Camping on keys NW of Everglades City

[Kim Gass]

I will be doing a short four night trip out of Collier Seminole SP and seek advice on what your favorite camping islands are. I would like to keep each day 10-15 miles and am starting on a Wed. I realize I don't want to be on Cape Romano on Friday and Saturday even though this trip is at the end of March.

I have the second edition of Molloys book.

[vivian]

I like gullivan as a base camp for a day of exploring and fishing. Take the tide up Dismal pass to visit some of the areas around historical dismal key. Head to camp lulu then night 3 ride the tide up to Fakahatchee island for night 4 or just head back to e city leaving a car at ranger station. Option is hog key or back to gullivan.

[Kim Gass]

well I have one car..so linear won't work. I read Camp Lulu can be disgusting with human waste carelessly disposed of. Have not been there.

[vivian]

I actually like Camp Lulu. It all depends on who has used it during season. BTW: those islands outside the park  are as disgusting as Lulu if they have been heavily used. More powerboaters, jetskiers, even airboats when you come out of the river into the first bay and beautiful sunsets with the condos in the forefront. Not as nice as the ENP but if you don't want to deal with permits or the ENP sites are all booked up then one has no choice.

You might get lucky and have the place to yourself.

[M.A.P.]

Can you still see the Indian mounds on Dismal Key?

[Keith W]

>>I read Camp Lulu can be disgusting with human waste carelessly disposed of.

I've camped there about a half dozen times and have never seen evidence of this. Not much different  than Picnic, Tiger, or other ENP beach sites, except you don't need a permit to camp.

[Kim Gass]

Keith I stayed at Lulu in March of 2013 and there was not a soul else on the island.   I had read about human waste in a guidebook.  I didn't find any waste of any kind.

I also camped on Panther. Some of the island had signs denying access because of it being a NWR but I camped where there were no signs.

Gullivan was nice. There was a large party on WhiteHorse. Coon Key was a disaster. Too small.  Last year I did not camp on Fakahatchee..it was hot and the bugs were bad.