OKALOOSA ´ WALTON WASHINGTON M aa p 11 -- B M aa p 11 -- A te R Alterna o uteM aa p 22 -- A
Fort Walton Beach
Destin CALHOUN M M aa p 22 -- B ain R oute BAY
M aa p 33 -- A
Laguna Beach M aa p 33 -- B LIBERTY
Panama City Panama City Beach M aa p 44 -- A F ll o r ii d a C ii r c u m n a v ii g a tt ii o n a ll M aa p 44 -- B S a ll tt w a tt e r P a d d ll ii n g T r a ii ll A ll tt e r n a tt e II n ll a n d R o u tt e :: M aa p 55 -- A GULF
D e s tt ii n tt o A p a ll a c h ii c o ll a Mexico Beach M aa p 55 -- B FRANKLIN White City po Drinking Water t[ Camping Port St. Joe M aa p 66 -- A Kayak Launch Shower Facility M aa p 66 -- B Apalachicola I* Restroom I9 Restaurant ²· Grocery Store e! Point of Interest l Hotel / Motel
Disclaimer: This guide is intended as an aid to navigation only. A Gobal Positioning System (GPS) unit is 0 10 20 40 Miles required, and persons are encouraged to supplement these maps with NOAA charts or other maps. L INCOLN AVE D
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L Bolton Branch
B 12 Altern ate In lan d Route: Destin to Apalachi5cola M Map 1 - A 8 L R Rocky Bayou S Toms Creek A
P Nelson 12 R Point
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E B 6 R O
H Fred Gan n on
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6 A 6 B Rocky Bayou ´ Valparaiso 30 State Park 12 6 Eglin Air Force Base 6 6 Shirk Point Weekley Bayou 3 612 12 Postil D
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3 12 Max w ell-Gun ter Jack Lake Buccaroo Point 12 Bens Lake Recreation Area (Restricted) 6 30 3 6 12 12 6 C 6 12 6 White Point 12 12 WFGX-TV (Fort Walton Beach) 12
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A N: 30.40030 | W: -86.59260 op I* 12 18 30 30 6 12 18 30 3 6 3 B N: 30.50163 | W: -86.43725 op I* 6 t[ North Channel C N: 30.45740 | WR: -a86b.4b11i6t3 Keopy CI*ampsitet[ B Piney Point Marler Bayou 0 1 2 4 Miles
A Ross Marler Park Moreno Point Altern ate In lan d Route: Destin to Apalachicola Ma´p 1 - B
Eglin Air Force Base Basin Bayou Primitive Campsite C
Nick’s Seafood Restauran t 6
0 B -2 SR
Sharon Lake Trout Creek 6 A Choctaw Beach Coun ty Park Grassy Cove Alaqua Choctaw Beach Hammock Point 3 3 Point
Big Hammock Point
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A N: 30.476676 | W: -86.330760 op I* 30 B N: 30.486592 | W: -86.250917 op I* ÆV
N: 30.496910 | W: -86.240160 t[ Choctawhatchee Bay C
6 12 0 1 2 4 Miles 6 Fourmile Point Choctawhatchee River Water Management Area 3 3 3 Piney Point Alaqua Point 6 3 Alternate Inland Route: Destin to Apalachicola Map 2 - A
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Freeport A ´ COUNTY 83 3 3 6 6 3 6 6 Mallet Bayou 6 3
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D Old Bay View 3 3 Wheeler Point 6 La Grange Point Sandhill Lakes Fluffy Landing Bear Creek Conservation A Live Oak Landing Easement Jolly Bay 3 3 N: 30.429982 | W: -86.113518 op t[ 6 A I* 3 Black Creek Bishop Lake 6 3 6 3 3 3 N: 30.387767 | W: -86.173872 op ÆV 3 3 8 3 B I* R S Nancys Cutoff
/ 6
1 Choctawhatchee River N: 30.373727 | W: -86.117105 op 3 3 C e! 3 6 I* 3 S 12 Delta Preserve 3 U N: 30.372820 | W: -86.114970 6 3 D op t[ Duck Lake Choctawhatchee River 3 3 6 Cypress River Water Management Area 3 6 6 3 Live Oak Cutoff 6 3 3 3 3 6 6 Bells Leg3 3 Sister River 3 3 6 3 3 3 6 South Mouth Muddy Lake 3 Reedy Branch 3 3 3 CHAT HOLLEY R Bunker Cove D 3 6 Bunker B 6 6 6 6 3 Tucker Bayou
