Carl Ross Key
[contains nude images]DeLorme Florida Atlas and Gazeteer page 121 grid D1
GPS N25 02.648' W081 01.187'
This island is located in Florida Bay. It's one of my all-time favorite campsites. (If it wasn't at the far end of the Everglades from my home, I'd probably would have gone there all the time - but it's 7 hours to drive down there vs. 4 hours to drive to the North end of the park. Lately, the Park Service has closed it to camping. I still list it here in case they reopen it. Even if they don't, it's a great naturist picnicing/skinny dipping spot.)
Think of the cartoon island with two palm trees. Add a few more trees and stretch the island long and thin, and you've got Carl Ross Key, more or less (I was standing by the trees taking the picture).
At low tide, there's a a lot of beach to walk. Swimming/wading at higher tide has always been good on the north end of the island when I've been there. There was a picnic table there each time I've been, but the park website doesn't mention one now.
The island is about 9 miles from Flamingo. The area around Carl Ross has a lot of shallows, and this seems to keep some of the boat traffic down. It's never been busy when I've been there. Obviously, you'll want a canoe or other shallow draft boat.
Twice so far, other people have landed and camped on the island while I was there, but no one has complained about my nudity.
A hand-held GPS would be handy in finding this island since it is not visible from Flamingo, but map and compass skills will do the job as well. Don't try to go there without at least a map and compass. Maps can be purchased in the park, or take your Gazetteer along.
Good weather is a must for this trip, since Florida bay is shallow and becomes choppy very easily.
