Matanzas River Estuaries Tour

We will launch from the Helen Mellon Schmidt Park kayak launch area, 9200 Summer Island Dr., St. Augustine, FL 32080.

We will paddle north towards Fort Matanzas for about 1 hour, then paddle north in remote estuaries for about 1 hour, get out of our kayaks for lunch on the shore of the Matanzas River and then paddle south in remote estuaries for about 1 hour and return to where we launched our kayaks in the morning.

If you have not completed and signed the waiver form in 2026, when you sign up, please complete and sign the waiver form at:
https://form.jotform.com/210074080408142
Please arrive about 9:30 am to launch at 10 am.
There is a portable toilet at the Park.
There is no fee to use the Park.
When you arrive near the Park, it looks like you are at a housing development. When you enter the Park, bear left at the fork in the dirt road and drive about 0.5 miles and you will be at the launch point.
We have seen ospreys, egrits, herons, turtles and dolphins here.
Total time on land and water: 4.5 - 5.0 hours
Total paddling distance: 8 - 9 miles