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Alternate Inland Route: Destin to Apalachicola Map 2 - B Choctawhatchee River Water Management Area Peach Creek
Choctaw ´
BUNKER RD
Point Washington State Forest
Marshall Swamp
Eastern Lake Deer Lake State Park County Line Landing
Deer Lake
Camp Creek U Camp Creek Lake S 9 M 8 ain Ro ute
C R 3 Seacrest 0A 0 1 2 4 Miles Rosemary Beach
Camp Helen Powell Lake State Park Alternate Inland Route: Destin to Apalachicola Ma´p 3 - A West Bay Creek Y W H Tiller Branch M E M Laird N 3 O S Panama City Airport Conservation Easement N H O J N O D 3
6 3 Crooked Creek A 3 3 6 B.F.E. Restuarant Coon Point Doyle Bayou Walsonham Point 3 3
6 6 Panama City Beach Conservation Park 18 36 3 3 6 12 Ward Creek 6 Ward Creek West
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18 18 West Bay 6 Breakfast Point 6 12 3 Sunnyside PC B FR C O H NT P B KW EA Y M CH 18 ai6 R n R D ou N: 30.294155 | W: -85.859286 op 12 te A I* ÆV t[ Laguna Beach D R
30 D L D O 0 1 2 4 Miles R N 60 6 R B A B
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18 A E 12 B 6 3 6 D 12 3 B A E Panama City E 6 AC D 3 3 I H D C 18 6 R R 30 R
N: 30.169306 | W: -85.702842 D 3 O op ÆV l E E Bear Point A e! L 6TH ST L 18 3 I* B M W 3 F 3 O 6 E O A 3 3 D C 12 6 B H 4TH ST 3 C 12 6 6 0 1 2 4 Miles H D 12 Grand Lagoon Channel R 6 R D 30 6 Saint Andrew 3 Massalina Bayou 12 6 12 6 3 12 12 6 6 6 6 18 Bay 18 3 12 18 18 6 3 100 12 18 12 3 3 30 18 6 18 100 12 3 318 18 3 12 12 30 6TH ST E 7TH ST Panama City 5TH ST Alternate Inland Route: Destin to Apalachicola 4TH ST 3 12 Map 4 - A 3 6 E 30 E 6 V
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P CHERRY ST E 18 12 6 CHERRY ST 6 3 Courtney Point 18 30 Springfield L Grand Lagoon 318 12 L
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3 3 12 12 2 T 12 18 6 Point Callaway E Alligator Point Y 12 Bay 18 18 H
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H 12 12 R 6 18 3 30 E 18 18 6 3 6 6 3 B 123 30 12 6 30 6 60 Parker S Sun Point A 18 30 18 6 1233 E HWY 98 BOATRACE RD 6 18 3 12 Smack Bayou 12 St. Andrews State Park 18 18 30 30 3 18 3 1218 18 6 18 60 6 18 12 30 3 18 Sheephead Palmetto Point 6 6 3 Davis Point 3 3 6 3 12 Smith Point 30 12 6 12 12 3 123 12 6 12 6 18 Bayou 30 30 18 3 60 6 3 18 12 6 12 3 Freshwater 12 12 18 30 12 Y 18 18 Bayou 18 W Wilson Point 60 18 6 K 60 6 3 12 P 3 30 6 18 L 3 12 3 L 3 6 6 6 St. Andrews 12 12 3 30 A 3 30 3 D 6 12 6 12 N 6 State Park Y 6 3 6 12 18 18 6 3 6 6 3 T 18 12 12 12 18 3 18 12 60 18 12 18 Tyndall Air Force Base 3 12 3 6 6 18 6 6 12 3 12 18 30 3 18 12 12 3 3 1830 30 18 6 12 6 18 3 Pearl Bayou 18 18 12 12 6 186 18 30 6 C 18 12 30 6 3 6 12 3 12 18 18 6 12 12 12 6 18 12 6 Tyndall AFB 30 3 6 3 3 3 Cedar Point 1812 6 18 3 3 6 6 FamCamp St. Andrews 12 3 6 3 6 6 Fred Bayou 3 18 (Restricted) Aquatic Preserve 3 3 6 30 60 12 3 6 18 12 6 18 3 30 12 30 60 18 3 3 M N: 30.132741 | W: -85.731272 op t[ ai1n2 A I* R1o2 12 ute U 18 S -9 N: 30.151284 | W: -85.659513 ÆV 8 B /U S H W Y N: 30.099909 | W: -85.613247 op l 9 C I* t[ 8
0 1 2 4 Miles
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30 30 6 3 Alternate Inland Rou1t2e: Destin to Apalachicola A Map 4 - B L 6 6 L A Piney N 3 3 T 18 O 6 Point N Danley Lake 3 R A Prim3itive Campsite D Little Sandy Creek 3 12 6 6 3 3 6 6 6 6 3 6 D ´ 30 Smith Bayou
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H L 6 W 6 Y 3 A 9 3 3 8 3 Big Cove 6 12 6 18 3 Davis Point 6 6 3 3 3 3 6 Strange Bayou 12 Murray Point 3 3 6 12 3 3 Lathrop Point Wetappo Creek Tyndall Air Force Base 3 Allan Point 3 Lathrop Bayou 3 6 12 Turtle Slough 12 3 Strange Point 12 6 18 6 Walker Bayou Baker Bayou 12 6 3 3 6 6 6 3 Baker Point Nesser Flat3 3 6 Farmdale Bayou 3 M a in N: 30.093411 | W: -85.522457 [ R t o A u 18 te 0 1 2 4 Miles
