J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge - Wildlife Drive Kayak Site East
Hand launch only (kayak, canoe, paddleboard) on Sanibel Bayou in Sanibel, Lee County
- Fee
- $10 per vehicle
- Lanes
- Not listed by FWC
- Hours
- Daylight hours (FWC: “Sunrise to Sunset, Closed Fridays”)
- Trailer parking
- Not listed by FWC
- Restrooms
- No restroom
Check fees, hours and status with United States Fish and Wildlife Service before you go.
Conditions now
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How this is rated
Caution: an active Small Craft Advisory, Gale, Storm, Tropical Storm, Hurricane or Special Marine Warning. Rough: wind 20 mph or more, gusts 25 mph or more, or waves 4 ft or more. Choppy: wind 12 mph or more, or waves 2 ft or more. Calm: none of these, and nothing Unknown (an Unknown value never counts as calm). Wind and gusts are the NWS forecast for this hour; waves are the NWS forecast at a water point near the ramp.
A guide, not advice. Check official forecasts and conditions before launching.
Weather now and next hours
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Source: National Weather Service
Marine and weather alerts
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Source: National Weather Service
Waves
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Source: National Weather Service
Marine forecast: Charlotte Harbor and Pine Island Sound
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Source: National Weather Service
Water temperature
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Source: NOAA Tides & Currents
Today's tides
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Source: NOAA Tides & Currents
Sunrise and sunset
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Source: computed on this device
Live data from NWS (api.weather.gov) and NOAA CO-OPS (api.tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov), U.S. Government public domain, fetched by your browser when you reach this panel. Times are local (Eastern). Missing values show as Unknown. These data are not to be used for navigation.
For your boat
Set up My setup to see how this ramp matches your boat and tow rig, from FWC data.
All FWC facts
| Status | Open |
|---|---|
| Ramp type | Hand launch only (kayak, canoe, paddleboard) |
| Access | Government Owned for General Public Use |
| Fee | $10 per vehicle |
| Fee collection | Attendant |
| Launch lanes | Not listed by FWC |
| Hours | Daylight hours (FWC: “Sunrise to Sunset, Closed Fridays”) |
| Trailer parking | Not listed by FWC |
| Car-only parking | 5 spaces |
| Restrooms | No restroom |
| Accessibility | No Accommodations for Accessibility |
| Ramp surface | Kayak Launch Beach |
| Parking surface | Not Paved - Gravel/Limestone/Packed Soil · Good |
| Docks | No dock |
| Water | Salt or brackish water · Bay or Lagoon |
| Water body | Sanibel Bayou |
| Managed by | United States Fish and Wildlife Service with J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge |
| Address | 1 Wildlife Drive, Sanibel, FL 33957 |
| County | Lee County |
| Coordinates | 26.45172, -82.11293 |
| FWC ramp ID | LE00007AA |
On the water
Motor rules: not listed by FWC. Check posted signs and the managing agency.
Nearest NOAA tide station: Tarpon Bay, Sanibel Island (station 8725362, 2.0 mi straight-line; reference station). Tide predictions are published by NOAA CO-OPS.
Manatee protection zone nearby: Slow Speed (All Year). About 10 m from the ramp. FWC state zone, Rule 68C-22 FAC.
General reference only: FAC Chapter 68C-22 and posted signs prevail; local and federal (USFWS) zones may differ and are not included.
These data are not to be used for navigation. Check posted signs and the managing agency.
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Nearest open ramps
Straight-line distance (as the crow flies), not driving or boating distance.
- Tarpon Bay Explorers2.0 mi
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- Monroe Canal Marina4.1 mi
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