Florida
Great Calusa Blueway
The Great Calusa Blueway paddling trail meanders 190 miles along the back bays and wildlife-laden shores of Lee County on Florida's Gulf coast near Sanibel and Fort Myers.
Loop Trail? No
Type: Water Trail
Agency: City, Town, or County
Entry Fee? No
Parking Fee? No Allowed Uses:
Boating, non-motorized: Canoeing
Boating, non-motorized: Kayaking
Location: Estero Bay, Estero and Imperial Rivers, Pine Island Sound, Caloosahatchee River
State(s): Florida
Counties: Lee County
Longitude: -81.83583
Latitude: 26.33722
Driving Directions
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Description
The Great Calusa Blueway is a 190-mile waterway providing non-motorized access to Federal, State, and Local preserves and historic sites in one of the fastest growing areas of the country. Traversing the mangrove islands and tidal creeks of Estero Bay, Florida's first "Aquatic Preserve," visitors will see playful dolphins and gliding manatees as well as more than 300 species of birds.
The historic sites include the Mound House, which was built in 1906 on a mound created by prehistoric inhabitants, Mound Key Archaeological State Park, and Koreshan State Historic Site, a Utopian pioneer settlement founded in 1984 by Dr. Cyrus Teed. The blueway extends from Estero Bay toward the north into Pine Island Sound, Charlotte Harbor and the Caloosahatchee River, providing access to the numerous creeks and tributaries, including Hickey's Creek, a State-designated canoe trail.
The Blueway has received designation from the State and is part of the Florida Greenways and Trails system. The Blueway is also included in the overall Lee County Trail Master Plan. The County's development of the Blueway was made possible and continues to be supported by local businesses, the Tourism Development Council, the West Coast Inland Navigation District, Lee County Parks & Recreation and local municipalities.
Additional Details
Primary Surface: Water, still
Secondary Surface: None
Elevation Low Point: Not Available
Elevation High Point: Not Available
Elevation Gain (cumulative): Not Available
Year Designated: 2004
Supporting Webpages and Documents
Website: The Great Calusa BluewayContact Information
For more information and current conditions, contact the trail manager (listed below). For questions, suggestions, and corrections to information listed on the website, contact American Trails.
Park Ranger:
Betsy Clayton
Lee County Parks & Recreation Dept.
3410 Palm Beach Blvd.
Ft. Myers, FL
33916
(239) 533-7275
Photos
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Submit an Edit
Trail Managers: please use the official NRT update form to update your trail for any of the following changes:
- Change in trail mileage through trail extension
- Change in trail mileage through trail retraction
- Change in trail mileage through significant trail reroute
- Change to trail name
- Change in trail description or use
- Undesignation of trail (removal of NRT designation status)
- Other significant updates
>> Download the official NRT update form.
All other edits can be submitted via the below form:
