Kayaking - Canoeing - Rafting - Fishing - Surfing

Our Route Summary

• Submitted by: Dwight Ruttledge
• Date Submitted: 2/2011
• Location: Kissimmee, Florida USA
• Class: 1
• Distance Paddled: about 3 miles round trip
• Water: tannic spring water
• Wildlife: Bass, catfish, turkey, Yellow-bellied sliders (turtles), alligator, Great Blue Heron, Little Blue Heron, Tri-colored Heron, Green Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Great Egret, White, Brown Ibis, Red-headed and Pileated Woodpecker, Mallard ducks, Palmetto, Cypress, Epiphytes
• Special Regulations: Park is open only from dawn to dusk

Entry and Exit

• Directions: Shingle Creek Regional Park at Steffee Landing is on the south side of State Route 192, Between Hoagland Boulevard traffic light (sign: Kissimmee Gateway Airport) to the East, and Old Vineland Road traffic light to the West (Wal-Mart on the SW corner). The flat bridge (in the photo at right) crosses Shingle Creek between the two traffic lights. Access to the park is from the East-Bound lane only. There is a turnaround at the west end of the bridge that allows for a U-turn to head east in order to make the right turn into the park.
• GPS: N 28° 18' 11.46" W 81° 27' 3.96" (actual reading)
• Fee: None
• Description: Muddy beaches below the SR 192 bridge or near the picnic area (depending on the water level). There were also floating docks originally used by a defunct airboat tour company and a concrete boat ramp; however, the access gate to the ramp was padlocked closed.
• Parking: adjacent dirt parking lot, mostly under trees.
• Facilities: Restrooms but no potable water. Water faucets were available for non-drinking purposes, like washing mud off boats; suggest you bring containers or hose. Six picnic tables under trees along the edge of the creek provided a nice relaxing view.
• Special Handicap Access: A wooden ramp provides access to the restrooms; the remainder of the park is dirt and grass with no other ramps or walkways.

Where We Paddled and What We Saw

Old-style Florida homes were being renovated on both sides of the creek near the picnic area to showcase Florida life in earlier days; eventually there are planned to be a half dozen or more small houses on the property set off by the still swamp-black water.

Palmettos grew thickly along many parts of the creek, not allowing take–outs en route. We saw a large number of birds and turtles along the creek, typical Spanish moss-hanging from cypress in many places, with dead falls blocking access to possible side routes through the swampy areas.

After the creek leaves the park area to the south most of the possible landings or docks are prohibited by private property warning signs.

Heading north, the creek widened in some places to forty or more yards, with cove-like places full of birds and fish, and a few fishermen along the way. There was nearly no current, the black water was glassy with leaves and pollen floating on top.

There were no side channels available to explore, but the scenery was terrific and peaceful.

After about a mile and a half of winding paddling the creek was blocked by dead fall; a "do not enter" sign was posted just short of the dead fall. At this point there was a possibility of another put-in, but it was a long haul from the nearest parking area.

Black-Crowned Night Heron

Little Blue Heron

Heading south from the park the creek was a little narrower with palmettos growing close to the water; more cypress trees and several swampy areas clogged with dead fall.

The distance to the blocked portion of the creek was a little less than a mile and a half, putting the put-in in about the middle of the day’s paddle.

Beyond the dead fall; the creek appeared to continue toward the east another two to three more miles to enter the west side of Lake Tohopekaliga (Toho). But we left that for another day.

Great Blue Heron

Mallard Ducks