30 Alternate Inland Route: Destin to Apalachicola Map 5 - A PLEASANT REST RD ´ Overstreet Boat Ramp A
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W 0 1 2 4 Miles 30 H W Y 9 6 8
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1 DOC WHITFIELD RD ´ 7
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16 Gulf County Canal White City A B White City Park Boat Ramp
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U n D Palm Point S i R -9 a L 8 IA Horseshoe Creek M R ST U o D T IN 3 A N: 29.887165 | W: -85.249186 30 12 18
U S N: 29.880662 | W: -85.221570 op B 9 I* 8 / S R
12 3 3 0 0 1 2 4 Miles 30 60 Searcy Creek 18 18 30 18 12 3 6 6 3 3 Alternate Inland Route: Destin to Apalachicola Map 6 - A 3 Johnson Slough 3 Searcy Creek
3 6 ´
3 6 Apalachicola River Wildlife and Environmental Area
3 Primitive Campsite
A 6 Hoffman Creek 3 17 3 6 Lake Wimico 18 18 3 Depot Creek 3 Little Double Creek 6 6 Saul Creek 3 Ingram Creek 6 6 3 12 18 6 6 Tucker Creek 3 3 6 3 12 30 Jackson River 12 18 Clark Creek Deadman Slough3 30 30 30 Catfish Slough 6 18 Old Womans Bluff 3 0 1 8 B 6 Abercrombie Boat Ramp 18 18 Pine Log Creek 6 6 18 D
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3 Alternate Inland Route: Destin to Apalachicola 3 Map 6 - B 6 Grassy Creek 3 3 30 18 Apalachicola River Wildlife East River and Environmental Area 6 18 Apalachicola River Wildlife 3 and Environmental Area 3 3 6 18 Poorhouse Creek 3 D Four Tree Cut Off 3 R ´ L 6 T L R WIN LAKE RD
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C Y 6 A Y 3 3 B 4 A Long Point 30 T B N H
A S E T U 18 Little Bay N VE B 6 A L 3 U Turtle Harbor 3 F 18 F R R 3 D D N Scipio Creek 30 R TO 3 3 D 12 6 3 T 5 12 6 0 A 1 M T 6 R 3 D P 2TH ST H 12 S 319/S Magnolia Bluffs E Big Towhead Island 98/U N D V S 6 US T 6 A R A
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H V P A 12 12 T 4 Y 3 2 A BROWNSVILLE RD B 3 US 98/SR 30 18 Apalachicola Bay Aquatic Preserve 6 3 3 Green Point 3 6
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3 6 12 3 6 N: 29.721722 | W: -84.980922 op l 6 A I* I9 ²· 6 e! 6 30 12 0 1 2 4 Miles 6 6 3 3 6 6 6 30 3 3
Alternate Inland Route Segments 2-4 Destin to Apalachicola
Emergency contact information:
911
• Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office: 850-833-9200
• Walton County Sheriff’s Office: 850-892-8186
• Bay County Sheriff’s Office: 850-747-4700
• Gulf County Sheriff’s Office: 850-227-1115
• Franklin County Sheriff’s Office: 850-670-8500
• Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission 24-hour wildlife emergency/boating under the influence hotline: 1-888-404-3922
Begin: Destin End: Apalachicola Distance: 130-135 miles Duration: 9 days Special Considerations: It is possible to choose an alternate ‘inland’ route to avoid the coastal option on the CT if weather conditions are not favorable for the outside passage along the Gulf coastline in Segments 2-4 which begins at the East Pass in Destin. Also take into consideration that the outside passage between St. Andrews State Park and Mexico Beach traverses a long stretch of the coastal boundary of Tyndall Air Force Base that does not allow camping. This entails a 25-mile paddle to reach motels at Mexico Beach, the next available overnight stop after leaving St. Andrews State Park.
