TIM DRISKELL’S ADVENTURES
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February 19, 2023

Paddling in Clam Bayou

Gulfport, Florida — mangrove trails, quiet backwaters and an urban wilderness

All photographs are clickable for the full-size image.

Clam Bayou is one of those places that feels much wilder from a kayak than it looks on a street map. Tucked beside Gulfport and St. Petersburg, the preserve is a compact maze of mangrove islands, back bays, narrow passages and shallow tidal water. On February 19, 2023, we spent the day exploring it by kayak and paddleboard, moving between open water, marked canoe-and-kayak trails and tight green tunnels.

DateFebruary 19, 2023
LocationClam Bayou, Gulfport
CharacterProtected mangrove backwaters
Watch forShallow water and oyster bars
Map showing Clam Bayou, Clam Bayou Nature Park, Gulfport Municipal Marina and the surrounding waterways
Clam Bayou sits directly beside Gulfport Municipal Marina and Clam Bayou Nature Park, with a surprisingly complex network of mangrove waterways extending inland.

From Open Water into the Backwaters

The paddle begins close to the Gulfport waterfront, where the water is broad enough for kayaks and paddleboards to spread out. It does not take long, though, before the mangroves begin closing in and the route changes character completely. The protected interior makes Clam Bayou especially appealing when breezier conditions make the open bay less comfortable.

Kayakers and paddleboarders enjoying the open water just outside the mangrove backwaters.
Kayakers and paddleboarders enjoying the open water just outside the mangrove backwaters.
A colorful mix of kayaks and paddleboards gathering on the calm water near Clam Bayou.
A colorful mix of kayaks and paddleboards gathering on the calm water near Clam Bayou.
A stand-up paddleboarder gliding past a kayak under a bright February sky.
A stand-up paddleboarder gliding past a kayak under a bright February sky.

Following the Mangrove Channels

Once inside the bayou, the fun is simply choosing a channel and seeing where it goes. Some passages are broad and sunny; others narrow into shaded corridors with branches hanging over the water. A low bridge and several marked trail signs provide occasional landmarks, but the twists and turns can still make the preserve feel much larger than it really is.

Paddlers entering one of Clam Bayou’s narrow mangrove-lined channels.
Paddlers entering one of Clam Bayou’s narrow mangrove-lined channels.
The red kayak bow points toward friends paddling beneath a low wooden bridge.
The red kayak bow points toward friends paddling beneath a low wooden bridge.
Quiet paddling in a protected backwater surrounded by mangroves and blue sky.
Quiet paddling in a protected backwater surrounded by mangroves and blue sky.
Looking over the bow of the red kayak into a broad, calm mangrove channel.
Looking over the bow of the red kayak into a broad, calm mangrove channel.

Birdlife Above the Mangroves

The dead snags rising above the canopy are some of the best wildlife features in the bayou. They provide open perches and nesting sites with unobstructed views over the water. Ospreys are especially conspicuous, and a large nest high in a bare tree becomes a natural landmark from the water.

Paddlers pause near a tall dead tree topped by a large osprey nest.
Paddlers pause near a tall dead tree topped by a large osprey nest.
A Canoe Kayak Trail sign marks one of the routes through the mangrove maze.
A Canoe Kayak Trail sign marks one of the routes through the mangrove maze.
A bare snag rises above the mangroves, providing an ideal perch for birds.
A bare snag rises above the mangroves, providing an ideal perch for birds.

A Trail That Really Feels Like a Maze

The canoe-and-kayak trail signs help, but Clam Bayou is still a place where similar-looking channels can make it easy to lose your sense of direction. A GPS track on a phone or watch is extremely useful, especially when you start exploring the smaller side passages. At lower tide, keep an eye out for oyster bars and shallow mud close to the mangrove edges.

Paddleboarders regroup in a shallow section of the bayou.
Paddleboarders regroup in a shallow section of the bayou.
Another Canoe Kayak route marker tucked along the mangrove shoreline.
Another Canoe Kayak route marker tucked along the mangrove shoreline.
Paddleboarders move single-file through a lush green mangrove passage.
Paddleboarders move single-file through a lush green mangrove passage.
The route tightens into a shady mangrove tunnel where the city feels far away.
The route tightens into a shady mangrove tunnel where the city feels far away.
A red kayak follows the group along a peaceful, tree-lined waterway.
A red kayak follows the group along a peaceful, tree-lined waterway.

Back into Gulfport

One of the fun things about this paddle is the contrast. For much of the outing you can feel completely enclosed in mangroves and wildlife habitat, yet minutes later you are back in funky, colorful Gulfport. The neighborhood’s yard art and murals make a fitting finish after a day of exploring the bayou.

Quirky Gulfport garden art adds some local character near the end of the outing.
Quirky Gulfport garden art adds some local character near the end of the outing.
A colorful Gulfport mural makes a cheerful final stop after the paddle.
A colorful Gulfport mural makes a cheerful final stop after the paddle.

Clam Bayou — February 19, 2023

Clam Bayou is not a long wilderness expedition, but that is exactly what makes it such a useful local paddle. It offers protected water, wildlife, route-finding, mangrove tunnels and plenty of variety within a compact area. It is a great place to spend a few hours exploring without traveling far from St. Petersburg and Gulfport.

For paddlers, the biggest practical lessons are simple: watch the tide, protect yourself from sharp oysters, keep a GPS track if you explore the maze of side channels, and take your time. The best part of Clam Bayou is wandering through those little waterways and seeing what turns up around the next bend.