We started at the parking lot where you need to be ready to carry your kayak in through the trail about 200 yards to the landing. The landing was a wooden set of steps well below the water level so this made for a swampy footed decent. Once on the water your surrounded by the most amazing Forest and cypress. It's like going back in time. Loved it. But then it hits you... The swamp cypress maze. This consists of constant section after section of scooting, pushing, pulling, navigating multiple impassible routes, being caught up on root knobs and many other obstacles of the sort. The only saving grace was the paddling trail signs every once in a while where you said to yourself " how the hell am I actually still on the right path!?" There were a few times where portaging was needed because of either downed trees or just simply no real way to get through the cypress clusters. This involved mud footing through. This continues about 75% of the trail until you finally hit wider water that carries you to the next landing. It was actually fun because we were in a great mood but this could be a very aggravating adventure. The scenery is amazing if you stop to look around in the chaos. The website said 2 to 3 hours... Not true. I'm a pretty experienced yakker and it took us 5 hours. So plan for that. PS there was a designated primitive campsite about halfway down on the right.
Safety Notes
Saw snakes much of the way so before you pull on trees to get unstuck be on the lookout.
Gear Notes
Simple gear for a day trip nothing heavy or special.
