Kayak to Fort Matanzas and Estuaries Tour

We will paddle to Fort Matanzas, paddle in remote estuaries for about 1.5 hours, get out of our kayaks for lunch on the Matanzas River and then return to where we launched our kayaks in the morning.

Please complete and sign the Sierra Club release when you sign up at:
https://act.sierraclub.org/events/details?formcampaignid=701Po000015S3ShIAK

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 - 10 miles
Kayaking level: experienced intermediate
Tides: high at 12:25 pm and low at 7:10 pm

Please do not paddle under the Fort Matanzas Inlet Bridge because the current is very strong and if you paddle under the Bridge you may not be able to return for hours against the current until the tide changes.

It will be more fun and safer if we paddle as a group. Please paddle within about 10 boat lenghts of the other kayakers.

Please do not sign up for this paddle if you are a beginning kayaker, you are not comfortable paddling at 2.5 mph for a long time or paddling over oyster beds in shallow water at high tide or if you have an inflatable kayak or a folding kayak that does not have water tight, sealed compartments, because these kayaks can sink.

Please bring a kayak, PFD, whistle, water, sunscreen, lunch or a snack and a chair if you would like a chair for the lunch break.

The Sierra Club wants you to be safe when paddling and requires that you wear a Type 3 or a Type 5 PFD which goes all the way around your chest at all times while you are paddling during a Sierra Club Meetup event. A PFD that is only a belt or a vest is not a Type 3 or a Type 5 PFD.

If your plans change and you will not be going, please change your status from "going" to "not going" on the Meetup page for this event so we have correct information regarding who will be going to this event.

Please check this website in the afternoon or the evening the day before the paddle to see if there is a postponement due to a bad weather forecast. If a postponement is not posted by noon the day before the paddle, we will paddle the next day at the scheduled time for the paddle.

Sierra Club maintains a safe space agreement among participants, leaders, volunteers and staff. We want to support everyone in exploring, enjoying, and protecting our natural environment. Dangerous or hateful behavior will not be tolerated. We will always say no to racism, sexism, ageism, homophobia, impairment, and disruption. We request that all participants cooperate with the outing leader's direction to ensure a safe and enjoyable outing for everyone.