Don Pedro Island State Park - Land Base Kayak Access (CALL AHEAD 941-964-0375)

On Gulf Intracoastal Waterway

The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway along Florida's southwest coast is a dredged navigation channel that links bays and lagoons behind the barrier islands. The listed public launches on this stretch are near Osprey, Nokomis, Venice, Englewood and Placida. In 1939 a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers study recommended a route from the Caloosahatchee River north to Anclote Key. In 1945 Congress authorized a channel 152 miles long, 100 feet wide and 9 feet deep. Dredging began in June 1960, working north from the Caloosahatchee toward Boca Grande, and was finished in 1967. The West Coast Inland Navigation District, a special taxing district covering Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte and Lee counties, was created in 1947 as the local sponsor and has maintained the waterway since 1967. At Venice, an 86-acre angled cut dug in the 1960s made Venice an island. Its banks are lined with rock and carry the Venetian Waterway Park. The tide there flows north from Lemon Bay to the Venice inlets. More about Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.

Boating rules on Gulf Intracoastal Waterway

• Idle speed, no wake: Stickney Point Bridge (550 ft north to 650 ft south) source
• Idle speed, no wake: Blackburn Point Bridge (650 ft north to 500 ft south) source
• Idle speed, no wake: Albee Road Bridge (2,500 ft north to 1,000 ft south) source
• Idle speed, no wake: Hatchett Creek, 2,000 ft either side of the US 41 Business bridge source
• Idle speed, no wake: Circus Bridge (US 41), 840 ft north (including the marine center boat basin) to 300 ft south source
• Idle speed, no wake: South Venice Ferry (500 ft northwest to 900 ft southeast of the dock) source
• Idle speed, no wake: Siesta Key Bridge (300 ft either side) source
• Idle speed, no wake: Manasota Beach Bridge (300 ft either side) source

Community

Where people who use Gulf Intracoastal Waterway talk about it.

• West Coast Inland Navigation District Agency
• Intracoastal Waterway Venice - Sarasota County Water Atlas Link
• Search Reddit: r/florida Reddit
• Search all of Reddit for Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, Florida Reddit

Nearby launches

• Dr. Willard "Bill" Coy Preserve Kayak Access · 2.5 mi · Knight Pass
• Placida Park Boat Ramp · 2.6 mi · Placida Harbor
• South Gulf Cove Park Public Boat Ramp · 4.6 mi · South Gulf Cove Canal System
• Stump Pass Beach State Park Kayak Launch · 4.8 mi · Milton Pass
• Oyster Creek Environmental Park Kayak Launch · 5.0 mi · Lemon Bay
• Ainger Creek Park Boat Ramp · 5.5 mi · Lemon Bay