Ted Sperling Nature Park
Location: Ted Sperling (Sarasota, Florida, USA)
Explorer: Kim Reddington
Board Used: Waterwalker 120
Date Logged: June 11, 2021
Website: https://www.scgov.nets
SUP Explorer - The Best Places to Stand Up Paddle Board
Ted Sperling Park is ideal for paddle boarding. I love the pristine beaches, clear aqua blue waters that boast temps in the 80s, and abundant wildlife. A favourite of mine is the miles of natural mangrove tunnels, all of which are numbered and easily accessed. I had to kneel as I paddled through some of the sections of the tunnels but it was well worth it. It is not unusual to spot manatees, dolphins, and several bird species. Every time I paddle out here, a cormorant has followed my trail and playfully dives under my board from side to side. There's a sandy beach where I stop for lunch and a swim, or even better yet, I can get off the board on the large sandbar in the center of the bay at low tide. Hang my feet and touch bottom while I relax for a bite, and observe the beauty around me. I have even been fortunate enough to find some unique shells out there, untouched because it's a well kept secret that you now know!
After I explore the tunnels, I usually head out into the Bay Area; this where I have seen dolphins and manatees. It's not as private as the lagoons that surround the mangroves but I like paddling on the wake of the boats that go by. It's a low speed area, but still there's enough of a wave to challenge my balancing act! The parking is free, and there is no launch fee. Ted Sperling is my go-to destination, and it never disappoints.
SUP Explorer Photos from Ted Sperling Nature Park
Getting There and Launching
You'll put in at the north end of the park off Taft Drive, where Sarasota County runs one of the better-rated paddle launches in the state. Restrooms and picnic tables are on site.
The mangrove trail is numbered, so you can follow the markers out and back without a map. That said, half the fun is nosing down the side channels that aren't marked, so just keep track of where you turned off.
When to Go: Read the Tide
Here's what the tunnels won't tell you until you're already in them - the tide makes or breaks the paddle. Come in near dead low and you'll be dragging over the shallow spots, which is why Kim ended up kneeling through the tighter sections. Come in on a high and the mangrove branches hang low enough that you're ducking the whole way. The sweet spot is a rising or mid tide, with enough water to float you clean but not so much that the canopy's in your face.
An inflatable helps here more than a hard board does. The Waterwalker 120 rides on a 6-inch-thick, 30-inch-wide deck with 190 L of volume, so it floats you high and needs only inches of water under it - the shallow stretches that would ground a keeled hull are still passable when you pick your line. At 22.5 pounds it's also easy to lift and reposition over the odd sandbar rather than plowing through it.
So check the Sarasota Bay tide tables before you load the car - NOAA posts them free - and aim to launch an hour or two either side of mid-tide. If you're also after that sandbar lunch stop in the middle of the bay, save it for the back half of your paddle, because low water is the only time it's actually exposed.
Currents, Boats and Staying Safe
The tunnels themselves are calm and beginner-friendly, but Ted Sperling sits where four bodies of water meet - the Gulf of Mexico, Big Pass, Sarasota Bay and Brushy Bayou - and Sarasota County warns that currents run swift near that convergence, with no lifeguards on duty and the shoreline posted no swimming. Once you leave the mangroves for the open bay, treat it like open water, not a sheltered paddle.
Wear your life jacket instead of bungeeing it to the deck. The U.S. Coast Guard counts a paddle board as a vessel once you're outside a designated swimming or surfing area, so a wearable PFD has to be on board - and on that swift-current stretch you want it on you, not strapped down. A board like the Waterwalker 120 gives you room to work with: at 30 inches wide it's a stable platform for staying upright when a wake rolls through, and its 210 lb max capacity means you, your PFD and a dry bag are still well within what the 190-liter board is rated to float. Keep your leash clipped to your ankle the whole time - if you go in near that current, the board is your biggest flotation, and you don't want it drifting off without you.
Watch for boat traffic in the low-speed zone where Kim likes to ride the wake; it's fun, but you're sharing the water, so keep your head up and give powered craft the right of way. And give the manatees their space - Florida protects them by law, so let them drift to you and never chase one down for a photo.
SUP Explorer Tips For Your Visit to Ted Sperling Nature Park
- This is a popular place and tends to get crowded during spring break and peak season (November-May). If you want a true nature experience, June-October is best.
- On-site tours and rentals are available for both paddle boards and kayaks. Make reservations before you go.
- Make sure you pack food, plenty to drink, and wear a bathing suit. This can easily turn into an all day affair.
- You absolutely, positively need your waterproof phone case and phone to take pictures. The tunnels are a breathtaking phenomenon, not to mention the wildlife as an added bonus.
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