Matthew Keene, a 23-year-old from Cocoa Beach, has become the first person to complete the state's 1,600-mile saltwater kayaking trial. Keene, who paddled around the entire Florida peninsula, finished at Big Lagoon State Park last week. The Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail, which now has segments around the entire state, was mapped and developed by the Department of Environmental Protection's Office of Greenways and Trails.
Designated as a National Recreational Trail, the Florida Circumnavigation Saltwater Paddling Trail follows the Florida peninsula from Pensacola around the Keys to the Georgia border. Often described as the saltwater version of the Appalachian Trail, the trail highlights 37 of Florida’s 41 aquatic preserves and offers paddlers access to many state, national and local parks, seashores, wildlife refuges, marine sanctuaries and historic sites.
DEP’s Office of Greenways an Trails manages eight state trails, in addition to the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway, Florida’s longest green corridor stretching 110 miles from the St. Johns River near Palatka to the Gulf of Mexico near Inglis. Of the eight state trails, six are rail-trails, which are railroad corridors converted to recreational trails for hiking, biking, skating and equestrian activities. Through Florida Forever, the state’s premier land acquisition program, $4.5 million is allocated annually to purchase and preserve land for Florida’s greenways and trails.
For more information on the Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail, go to paddle Florida.
Looking for a great day hike for your toddler? How about a romantic paddle to a barrier island with your sweetheart? Planning to buy a backpacking tent but don't know where to start? Find the answers to these and other questions when you take a walk on the "Wild Side" with St. Petersburg Times Outdoors Editor Terry Tomalin, who has traveled the globe for the past 20 years looking for adventure.
Actually, people (OK, crazy people) do something like this every year, in the Ultimate Florida Challenge race that encircles the Florida peninsula (but not the panhandle). And their race includes a 40-mile portage.
Posted by: Steve | January 14, 2009 at 10:03 AM
How long did it take him? Sounds awesome.
Posted by: Kenneth | January 14, 2009 at 01:23 PM
How long did it take him? Sounds awesome.
Posted by: Kenneth | January 14, 2009 at 01:23 PM
Even though the circumnavigation has been done before, it's still an impressive feat. Matthew should join WaterTribe and circumnavigate as part of the Ultimate Challenge. He sounds crazy enough to fit right in.
Posted by: Nick | January 14, 2009 at 03:58 PM
3 months and 21 days. I'm not the first person to paddle around Florida, and make no claim at being so- just at following this trail. I've heard a lot about Watertribe, and spoken with some members. I'm very interested in checking it out. The Ultimate Challenge sounds fun...
Posted by: Matt | January 19, 2009 at 05:59 PM