Kayaking the 100 MILE Wilderness Waterway - Everglades National Park

Join host Ryan Wood on adventure in the Florida Everglades. The Wilderness Waterway is a 100 mile kayak/canoe trail in Everglades National Park connecting Flamingo and Everglades City. Enjoy the beautiful scenery, camping, and fishing that the Wilderness Waterway has to offer.
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[@willbart1236]

Great video. I’ve done that trip twice. Both times from Everglades city to flamingo. My second time I did it solo. No GPS or phone. Just a compass and a chart. I wanted the challenge. I also went off of the marked waterway. No room for error. I’m planning my third trip, solo again, for my 60th birthday coming up in February. Very excited. There’s been quite a few hurricanes since the last time I kayaked it2005). I bet it’s totally different now. I hope they have updated the charts, post hurricanes. 10,000 islands is absolutely magical. Probably the only place in the world where you can find alligators, crocodiles, and sharks in the same water. And the fishing is phenomenal.

[@RWoodOutdoors]

Thanks for the kind words and for sharing your adventures. Mad respect for doing this route without a GPS!

[@kevo32]

I feel like at anytime he would say "This is a mangrove forest, you can tell because of the way it is".

[@tammywindsor2908]

Love the area, thanks for sharing

[@1990xj4fun]

I really enjoyed taking that journey with you, Ryan! Thanks for sharing that amazing video!!!

[@RWoodOutdoors]

Thank you!

[@WestCoastOutdoor]

Great to see you using the Outback as a "tourer" as well as a fishing yak! Thanks for sharing!

[@RWoodOutdoors]

Yes, it was a fine choice.

[@orlandowesley2390]

i dont mean to be offtopic but does anyone know a method to log back into an Instagram account?? I was dumb forgot the password. I would love any help you can give me!

[@imranchandler1083]

@Orlando Wesley Instablaster ;)

[@orlandowesley2390]

@Imran Chandler Thanks for your reply. I found the site through google and I'm waiting for the hacking stuff now. I see it takes quite some time so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.

[@orlandowesley2390]

@Imran Chandler It did the trick and I finally got access to my account again. I'm so happy:D Thank you so much, you really help me out :D

[@SilverHonda0767]

Awesome video 😎 This is on my bucket list too.

[@Oceangirl15]

Nice trip. Really enjoyed watching.

[@RWoodOutdoors]

Thank you!

[@grampahom7849]

This is awesome think I might try it sometime, no spring chicken coming up on 63 probably shouldn't do ot alone.

[@dmgolub1]

Great video. Wish I was there.

[@benadams4942]

Thanks for the trip.

[@RWoodOutdoors]

Thanks!

[@SkunkMonkey991]

Thanks, took me back to 77. Did the trip in Scouts. Pre Andrew there were actual tunnels in the mangroves which were spectacular. Did you pass the Watson place? Seems your route may have been different from ours back then. No GPS back then lol. Whitewater Bay at the start was our worst part due to a head wind and 1.5 ft chop. Enjoyed, thanks.

[@RWoodOutdoors]

Thank you! Very impressive without GPS! Yes, I passed the Watson place but didn't spend the night there.

[@franksflytraps]

wow that was awesome. what would you do differently if you did it again?

[@RWoodOutdoors]

Thank you! If I were to do it again, I would fish more. Passed lots of good looking spots trying to make my miles.

[@shepirate]

EXTRAORDINARY! Do you by chance have a gear list anywhere? Good to know 8 galleons of water...

[@RWoodOutdoors]

I don't have my gear list posted publicly yet, but might be a topic for a future video.

[@dmgolub1]

Great video. VERY impressive How bad were the bugs? I had some really bad times with noseeums.

[@RWoodOutdoors]

Thank you! Fortunately the bugs werent bad at all this trip. It is important to go in the cooler months (November-April). But yes, the bugs can be absolutely unbearable at times.

[@glennkessler749]

I am interested in knowing your list of gear that you brought. can you show a list of what you brought with you on your trip?

[@RWoodOutdoors]

Check out my video on top 5 gear picks for kayak camping. My full gear list will be a topic for a future video!

[@ralphie0224]

Great video. What time of the year was it? Month?

[@RWoodOutdoors]

Thanks! This was November.

[@DD206]

Did you do this alone or with a partner? Did you have any backup drives or parts in case of breakdown or just the paddle? Looks like a great journey.

[@RWoodOutdoors]

There was one other guy that made the trip with me in his own kayak (same model). I didn't brink a spare drive, but I had a spare fin mast which is a commonly bent/broken part if you hit something with the pedal drive. I also had a Hobie kayak sail in case of gear failure or injury, but didn't end up using it.

[@Mdcmedics]

Did you need any permits to stop at those chikees?

[@Lordbiggzz]

Hey man, great channel! Going to fish from my kayak in Flamingo this weekend. Got some of those lures that you recommended. Should I take some bait as well? If so, what?? Thanks!

[@RWoodOutdoors]

Thank you! If you can buy or catch live bait, hard to go wrong. I often cast lures with a live bait out the back.

[@Lordbiggzz]

Cool. Would you use the Walmart worms for fishing by the mangroves?

[@RWoodOutdoors]

@@Lordbiggzz probably best to start with shrimp.

