Ten Thousand Islands in the Gulf Coast unit of Everglades National Park

Gulf Coast Visitor Center

10,000 Islands Boat Tour

Paddling Trips

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The Gulf Coast Area is located on the west coast of Florida near Naples, and while it is part of Everglades National Park, it is not what most people think of as the “Everglades.” This is not a swamp. This is not a river of grass. There are no airboats here. This is Chokoloskee Bay and the 10,000 Islands. This is sportsmen country. If you don’t have a boat, kayak, or canoe, there’s not much to do here.

Aerial photo of the Ten Thousand Islands in the Gulf Coast unit of Everglades National Park

Everything in the Gulf Coast Area revolves around water—boating, fishing, sailing, kayaking, canoeing. There are no hiking trails in the area other than one on Sandfly Island. When you enter the Gulf Coast Visitor Center you will find that most people are getting backcountry camping permits for a multi-day paddling trip, perhaps on the 99-mile Wilderness Waterway. There are beaches, but you must paddle across the bay to the farthest islands to reach them.

For those who do want to get out on the water but don’t have a canoe, park Rangers lead free paddling trips to various locations in the area. See the park’s Gulf Coast Ranger Guided Tours web page for a schedule. Other than that, about the only thing Gulf Coast has to offer the typical car-tourist is a cruise of the bay where you can spot birds and dolphins.

The Gulf Coast Area has pleasant weather in the winter with minimal mosquitoes and other bugs. While there are no campgrounds in the park, there are plenty of places to stay—campgrounds and hotels—in the nearby towns of Everglades City and Chokoloskee. This is a very popular area for retired people who like to fish and boat all winter long, and many of the campgrounds host a large population of winter residents.

Dolphins in Chokoloskee Bay, Everglades National Park

Pelican in Chokoloskee Bay, Everglades National Park

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