Beat the Heat! Explore and Paddle at Weedon Island 🌞

Too nice to stay inside.

We're heading to Weedon Island for a relaxed paddle through clear water, mangrove tunnels, and some of the coolest scenery around St. Pete. If you've been looking for an excuse to get outside, this is it.

We'll paddle at an easy pace, explore a few hidden spots, stop for photos, cool off in the water if conditions allow, and just enjoy a summer morning with a fun group of people.

Expect great views, wildlife, good conversations, and maybe even a dolphin or manatee sighting if we're lucky.

No pressure, no competition, and definitely no awkward networking. Just people who enjoy being active, meeting new friends, and spending time on the water.

Bring your paddle board or kayak, water, sunscreen, and whatever makes your day better.

Meet: 2:30 PM
Launch: Around 315 PM
Come solo or bring a friend. Most of us show up not knowing everyone, and that's part of the fun.

Difficulty:
Easy to Moderate

Water Conditions:
Usually calm during the evening with lighter winds and less boat traffic.

Wildlife:
Pelicans, herons, egrets, cormorants, dolphins, and occasional manatees.

Recommended:
Bring sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, water, and dry bags for phones/cameras.

Launch Location
We'll meet at Weedon Island Preserve, 1800 Weedon Dr NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33702.
The launch spot is at the very end of the road, right next to the restrooms. There are a few parking spaces there, but they fill up quickly. If you're lucky, you might grab one.
If those spots are full, you can unload your paddle board or kayak at the launch first, then park in the main parking lot near the preserve entrance and walk back. It's just a short walk.

Weedon Island is a little different from some of our other outings. There are more than 40 trails and points to explore through the mangroves, but we won't be trying to cover everything. During the summer, that can be pretty exhausting, especially for newer paddlers.
We'll explore a couple of the mangrove areas so everyone gets the experience, then our goal is to reach a beautiful sandbar where we can cool off and take a swim.
A few recommendations:

• Bring bug spray. It's summer, and mosquitoes can be active inside the mangroves.
• A hat or lightweight hoodie is a great idea to help keep mosquitoes away from your ears and neck.
• Bring plenty of water. It's going to be a hot day.

One thing to keep in mind is that reaching the sandbar requires crossing a channel with a noticeable current, so everyone will need to paddle with a little extra effort. Once we get there, we can decide as a group if everyone feels comfortable continuing the loop back to our starting point.
The goal is to have fun, stay safe, and make sure everyone enjoys the adventure at their own pace. Looking forward to seeing you all on the water!

Note: Saltwater Paddle Crew is currently a free community driven group during its pilot phase. Meetup limits the number of official RSVPs on free host accounts, so even if an event appears “full,” members are still welcome to join us at the launch location unless otherwise noted. Feel free to show up, paddle, meet the crew, and enjoy the adventure with us.