Introduction
The inland route begins after leaving the spoil island in the Santa Rosa Sound and proceeding east under the US 98 Bridge. It skirts the north shore of the Choctawhatchee Bay and traverses through St Andrews Bay and Lake Wimico, using the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) to Apalachicola, a distance of about 145 miles. It is also possible to return to the coastal route at several points if weather conditions are favorable. The alternate route does have its own potential challenges with long stretches of open water in the various bays and big barges that may be encountered in the narrow ICW. Plan to paddle early to avoid the bay winds that build up through the day.
The story of the ICW began in 1905 when the Gulf Intracoastal Canal Association was formed to promote the development of a single, major waterway that would connect all major ports along the Gulf Coast. This waterway also would require the establishment of federally- protected status for it and the other inland waterways of the Gulf Coast through legislative efforts. It took more than four decades for the Association’s idea to materialize, but the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway was completed in 1949 and has remained one of the most heavily- traveled and economically-significant marine routes in the nation.
The Choctawhatchee River and Bay watershed covers approximately 3,422,154 acres. About 42 percent of this is within Florida, with the remainder is in Alabama. The Choctawhatchee Bay is around 30 miles in length and 4-6 miles wide in places and bordered on the western and northern shores by Eglin Air Force Base.
1. Santa Rosa Spoil Island Site to Fred Gannon/Rocky Bayou State Park (FGRB), 16-17 miles A passage around the north side Choctawhatchee Bay has been created since the southern side of the Bay is almost all private residential land with very limited rest stops or overnight options. Leaving the Segment 2 spoil island campsite and passing through a narrow stretch of the Santa Rosa Sound known as the Narrows, you’ll enter the wide Choctawhatchee Bay. A short distance beyond the US 98 bridge on the south side of the bay is Ross Marler Park with bathrooms, picnic pavilions, outdoor shower, and potable water. There are several restaurants within walking distance of the park. From the Ross Marler Park paddle northeast along the shoreline bordering Eglin Air Force Base. Around 6 miles beyond the US 98 Bridge the houses thin out and uninhabited stretches of beach appear. Much of the undeveloped shoreline on the north side of the bay is Eglin AFB property and short rest breaks are permissible, below the mean high water mark, east of White Point and the Mid-Bay Bridge. However, Eglin AFB Main Base beach (between Black and Postal Points) is a controlled area and all non-Department of Defense affiliated paddlers should only land vessels for emergency purposes. Buoys approximately one quarter mile offshore will alert paddlers of this controlled area. Passage through this area is permitted, except during heightened security periods. Continue following the shoreline to the northeast and look for condos with red roofs on the east side of the channel leading to Rocky Bayou. Just to the north of these condos is the Bluewater Bay Marina and restaurant with a small sandy beach. From the marina keep the shoreline to your right and go under US 20 Bridge. About a half mile east of the bridge look for kayak rentals along the southern shoreline. About 200 yards further east is a small sandy beach, ideal for landing and camping at #36, 37 or 38 in the Fred Gannon/Rocky Bayou State Park. Make camping reservations well in advance by visiting Reserve America or call (800) 326-3521, TDD (888) 433-0287.
