{"id":12224,"date":"2017-03-01T09:00:40","date_gmt":"2017-03-01T17:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/community.nrs.com\/?p=12224"},"modified":"2017-02-28T15:50:21","modified_gmt":"2017-02-28T23:50:21","slug":"five-national-parks-perfect-for-escaping-winter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/community.nrs.com\/duct-tape\/2017\/03\/01\/five-national-parks-perfect-for-escaping-winter\/","title":{"rendered":"Five National Parks for Winter Paddling"},"content":{"rendered":"

Late-winter. That special time of the year when cold is relative and snow has covered the ground since early December. In my Rocky Mountain hamlet, it\u2019s been a great winter to be a skier, but not so great for those who prefer their water in liquid form.<\/p>\n

Sure, you could wrestle yourself into some six mil rubber, slip your hands into pogies and brave the winter water for a couple of hours. But for those paddlers less interested in sufferfests, we suggest destination paddling. With spring break on the horizon, many of you have a week tailor-made for escaping winter’s last desperate clutch. For the rest of us non-spring-breakers, well, we\u2019ll just have to \u201csacrifice\u201d and sneak away.<\/p>\n

In a belated nod to last year\u2019s 100th<\/sup> Anniversary of the National Park Service, we\u2019ve rounded up five National Parks for winter paddling destinations that will leave you refreshed and ready for whatever else winter can toss your way. So, leave your wetsuit in the closet, and grab your camping gear, some sunscreen and your swimsuit and head south.<\/p>\n

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Everglades National Park<\/a>
\n<\/strong>Everglades National Park is one of the crown jewels of the park system. Winter is peak season, particularly December through March, well after hurricane season and well before biting insects and scorching heat drive away all but the truly masochistic. The Everglades is a mix of ecosystems, but water is the dominant feature, making it a classic destination for paddlers.<\/p>\n

With 1.5 million acres, it can be daunting to figure out where and how to paddle safely, especially if you\u2019re planning to stand-up paddleboard. The Everglades is also home to some of the most terrifying predators in the country\u2014from exotic (and horribly invasive) giant anacondas and Burmese pythons to alligators and crocodiles. Not to mention the more than 40 species of mosquitoes (only 12 or so bite), copperheads, rattlesnakes and the elusive Florida panther\u2014the Everglades can be intimidating. Fortunately, all of these critters (save the mosquitoes) are more afraid of you than you are of them, and the acreage can be tackled with thought-out plans.<\/p>\n

With its maze of islands, swamps, rivers and lakes, strong navigational skills are a must. Knowledge of tides, good paper and digital nautical charts and fresh water are key safety requirements for any paddler in any craft.<\/p>\n

Car access into the park is somewhat limited. Everglades City, in the northwest corner, is one of the most popular entry points. And for good reason: It\u2019s home to the Gulf Coast Visitor Center and located on the northern edge of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Wilderness Area, which covers most of the park.<\/p>\n