Fakahatchee Bay is a coastal bay in the Ten Thousand Islands region, serving as the tidal terminus for the East River within Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park. The primary paddling route to the bay is via the East River, a brackish, tidal waterway that flows southwest from a launch point off US 41 (Tamiami Trail). This launch, located almost exactly five miles west of the SR 29 intersection, features an easy sand and gravel put-in with a port-a-potty and picnic table, though parking is limited. The one-way paddle from the launch to Fakahatchee Bay covers approximately 5.5 to 6 miles. The route progresses through a series of small lakes connected by narrow, unmarked mangrove tunnels, requiring careful navigation, before gradually widening into an open tidal river that empties into the bay. The entire waterway is dependent on tides, with strong tidal flows experienced, particularly closer to the bay. Paddling is recommended for intermediate skill levels and higher due to the technical navigation through tunnels and the need to plan around tidal currents. A reservation system is in effect for the East River launch, limiting daily access to a maximum of twenty people to reduce crowding and protect a nearby bird rookery. The bay itself is an open saltwater environment with historical significance, featuring pilings and ruins on its south side that are remnants of a 1920s fishing community and icehouse. Wildlife is abundant, with alligators plentiful in the upper freshwater-influenced sections of the river, and the bay area acts as a nursery for marine species. The overall experience is a remote wilderness paddle through dense mangrove ecosystems leading to a broad, historic coastal bay.