Florida
Hells Bay Canoe Trail
About this paddle route
Hells Bay is described by the park as hell to get into and hell to get out of, and the name is earned. The route threads mangrove tunnels so tight that a canoe has to be pushed off the roots, following more than 160 numbered poles because there is no other way to tell one channel from another. There are three chickee and ground campsites along it, which turn it from a hard day into a genuinely memorable overnight.
The famous mangrove tunnel route in Everglades National Park, marked pole by pole from the trailhead out to the Hells Bay chickee.
Highlights
What earns the trip
- Mangrove tunnels narrow enough to pull yourself through by the branches
- Over 160 numbered markers, because the route is otherwise unfindable
- Chickee platforms let you camp on the water itself
- Roseate spoonbills and wading birds throughout the backcountry
Stops
- 1
Hells Bay Trailhead
Roadside put-in on the main park road, where the tunnels start.
- 2
Lard Can Campsite
Ground site at the end of the tightest tunnel section.
- 3
Pearl Bay Chickee
Platform site on the water, accessible and screened.
- 4
Hells Bay Chickee
The furthest platform, out in the bay the route is named for.
When to go
Best time to go
December through April. Summer means heat, storms and clouds of mosquitoes.
Planner estimate for the mapped line: 28 min
Before you go
Know before you go
- A backcountry permit is required for any overnight trip.
- The tunnels are too tight for most tandem sea kayaks. A canoe or a short solo boat is the right craft.
- Bring far more insect protection than you think is reasonable. This is one of the buggiest places in North America.
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