[@polariszsy]

Nice trip！but how you will go back to Flamingo?

[@RWoodOutdoors]

Thanks! It's done with two vehicles (and a buddy!). Leave the first one at everglades city, and drive back to flamingo to get the first one when you finish the journey. Or have a really generous friend drop you off at flamingo and pick you up at everglades city.

[@XplorinWithPaul]

How much water would u say you took with you and did you have portable chargers or just save battery

[@RWoodOutdoors]

I took 8 gallons of water and a large Anker charger.

[@TheDcrocks1]

What GPS did you use? Is it a GPS with preloaded maps or a live satellite feed? Batteries or rechargeable?

[@RWoodOutdoors]

Garmin In Reach. Preloaded maps. It is rechargeable, but the battery lasts a long time. I brought a battery backup to recharge my electronics during the trip. There are more capable GPS units out there, but I like the In Reach because you can send text messages with it even out of cell signal range.

[@markjay05]

How often did you have to take out the mirage drive?

[@RWoodOutdoors]

Not too often. Just when beaching plus a couple short sections that were super shallow.

[@ricardogarcia4680]

When you left Highland did you go up lostmans or double back to broad?

[@RWoodOutdoors]

Went back to broad. Had a strong current in our favor that morning so wanted to take advantage of it.

[@ricardogarcia4680]

@@RWoodOutdoors Sounds good. I will also have an incoming and to be honest have never fished the Broad so will give it a go. Thanks

[@aaronmyers5025]

How did you retrieve your vehicle ?? Great vid!

[@RWoodOutdoors]

Thanks! The logistics of a "one way trip" are very tricky. Basically you leave one vehicle at the finish line and drive back to the start to get the other.

[@loistaysom1419]

Which map/s did you use on your Garmin?

[@RWoodOutdoors]

I just use the standard default map on the garmin. No special chips or add ins. I did program my waypoints in Google Earth and exported it to the Garmin.

[@paulumer4378]

Do you have to rent those campsites or you can just pull up and use it ?

[@RWoodOutdoors]

Within the national park boundaries (this entire trip), you have to reserve the campsites. We just reserved at the welcome center the day we started. First come first serve availability. Depending on the time of year (busy season) there can be a small fee.

[@braydenmurrah1042]

Hey man, I am looking to go to the everglades and do a trip like this year. I'm not sure what to bring. My most concerning thought is getting lost in there lol. Is there some kind of satellite GPS you used? Also, do I need a permit, and where do I get it? Your response would be appreciated.

[@RWoodOutdoors]

Definitely need a GPS. It's a maze back there. I use a Garmin inReach which allows me to send/receive text messages in addition to GPS functions. Yes, you will need a permit to reserve specific camp sites. I usually get mine at the everglades welcome center first day of the trip, but you can also reserve online in advance.

[@braydenmurrah1042]

@@RWoodOutdoors Thanks for the fast response man! I appreciate you letting me know.

[@georgehayduke6717]

Do you have reservations for the platforms? What if other campers are there ?

[@RWoodOutdoors]

Yes, you have to reserve specific platforms at the welcome center desk on the first day of your trip (you can't do it in advance). First come first serve. They give you a permit to hang on your tent . Best to have a backup plan if the one you want isn't available.

[@southfloridapaddlefishing7452]

You can reserve the camp sites on recreation.gov up to 3 months in advance. Permits can be picked up in person or you can try calling it in.

[@pat_welsh]

Cool trip Ryan I thoroughly enjoyed it. I did this trip in 2005 and 2006. Look up my documentary "Wilderness 99".

[@RWoodOutdoors]

Thanks for sharing!

[@CapnAhab89]

I would love to do this also. Do you own the kayaks or rent them? Did you fish from the Chickee’s at all?

[@RWoodOutdoors]

I own my kayak, my buddy rented his. Did a little fishing from the chickees, but after paddling big miles every day, mainly just crashed and went to bed. Lots of snook popping around the chickees at night.

[@CapnAhab89]

Ryan Wood - RWood Outdoors cool. I have my own kayak but would probably want to rent some Hobie’s for the trip. That mirage drive-paddle combo seems the way to go. I would maybe plan it out over more days to fish more and not have to cover so much water each day. That’s just me though. I enjoyed the video quite a bit. Did you do this in December then?

[@RWoodOutdoors]

@@CapnAhab89 a pedal kayak is definitely helpful for covering distance. If paddling only, I would plan on no more than 10 miles per day. If you have the time off for a longer trip, I'd say go for it. Just remember to account for the weight of extra food and water. 1 gallon per person per day plus a couple gallons of reserve. My trip was in late November.

[@CapnAhab89]

Ryan Wood - RWood Outdoors great tips man, thank you much. Where did your friend rent his kayak?

[@RWoodOutdoors]

@@CapnAhab89 Naples Outfitters

[@noblelegrand331]

You know this sounded fun but then I saw the camp sites and got sad you really can’t hammock on that trip

[@RWoodOutdoors]

Hammock camping is definitely doable at the ckickee sites. Bring extra rope. Beach sites would be more of a challenge, but you can plan a route that is entirely chickees.

[@chrissugg5331]

Paddle like a man next time

[@cptech7879]

Lol