The message below, which was copied by permission from the MTOA List-Serv, is one of the best adventure stories we’ve ever had here on the Cruisers’ Net. Unfortunately, I can’t recommend Ben and Barbar’s cruise to anyone, except small boat operators, but, boy, wish I could have been along!
Little Shark River is the first practical stopping point for cruising sized craft north of Cape Sable. The river features many wonderful anchorages, and there’s little in the way of depth problems.
HOWEVER, farther to the east, lies a marked track (which continues from Little Shark River) known as the Wilderness Waterway. This SHALLOW passage was put together by the Everglades National Park, and is meant to facillitate exploration of the Everglades BY BOATS 18 FEET AND SMALLER!
As you will see, Ben and Barbara did not realize that upstream of markers #69 and #70, they actually left Little Shark River, and southeast of #59, they started getting into some really shallow water. I suspect their 36-foot trawler may be the largest vessel to EVER cruise the Wilderness Wateray.
So, to be repetitive, enjoy reading about Ben and Barbara’s excellent adventure below, but leave cruising the Wilderness Waterway to small, outboard type powercraft! On the other hand, don’t hesitate to anchor on Little Shark River (WEST of the Wilderness Waterway). If the bugs arent’ out too badly, this stream can make for memorable overnight stops!

We left Marathon early Monday morning (April 6th) There was a pretty heavy storm forecast for Tuesday and we wanted to get as far up the west coast as possible. We had decided we would go to the Little Shark River (part of the 10,000 Islands of the Everglades). If the weather seemed bad we could duck in there and wait it out. Sooooo, away we went and got to the Little Shark River and sure enough it was beginning to get rough out in the Gulf.
We started up the river and there were already several other boats anchored within a mile of the mouth. The river was beautiful and we decided we would keep going and see as much of it as we could. We did not have any charts for this area, but the channel markers were well placed and so we just followed them. After several miles the “river” opened up into quite large bodies of water. These were as much as a mile across…again they were well marked. We continued and all the time we were watching our depth finder. Two Cats Too draws 3.5 ft. of water. Several times our depth finder showed 2.5 and even – – – (you know what that means!). However, we were not touching bottom. The water was pretty choppy, so we decided that was the reason we were not “bottoming out”.? After several hours when we got to channel marker “1” (we were one mile from Flamingo)? we ran out of water! Let me add that there were fishermen EVERYWHERE! At this point it was getting late so we found a place to anchor at channel marker “3”. There is a river right at marker “3” and we went up the river a few hundred feet and got a good set on the anchor. Both Ben and I have grown up around the Everglades, but have never seen this part of it. We are used to “rivers of grass” and small hammocks. This was mangrove forest so thick you could only see a few feet into them and they are over 50 ft. tall. There was NO artificial light and the night was the darkest dark I have ever seen. The silence was eerie and the occasional “hoot” and “growl” only added to the mysterious feeling. Several big splashes in the water sure got our attention! The next morning, thinking we were absolutely in the “middle of nowhere”, we were awakened by a large barge full of tourist (out of Flamingo) passing us and all of the people were hanging over the rail looking at the “funny creatures” on the yellow boat! We back tracked, several miles and it took a few hours, to get to the mouth of the river and spent the night.
We did [eventually, in Marco Island] find out you are supposed to get a permit to stay overnight in the Everglades. We did not know this, so we did “register” with the ranger by telephone. In talking with the ranger he said they really recommend that only boats 18 ft. or less do the inner islands of 10,000 Islands. Some of the time we had cell service, but most of the time we did not. When we were near Flamingo we did, but away from Flamingo we did not. Are we glad we did the Little Shark River…YES! Would we do it again…NO! Much too shallow for a trawler. We were very lucky we did not end up “high and dry”! Anyway, the first few miles are fine and are really the prettiest part of the river.
Ben and Barbara Falmlen
Two Cats Too

Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Geographic Sub-category That Shows All Little Shark River Anchorages