U.S. Air Force Colonel Fred Gannon was instrumental in preserving this site with beautiful old- growth longleaf pine trees, several more than 300 years old. Rocky Bayou, the main feature of the park, is the trailing arm of Choctawhatchee Bay and is popular for boating and fishing. Other opportunities for recreation include hiking, geocaching, and wildlife viewing. A well- shaded campground is available for full-facility camping. From the entrance of the state park on SR 20, it is about a one mile walk either east to a shopping center with groceries, pharmacy, etc. This is your last chance to purchase groceries until you reach St. Andrews State Park in Panama City (there will be a couple of options for restaurants along the way).
2. Fred Gannon/Rocky Bayou State Park to Basin Bayou, 16-17 miles From the state park return to the Bay and head south, keeping the shoreline to your left. If you have military I.D. it is possible to stay in cabins or camp at the Max Gunter Recreation Area as you round White point and proceed east. Continue along the shoreline for about 9 miles to Nick’s Seafood Restaurant, an excellent place for local seafood (closed on Mondays). Nick’s is the landmark for the channel to Basin Bayou where a primitive campsite with tables and fire ring is located on the east side of this Eglin AFB property. It is necessary to obtain an Eglin Recreation pass and pay a fee in advance through the mail (an on-line permit system will be available in the future). To do so, send a photocopy of your current ID, along with a check for $12, your current address, and your cell phone # to: Jackson Guard, 107 Hwy 85 N, Niceville FL 32578. Call (850) 882-4164 for any other questions on Eglin permits.
3. Basin Bayou to Pt. Washington, 11-12 miles Leaving Basin Bayou paddle towards the US 331 Bridge. On the northwest end of the bridge there are plans to create a new county park accessible from the water with restrooms, picnic pavilions, etc. On the southeast side of the bridge is a seafood restaurant with a good beach for landing kayaks. Another overnight option is to paddle to Live Oak Landing Rv Resort, a private resort on the northeast side of the Bay with RV sites and cabin rentals on Black Creek, accessible from the water about 2.5 miles east of the SR 83 Bridge. 877-436-5063.
After passing under the bridge head to Pt. Washington where there is a small public boat ramp on the southeast corner of the Bay (30.372724°/-86.114750°) and the nearby entrance to the ICW. A worthwhile stop is at the picturesque Eden Gardens State Park just to the west of the public ramp. Just in front of the park’s retaining wall is an area of constructed oyster reef breakwaters, providing shelter for replanted salt marsh grasses, an effort by the non-profit Choctawhatchee Bay Alliance (CBA) to establish a Living Shoreline. In Choctawhatchee Bay and all along the state’s coastline, many property owners use hardened structures such as sea walls, riprap, groins and bulkheads (as opposed to Living Shorelines) to stabilize and protect waterfront property from erosion caused by wind and wave action. While these “hard” solutions may prevent some localized shoreline erosion, they often act to increase erosion by reflecting wave energy and altering natural sediment movement. Volunteers coordinated by CBA help create living shorelines associated with natural, gradually sloping beaches, seagrass meadows and salt marshes. These efforts help restore nursery, feeding and refuge habitats for vital estuarine species while also providing protection from shoreline erosion.
There are two day-use areas at the Eden Gardens historic state park with restrooms, nature trail, and potable water. To visit the historic home, land to the east of boat dock on a small sandy spot under large magnolias. Pay an entrance fee at the park office located just south of the historic home. The house is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The focal point of this small park is the beautifully renovated, two-story Wesley house with its elegant white columns and wrap-around porch. The view from the mansion of the moss-draped, 600 year-old “Wedding Tree” and ornamental gardens inspire visions of hoop skirts and landed gentry at this popular wedding destination. Named after a wealthy Florida timber family, the park is part of the family's estate. In 1963, Lois Maxon bought and renovated the home, creating a showplace for her family heirlooms and antiques. The house holds the second largest known collection of Louis XVI furniture in the United States. Visitors can also take a stroll along the grounds and enjoy the picnic area. The old pilings visible in the water to the east side of the public boat ramp once moored large ‘rafts’ of logs that were floated down the Choctawhatchee River to await processing in nearby lumber mills.
For primitive camping visit the Choctawhatchee Rowing and Paddling Club next to the public boat ramp where paddlers are allowed to camp behind the building overnight. Please keep your presence discreet to not disturb adjacent neighbors. There is also a potable water tap. Visitors are asked to call 850-259-8600 for permission to stay here.
