Gullivan Bay is a broad, shallow bay located in the northern Ten Thousand Islands, a few miles south of Cape Romano in southwest Florida. It is a saltwater feature, part of a maze of mangrove keys and open bays, rimmed with mangroves on its landward side and open to the Gulf of Mexico through a scatter of small passes along its western edge. The bay is characterized by its shallow, skinny waters and is undeveloped. A primary access point for paddlers is the Goodland Boating Park, a 5.22-acre park on Goodland Bay which provides direct access to the Ten Thousand Islands and the Gulf of Mexico via a two-lane boat launch ramp. Another potential launch point is the canoe ramp at the Everglades National Park Gulf Coast Visitor Center in Everglades City, which has a fresh water spigot. The bay can be subject to rough conditions, especially with a southerly wind, and features some open water paddling that requires advanced skill levels. Paddlers must be highly proficient in navigation, as the area's many mangrove keys can make it easy to lose one's way. Tidal currents are a significant consideration, particularly in the narrow channels of nearby passes like Indian Key Pass; it is recommended to time departures for the Gulf with an outgoing tide and returns with an incoming tide to work with the current. The surrounding area is rich in wildlife, including thousands of birds, dolphins, manatees, and turtles. Gullivan Key, a sugar-sand barrier beach on the bay's seaward rim, offers primitive beach camping and is known for shelling, though Collier County prohibits taking live shells. This key acts as a breakwater, creating flat calm conditions in the bay behind it when north or northwest winds are blowing. Popular paddling routes include a loop from Goodland to Cape Romano, which is at least 14 miles and traverses open water on Gullivan Bay. Paddlers should be aware of green areas on nautical charts indicating zones that are dry at low tide, requiring careful tide planning to avoid long carries over mud and rock.