will miss if you go off on your own.

My buddy and I started the trip by paddling out to some islands located directly across the bay from the boat ramp. During this time I came across a manatee lounging in the water. I could have reached out and touched him with my paddle, that’s how close he was. After about twenty minutes the guide made his way out to the islands, and we hooked up with him from that point on. The other two paddlers took off on their own from the start.

Kayaking in Biscayne Bay near Biscayne National Park’s Dante Fascell Visitor Center

The guide took us down the Mowry Canal, which is located on the other side of the islands. There is a sluice gate that regulates the flow of water into the canal and also prohibits anyone from going farther. We got out and walked along the shore, then crossed over the canal on the gate. Below were tons of fish and a few manatees. There was also a brown pelican perched on the structure. Needless to say, this is a great place to see wildlife.

Paddling down the Mowry Canal in Biscayne National Park

Sluice gate on the Mowry Canal

Manatee under the Mowry Canal sluice gate

Brown pelican on the Mowry Canal sluice gate

On the way back we ducked into a narrow inlet channel and ended up actually paddling through the mangroves. I doubt I would have spotted the entrance into the channel had it not been for my guide. There is a small island of mangroves directly in front of the channel that blocks the view, which is why it is hard to spot if you don’t know where to look.

Paddling in the Mangroves near Biscayne National Park’s Dante Fascell Visitor Center

I did the Kayak the Mangroves tour only to write about it. I have my own kayak and have paddled plenty in the mangroves, including just about every water trail in the Everglades other than the Wilderness Waterway, so this was no big deal for me. However, if you are new to paddling or don’t have a kayak or paddle board and want to do something that your whole family can enjoy, the Kayak the Mangroves tour is a great way to spend time. Just stick with your guide.

Since the guides for the Biscayne National Park Institute are not National Park Service Rangers, and thus not federal employees, they can accept tips. If you enjoyed the tour, be sure to give them a few bucks.

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