4. Pt. Washington to SR 79 Bridge, 18 miles Point Washington has remnants of a charming bayou community with ancient oak trees and an array of historic sites. According to historian Dale Cox, Brigadier General William Miller, second- in-command of Confederate forces at the Battle of Natural Bridge, once called Point Washington home, as did a number of other Civil War veterans, both Union and Confederate. A small sign points out the location of Miller's home and a walk through the community's historic cemetery reveals the graves of a number of Civil War soldiers. Leaving Pt. Washington, navigate to the ICW and head east. The ICW has tall sandy spoil piles lining the long channel in places and barge boats with significant wake may be encountered. Just before the SR 79 Bridge, there is a small restaurant on the south side of the ICW called BFE (Best Food Ever). Permission has been given for paddlers to camp overnight near the dock - check with the owners for location. There is also the Boondocks Restaurant on the north side of the bridge and a convenient store about a half mile walk over the SR 79 Bridge.
5. SR 79 Bridge to St. Andrews State Park, 18 miles
The ICW enters West Bay just beyond the SR 79 Bridge. It is about a 4-mile crossing to reach the mainland which you continue to keep on your right side heading eastward. Continue under the US 98 (Hathaway) Bridge and into St Andrew Bay. There is an option to sample excellent local food at a variety of restaurants and bars while taking a walking tour to visit a slice of ‘Old Florida’ in the vibrant Historic St Andrews District. To choose this option stay on the north side of the bay after passing under the bridge and head to the St Andrews Marina about 2.6 miles further east. Look for a small sandy cove just south of the boat dock at Uncle Ernie’s Bayfront Grill. The schooner Governor Stone, a Historic National Landmark, is sometimes moored here. Built in 1877, the ship is the oldest surviving Gulf schooner, a type which was important to maritime commerce of the South and Gulf Coast, where shallows and sandbars made the employment of shoal centerboard schooners essential to the transfer of freight and goods to and from large oceangoing sailing vessels which could not come into port.
If you elect to head straight for St Andrews State Park then follow the southern side of the shoreline for about 4 miles east of the bridge as it makes a sharp right and proceed to the opening of the Grand Lagoon. Make another sharp right into Grand Lagoon and paddle east past the state park boat ramp. Check Reserve America well in advance for one of the numerous campsites on the water where you can land your kayak (even numbers from 16-38, 96-114, and 101, 132, 134 and 143). There may be rip-rap (large rocks) and marsh grass in front of others. The park offers fresh water, showers and bathrooms. This is your last chance for potable water until you reach White City.
To access a large grocery store and restaurants paddle west from the state park and proceed under the bridge that crosses the Grand Lagoon. This is a very narrow and busy channel under the bridge so watch for boat traffic. Immediately turn right after the bridge and head for small boat rental business that offers a small beach area for landing a kayak. Walk north along Thomas Drive about 0.7 miles to a grocery store or visit one of many restaurants along the road. This will be your last chance for a good-sized grocery store until you reach Apalachicola.
6. St. Andrews State Park to Piney Point, 15-16 miles Human history at St. Andrews State Park began with early Native Americans, who feasted on fish and abundant shellfish and left behind numerous middens (trash heaps of discarded shells, bones and other refuse). In the early 1900s, bathers frequently used the area, generally arriving by boat. The first known full-time resident during this period was a Norwegian-born sailor who wrecked his boat on the south bank of Grand Lagoon during a 1929 hurricane. “Teddy the Hermit” decided to homestead and remained until his death in 1954 at age 74. His makeshift shack once stood between campsites 101 and 102.The purchase of land for a state park began in 1947 when 302 acres were acquired from the federal government for the bargain price of $2.50 an acre. Today, after the addition of several adjacent parcels, at a considerably higher cost, the popular park consists of more than 1,200 acres. The inlets and bays around the park are part of the St. Andrews Aquatic Preserve. Considered one of the most diverse bays in North America, with over 2,100 recorded marine dependent species, St. Andrews Bay has the largest expanse of ecologically valuable seagrass beds in the Florida panhandle. These beds, along with expansive salt marshes, provide spawning and nursery habitats for a wide variety of fish and shellfish. The beaches and uplands along the preserve provide habitat and nesting areas for several protected species such as loggerhead and green sea turtles, the Choctawhatchee beach mouse, and snowy and piping plovers.
