CAPE CORAL BOAT TOUR FIELD GUIDE
Silent Channels: Paddle the Pine Island Audubon Sanctuary
A 2‑hour, National Audubon Society–partnered stand up paddleboard outing through eight square miles of secluded marsh channels; this guide orients you to logistics, route flow, and what to expect on the Pine Island Audubon Sanctuary tour.
Silent Channels: Paddle the Pine Island Audubon Sanctuary.
Between the villages of Duck and Corolla lies the Pine Island Audubon Sanctuary, an eight‑square‑mile expanse of preserved marsh and interlacing water trails. Coastal Kayak Touring Company, in partnership with the National Audubon Society, runs an exclusive guided stand up paddleboard tour that threads narrow channels and remote islands, offering prolonged solitude and concentrated wildlife habitat preserved as it existed before widespread development.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
An Audubon‑backed Sanctuary
The tour is offered in partnership with the National Audubon Society, giving access to one of the Outer Banks’ least‑traveled wildlife preserves and the sense of visiting habitat set aside from modern development.
An Intricate Marsh Maze
Miles of secluded water trails wind through islands and marsh channels across roughly eight square miles, creating a complex paddling route that rewards careful navigation and quiet observation.
Solitude and Secluded Launches
One of the tour’s defining features is solitude: small, seldom‑used channels and a short walk down the Audubon trail to the launch mean you’ll spend your time on the water largely apart from other visitors.
What the day feels like
What the Tour Feels Like
The outing begins ashore with a brief walk down the Audubon trail to the launch point; from there your guide leads you into a braided network of marsh channels and islands that only they know well. Over the course of two hours you paddle through narrow waterways and open salt marsh, experiencing a preserved coastal landscape where wildlife and quiet dominate the scene.
THE PARTNERSHIP
An Audubon‑backed Sanctuary
The tour is offered in partnership with the National Audubon Society, giving access to one of the Outer Banks’ least‑traveled wildlife preserves and the sense of visiting habitat set aside from modern development.
THE LANDSCAPE
An Intricate Marsh Maze
Miles of secluded water trails wind through islands and marsh channels across roughly eight square miles, creating a complex paddling route that rewards careful navigation and quiet observation.
THE FEEL
Solitude and Secluded Launches
One of the tour’s defining features is solitude: small, seldom‑used channels and a short walk down the Audubon trail to the launch mean you’ll spend your time on the water largely apart from other visitors.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this tour suits — and which questions to ask before you go.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
Tours are permitted from April through September. Departures are offered from the Pine Island Audubon Center in the mornings and a few hours before sunset; the outing lasts about two hours.
The rate listed in the provided material is $75 per person.
The source material does not provide a specific gear checklist. The tour’s official title identifies it as a stand up paddleboard tour; the description also references kayaks—confirm with the operator which craft and what equipment are supplied.
The outing is run by Coastal Kayak Touring Company in partnership with the National Audubon Society; contact the operator for booking, final departure times, and any clarifications on equipment or participant requirements.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the tour?
The tour is two hours in duration.
How much does the tour cost?
The listed rate is $75 per person.
When do tours operate?
Tours are permitted from April through September, with departures from the Pine Island Audubon Center in the mornings and a few hours before sunset.
Where do we meet for the tour?
Departures are from the Pine Island Audubon Center; the outing begins with an approximately 10‑minute walk down the Audubon trail to the launch location.
What will we see on the paddle?
You will travel a maze of secluded water trails and islands within the Pine Island Audubon Sanctuary—an area preserved by the National Audubon Society that provides classic Outer Banks marsh habitat and opportunities for wildlife viewing.
Is this a kayak tour or a stand up paddleboard tour?
The official title names this a Stand Up Paddleboard Tour, but the provided description references kayaks and calls the area a 'kayaker’s dream.' The source material therefore contains inconsistent craft references; contact Coastal Kayak Touring Company to confirm which craft are used on a given departure.