Sandfly Island Hiking Trail

If you like your hikes with a dash of adventure, this one delivers. The Sandfly Island Hiking Trail is a 0.9-mile loop on a tiny island in the Ten Thousand Islands, and you can only get there by paddlecraft or small boat from the Gulf Coast Visitor Center (Everglades City/Chokoloskee). On foot, it’s an easy, mostly flat walk on bare ground—plan roughly 30–40 minutes for the loop.

The draw here is history and quiet. You’re walking on an ancient Calusa shell work—literally a mound engineered over centuries, with a distinctive horseshoe design used for fishing with the tides. Keep an eye out for remnants of early pioneer life too: a concrete cistern and foundation blocks from a 1912 homestead built by Charlie Boggess, who farmed tomatoes here until 1923. The loop threads through mangrove edges and a shaded hardwood hammock, making it cooler and more comfortable than the exposed bays around it.

Reaching the island is the real crux. Expect about an hour of paddling each way (roughly 5 miles round trip depending on your route), and don’t underestimate navigation—the Ten Thousand Islands are a maze. Use GPS or a navigation chart, time your trip with tides and wind, and build in extra time to explore. When you arrive, know that the dock’s stairs are often slick with algae; most paddlers land on the small beach to the right of the dock. There’s a portable toilet, but no potable water.

Wildlife is classic Gulf Coast: fiddler crabs scuttle along the shore, wading birds haunt the shallows, and you may spot a bald eagle overhead. This is not a crowded spot; the boat-only access keeps it quiet.

Best time to hike: Late fall through early spring offers the most pleasant temperatures and fewer biting insects. Summer and wet season bring heat, humidity, and notorious mosquitoes and sandflies. Also keep an eye on weather, especially during storm season, and check in with the Gulf Coast Visitor Center for current conditions.

Bottom line: The loop itself is easy and short; the adventure is getting there. If you’re up for the paddle and like history baked into the landscape, it’s absolutely worth the effort.