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Two-hour guided kayak tours of Rookery Bay, Hall Bay and mangrove tunnels provide the opportunity to see birds, marine mammals and other sights of nature. Through spring, trips are offered from 10 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 3 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. May 1 through Oct. 31 (except for July 4), trips will be on Wednesdays from 9-11 am. Dates subject to change due to tides or weather.
Cost is $40 for members, $45 for non-members and includes a kayak, all equipment, paddling instruction and admission to the Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center. Paddlers must be 12 or older.
Important Notes for Trip Participants:
- No refunds for cancellations.
- Weight limit: 250 pounds.
- Wear closed-toed shoes and clothes that you do not mind getting wet.
- Bring a hat, sunglasses, sun block, and a water bottle.
- Leave all electronic equipment locked in your car as you will get wet.
- In the event of severely inclement weather, your trip leader will contact you on the morning of the trip at the phone number you provide when registering.
- Meet at launch site 15 minutes prior to scheduled start time.
Driving Directions to Shell Island Road Boat Launch
From the Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center, continue 2 miles south on Collier Blvd. Turn right on Shell Island Road (look for binocular and canoe sign). Drive down Shell Island Road 2.5 miles to the very end of the road.
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Sea to Summit Kayak Tour
Monday, April 16th - 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Rookery Bay Reserve and Up a Creek Kayak Tours team up to present a boat-assisted kayak tour and hike to one of the highest points in Collier County. At 16 feet above sea level, Sand Hill is an ancient sand dune relic from the Pleistocene era and home of rare rosemary scrub ecosystem. In the relatively flat environment of Southwest Florida, the diversity encountered in these few yards is equivalent to thousands of feet of elevation change in other environments. Kayaks are provided. Trip is limited to six people with previous kayaking experience. All paddlers must be over the age of 15 and under 250 pounds. Fee is $120 per person, $100 for Friends of Rookery Bay members. Pre-registration required
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Sunset to Starlight Cruise
The “Sunset to Starlight Cruise” is a three-hour, small boat journey for 6 during the full moon. Guests will travel to Key Island (also called Keewaydin), one of the jewels of South Florida, renowned for its shell-strewn beaches and pastel sunsets. The group will stroll at leisure on a remote section of beach as the sun sinks into the Gulf, then enjoy a leisurely return cruise through the back bays of the reserve, wrapped in the sights, sounds and sensations of night in the tropics as birds return to their roost. The captain and guide is Rookery Bay assistant manager Randy McCormick, who is a Certified Interpretive Guide, an instructor in the Florida Master Naturalist program and a fifth-generation Floridian.
Cost is $75 per person ($70 members). Gift certificates are available and special private tours can be arranged.
Trips are offered monthly as follows:
- March 6 (4:30-7:30 p.m.)
- April 9 (6-9 p.m.)
Space is limited! Register for any of the above Sunset to Starlight Cruise offerings today!
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Cruise Through Time
Also new, the “Cruise Through Time” is a peaceful, two-hour guided boat trip to explore the rich history of the wilderness that was, and in a way still is, Rookery Bay Reserve. This trip takes no more than six passengers and offers an up-close and personal experience of remote areas of the reserve and its 3,000-year-old human history. Listening to the stories of the people who once called this home leaves guests with a profound and unique sense of place. The captain and guide is Rookery Bay assistant manager Randy McCormick, who is a Certified Interpretive Guide, an instructor in the Florida Master Naturalist program and a fifth generation Floridian. Cost is $65 per person ($60 for members) and proceeds help support the Friends of Rookery Bay, a non-profit citizens support organization. Gift certificates are available. Special private tours can be arranged.
Trips are offered monthly from 2 to 4 p.m. as follows:
These cruises are booked through April. Future dates will be announced soon |
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Continuing Education Classes |
Explore Your Estuary
Edison State College is pleased to partner with staff at Rookery Bay Reserve to offer this exclusive 3-day series of continuing education classes that provides an excellent opportunity to explore your estuary.
Each course is led by a biologist or naturalist on staff at Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
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Website a cooperative effort funded in part by the Collier County Tourist Development Tax