St Augustine (Salt Run & city waterfront)

Update: we're changing the put-in / take-out since the Vilano Beach boat ramp will be temporarily closed for several days. Start & finish times are unchanged but the planned route has to be modified. Read on for more details.

We'll launch from the Lighthouse Park boat ramp, then head south further into Salt Run. Once we get near Anatasia SP we'll turn around and head back north toward Vilano & the inlet. We'll stop somewhere along Salt Run beach to get wet & cool off before crossing over the ICW to the spoils islands, just east of the fort (Castillo de San Marcos). Here we'll pause for lunch and try to count all the passing sea turtles (they should be flowing in with the strong ocean current). After lunch we'll continue paddling behind those same islands, meandering thru tidal creeks to see The Great Cross, Fountain of Youth Riverwalk, etc. before turning south again to pass by the fort, downtown waterfront & the sailing fleet. Sometime near or before high tide we'll start our paddle back to Salt Run and the Lighthouse boat ramp. Optionally, we could continue south another 1.5 miles and stop underneath the Hwy 312 bridge, cooling in the shade before heading back with the tide change.

Bring a good hat for sunshade, something to drink & eat. We'll take as many swim breaks as needed along the sandy shores.

In the water target time of 11:00 am. High tide near 3:15 pm.

Trip Difficulty: easy
Total Time on the Water: 4-5 hours
Total paddling distance: 8-10 miles