When leaving St. Andrews cross the pass between Shell Island and the Grand Lagoon with caution as boat traffic can be heavy and conditions challenging in the pass. The land north of Shell Island is Tyndall Air Force property and visitors are not allowed to land on the shoreline where posted. If a restaurant meal is desired before entering the remote ICW again, head to the channel just to the east of the Panama City Marina and proceed under the drawbridge into Massalina Bayou. There is a dock-side restaurant, Bayou Joe’s, in the boat basin and others within walking distance.
Continue paddling east passing shipyards and industrial sites along the waterway. Your destination is Piney Point, a failed subdivision, about 5 miles east of the US 98 (Tyndall) Bridge. If you are retired or active duty military you may stay at the Tyndall Air Force Base Fam Camp located on the southwest side of the US 98 Bridge, about 10 miles east of St Andrews State Park. The Piney Point site is primitive with a great view of sunrise and directly opposite the air strip at Tyndall Air Force Base, several miles across the bay. Jet pilots known as the ‘Blue Angels’ may be seen practicing hair-raising maneuvers for aerial shows held around the country, an entertaining contrast against the backdrop of rugged shoreline.
7. Piney Point to Overstreet Spoil Bank Area, 17-18 miles
From Piney Point it is about 10.5 miles to the beginning of the next stretch of the ICW. Paddle through East Bay and along the shoreline of Tyndall Air Force Base where nothing but miles of planted pines, upland woodlands and small slivers of white sand beaches are visible in this remote area. About 3.6 miles after entering the ICW the small village of Overstreet will appear below an enormous, tall bridge. On the east side of the bridge is a restroom, picnic pavilion and boat ramp, with water labeled “non-potable”. There are no amenities or businesses here. About two miles east of Overstreet there are a multitude of spoil sites that are easy to access for primitive camping. Just avoid stopping anywhere posted as private land.
8. Overstreet Spoil Bank Area to Lake Wimico Primitive Site, 18-20 miles lt is about 12.5 miles from Overstreet to an industrial canal that heads south to the town of Port St. Joe, a distance of 6 miles. From Port St Joe it is possible to rejoin the CT coastal option of Segment 4 by crossing St Joseph Bay to the T.H. Stone/St Joseph Peninsula State Park. This is really a stunning portion of the coastline with gorgeous barrier islands worth visiting if weather conditions are favorable for a return to the Gulf.
To continue the inland route to Apalachicola it is about 1.6 miles past the industrial canal to the small town of White City. There are restrooms and potable water at the city park with a half-mile walk north on the main road to a small convenience store. This is the last option for any limited amenities before arriving in Apalachicola. There are camping options on spoil sites along the eastern bank several miles after leaving White City. It is about 6 miles from White City to Lake Wimico and 2.4 miles further to small point of land jutting into the lake on the northern shoreline that provides a shady respite for camping on a small ridge. (GPS cords on map)
Lake Wimico to Apalachicola, 13 miles
From Lake Wimico it is an easy paddle to historic Apalachicola where paddlers may be tempted to spend several days soaking up the charms of this picturesque fishing village. Stop by the Visitor’s Center at 122 Commerce Street and learn about the enduring culture and maritime heritage of this still vibrant port town of Apalachicola. Grab a map and enjoy a walking tour taking in historic homes, the colorful harbor, and the John Gorrie State Museum.
John Gorrie was a young physician who moved to Apalachicola in the early 1800s when it was a prominent port of trade, commerce, and shipping in Florida. Gorrie served as postmaster, city treasurer, town councilman, and bank director. Concern for his yellow fever patients motivated Gorrie to invent a method for cooling their rooms. He became a pioneer in the field of air conditioning and refrigeration by inventing a machine that made ice, and received the first U.S. Patent for mechanical refrigeration in 1851. A replica of his ice-making machine is on display at the museum, as well as exhibits chronicling the colorful history of Apalachicola, which played an important role in Florida's economic development.
To rejoin Segment 4 from Apalachicola, paddle across the bay six or seven miles to a number of campsites on either Cape St. George or St. George Island. If you remain on the north side of the bay, the primitive campsite near Carrabelle is about 20 miles from Apalachicola (see Segment 5)