Discover the Deepest Lake in Miami-Dade County

Florida, also known as The Sunshine State, has thousands of lakes throughout its acres. It even ranks as one of the states with the most lakes. Many Florida lakes offer top-notch boating and other water recreation, especially within the Everglades region near Miami-Dade County.

In this article, we’ll review the deepest lake in Miami-Dade County. We will discuss just how deep this lake is and why, and we’ll also address what you can do there, where it is located, and the types of animals in Florida that call this lake home. Plus, we’ll compare the deepest lake in Miami-Dade County with other deep lakes in Florida to see how it stacks up.

Located in the southeasternmost portion of Florida, Miami-Dade County is home to roughly 3 million people. It is also the only county in the United States with a hyphenated name!

The Deepest Lake in Miami-Dade County: West Lake

With a varying depth depending on the time of year and proximity to the ocean, West Lake is the deepest lake in Miami-Dade County, with a depth of 20-30 feet. It’s located along the southern edge of the state of Florida, within Everglades National Park. At nearly 4,000 acres, West Lake offers visitors a fantastic Everglades experience and views of the nearby ocean.

West Lake is one of the largest lakes found within Everglades National Park. It connects to many smaller lakes via narrow channels that are only accessible via canoe or kayak. In fact, West Lake has a boat launch location, but the state bans any motorized boats with more than 6 horsepower.

Given its proximity to the ocean, West Lake is primarily freshwater but also likely influenced in part by saltwater that travels through nearby channels with the tides. That’s why the depth of this lake varies. Due to its shallowness and variability, West Lake is also not commonly utilized by fishermen. Like many other waterways in the Everglades, West Lake is also famous for its alligator and crocodile populations, another potential deterrent for boats!

Where Is West Lake Located on a Map?

West Lake is within Everglades National Park, which covers 1,508,976 acres across Dade, Monroe, and Collier counties.

The Homestead entrance is the main entrance to the Everglades. Shark Valley Visitor Center is the entrance closest to Miami, which is less than one hour’s drive or about 40 miles away, and the Everglades City Gulf Coast Visitor Center is the entrance closest to Naples, which is approximately 45 minutes drive or about 35 miles away.

Recreation Near West Lake

Since West Lake is located within the Everglades National Park system, it offers visitors plenty of recreational opportunities. However, this is also Florida, so you’ll need to be aware of both any dangerous wildlife and weather. West Lake is large and glassy on an average day, but winds and storms may pick up without warning.

However, it is a relatively underutilized lake for paddling and boating, so you may be interested in taking advantage of a lack of crowds. West Lake’s primary attractions include an overlook showing off the lake and the sea and an interpretive boardwalk. This half-mile trail leads guests over the shallow shoreline of West Lake, offering visitors information about local wildlife and a chance to walk through mangrove trees.

Swimming is prohibited in West Lake, though some fishing is allowed if you follow strict rules and guidelines. The Everglades are an extremely delicate ecosystem, and West Lake is largely left alone. This means that some paddling or boating may prove difficult if debris has piled up, particularly in the channels that make up the West Lake Canoe Trail.

Wildlife in West Lake

As you may have already guessed, crocodiles and alligators are common wildlife found in West Lake. This may make you pause if you plan a kayak excursion on this particularly infested body of water! However, these basking reptiles are unlikely to interact with you unless you swim, which is illegal in any Everglades National Park water.

Maintaining a safe distance from all wildlife in and around West Lake is a good idea. The National Park Service recommends 20 feet as a safe distance. Besides the opportunity to get up close and personal with an alligator or crocodile, you may also see some of the following animals near West Lake:

• Many different types of snakes
• Many different types of turtles
• River otters
• Marsh rabbits
• White-tailed deer
• Many different types of birds.

Other Lakes in Miami-Dade County

There are at least 40 different lakes found within Miami-Dade County. Many of these are manmade, under 20 acres, privately owned, and of negligible depth. Florida is no stranger to water; fresh and saltwater lakes, rivers, and waterways are found throughout the state! The city of Miami lies within Miami-Dade County, meaning plenty of inhabitants are likely looking for water recreation!

Also located within Everglades National Park, here are some other lakes that are likely as deep as West Lake, with similar recreational opportunities:

• Long Lake
• Henry Lake
• Little Henry Lake
• Monroe Lake
• Middle Lake
• The Lungs
• Seven Palm Lake
• Cuthbert Lake.

How Deep Is West Lake Compared to the Deepest Lake in Florida?

The deepest lake in Florida is the aptly-named Deep Lake. Located in Seminole County, Deep Lake is known as a sinkhole lake with a depth of roughly 90 feet. The largest lake in Florida is Lake Okeechobee, with a depth of under 20 feet! There are plenty of unique and interesting bodies of water to explore in the Sunshine State, with West Lake only being one of many!

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