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Canoeing & Kayaking
Noble Hammock near Flamingo Florida USA
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Copyright 2002 Alfonso Vazquez-Cuervo - See Terms of Use

Our Route Summary

  • Submitted by: Al Vazquez alvazquez@kayakguide.com
  • Date Submitted: 2/2002
  • Location: 5 and a half miles north of Flamingo Florida USA
  • Class: Typically flat water mangrove channels
  • Distance Paddled: about a 2 mile loop trail
  • Water Level: low water levels may be a problem during the dry season
  • Water: fresh
  • Wildlife: alligators, gar, ibis, great blue heron, turtles, many flowering water plants, mangroves, numerous varieties of bromeliads, Paurotis palms native to this area of the Everglades
  • Special Regulations: No motors allowed. Because of the proximity to large alligators in the narrow channels, I would avoid this paddle during mating season in the spring and I would not take any small pets along on a paddle here.

Entry

  • Directions: About 5 and a half miles north of Flamingo on Route 9336
  • GPS: N 25 degrees 13.676' W 80 degrees 49.013'
  • Fee: $10 per vehicle park entrance fee plus $3 for a 7 day non-motorized boat permit
  • Description: dock
  • Parking: adjacent unpaved roadside parking
  • Facilities: none
  • Handicap Access: with assistance, but it would be challenging from the dock

Exit

  • Directions: About 100 feet down the road from the Entry
  • GPS: N 25 degrees 13.676' W 80 degrees 49.013'
  • Fee:$10 per vehicle park entrance fee plus $3 for a 7 day non-motorized boat permit
  • Description: dock
  • Parking: adjacent unpaved roadside parking about 100 feet away at the Entry area
  • Facilities: none
  • Handicap Access: with assistance, but it would be challenging onto the dock

What We Saw

Noble Hammock is my favorite canoe trail in the Everglades. It is an extremely well designed trail through mangrove swamp, a few small lakes, and a small landing at Noble Hammock itself.

The trail is well marked by sequentially numbered vertical white poles. You should paddle in the order of the numbered poles as they are place to be visible when paddling in that direction.

Take a boat that is easy to turn as you'll be maneuvering around many tight turns and a few mangrove tunnels that will be difficult in a straight tracking 18 foot sea kayak.

A variety of Everglades plants thrive in Noble Hammock. The pretty flowers shown at left were abundant. With their leaves and stems under water, these flowers peak above the surface to pollinate in the air.
We also had the chance to see several alligators in within 15 feet of us. The mid sized fellow at right remained calm as we took several photos. He was near

GPS: N 25 degrees 13.669' W 80 degrees 49.043'

We also saw some much larger ones a little farther away in the grassy upland shore.

Markers numbered 107-110 had great mangrove tunnels through which to paddle (see the photo of myself at top).
Noble Hammock itself was posted with the sign at the small landing shown at left.

We stopped and had snacks and refreshments here.

There were remarkable tiny bromeliads here. These are epiphytes that take their nourishment from the air and use the trees on which they rest simply to anchor.
The gorgeous, blooming bromeliad shown at right was a common sight paddling Noble Hammock.

As with other paddles in the popular Everglades, we we glad to find no litter anywhere.

What a beautiful place to paddle.

Another nice Everglades canoe trail that is more open is Nine Mile Pond.