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This section of Biscayne Bay is mainly covered by shallow grass flats inhabited by bonefish and barracuda. There are canal entrances at the put-in site and also the old cooling canal from the Cutler Ridge Power Plant. The area between the shore and Chicken Key used to be a biological desert due to warm water effluent from the power plant, but has recovered quite nicely since they shut it down. Small sharks cruise the mangrove shorelines, especially around the island. Deering Estate was one of the homes of Charles Deering, Chairman of International Harvester Co (and half brother of James Deering, who built Vizcaya). You can stop for a tour of the estate as well (but not by boat). The C-100 canal spillway at 173rd St is also known as Snowden's dam.
Directions: Take I-95 south until it ends, then US-1 to Lejune Rd. Head south (left) to Cocoplum circle, then take Old Cutler down to SW 173rd St where there is a big dirt/gravel parking area. One can also take 826 south to Kendall Dr. or 104th St and go east to 67th Avenue, then south (right) to Old Cutler. Anybody who lives south of Kendall Dr. probably knows where it is anyway. The parking lot for the Deering Estate is off 164th St, but it is about a 200 yard portage (i.e. you need a kayak cart) from the parking lot to the canoe ramp, mainly paved.
Put-in/Take-out: The lot at 173rd St is the easiest put-in spot. There is a gravel area where one can launch personal watercraft. It is not an actual boat ramp. No parking fee here or at the Deering Estate. The Deering Estate lot will be more secure. At the Deering estate there is a little concrete dock for launching, which is less than ideal but can be done.
Route: Head north and look at the Deering Estate, then aim for Chicken Key. If you keep going north to the Chapman Field area there are some trails through the mangroves. There is a boat channel coming out of Deering Bay and passing just north of the key. There is a large grass flat south and west of Chicken Key which cannot be crossed at low tide, even in a kayak. Past Chapman Field and just before you get to some houses there is a mangrove trail leading to Hidden Lake (under the "700").
Wildlife: Fish, birds, little sharks and rays.
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