Set on Estero Bay, Big Hickory Pass Kayak Access offers LEE County boaters a straightforward saltwater launch with a short run to productive water. It's a practical, no-drama ramp that does exactly what a good launch should. As of the last FWC inventory update, launching is free here.

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At a glance

County
LEE
City
Bonita Springs
Waterbody
Estero Bay
Water type
Salt or Brackish Water
Ramp type
Hand Launch Only
Ramp surface
Sand,Sand
Dock
No Docks
Parking surface
Not Paved - Gravel/Limestone/Packed Soil
Restroom
No Toilet
Fee required
No
Managed by
Lee County
Status
Open for Business
Hours
Dawn to Dusk

Address: Estero Boulevard, Bonita Springs, FL, 34134  ·  Coordinates: 26.361092, -81.857814

Get directions on Google Maps →

Where it is

Live NEXRAD radar from Iowa State Mesonet — past ~65 minutes animated. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Ramp location from the FWC boat ramp inventory. Not for navigation.

On-water restrictions nearby

No mapped state manatee-protection or boating-safety zones were found within 500 m of this ramp in the current FWC dataset. This does not mean the area is unrestricted — posted signs and other local, state, or federal rules may still apply.

Restriction zones: For general awareness only — not for navigation or legal determination. Florida Administrative Code and posted on-water signs prevail. Other local, state, or federal restricted zones may exist that are not shown here. Source: FWC manatee protection & boating-safety GIS layers. Zone data as of .

What to know before you launch

  • Rinse your trailer and engine with fresh water after launching in salt — corrosion is the enemy on Florida's coast.
  • Parking and lane space can be tight on weekends; have your gear staged and your plug in before you back down.
  • There are no restrooms on-site, so plan accordingly before you head out.
  • Always check current tides, wind, and marine forecasts before you launch — Florida afternoons can turn stormy fast.

Tides at the nearest station

The closest NOAA tide station is Naples (Outer Coast), about 16 miles away. Here are today's predicted highs and lows (referenced to MLLW):

High tide
3:10 AM
2.664 ft (MLLW)
Low tide
8:42 AM
1.161 ft (MLLW)
High tide
2:21 PM
3.076 ft (MLLW)
Low tide
9:13 PM
0.392 ft (MLLW)

See the 7-day tide chart →

Boater discussion

Been to Big Hickory Pass Kayak Access? Share tide tips, parking notes, or what you caught. Sign in with Google, Facebook, Twitter, or Disqus — comments are reviewed before appearing. See our privacy notes on Disqus for what's shared.

Ramp data from the FWC Florida Boat Ramp Inventory (Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission). Tide predictions from NOAA CO-OPS station 8725110. Conditions change — verify status locally before you go. This site is not for navigation.