St. Augustine Florida's Castillo de San Marcos, the Spanish fort on the Florida coast that was constructed beginning in 1672. Experience Castillo de San Marcos and other man-made and natural treasures of the St. Augustine areas via kayak with Kayak St. Augustine tours. What better way to experience St. Augustine than from the viewpoint of the first voyagers - the water? Paddle this historic area - pass the Fountain of Youth, the Spanish Mission Nombre de Dios and ease up to the coquina walls of Castillo de San Marcos (the Spanish fort started in 1672). Your journey begins (one of many trips) on Hospital Creek, and if you are an experienced paddler or with a guide, you can venture to the Matanzas River (Intracoastal). You may see dolphins, many birds, and at the right time of year - manatees.  From here you can paddle to Anastasia Island, Salt Run and the St. Augustine Lighthouse, Conch Island and even Porpoise Point (Vilano Beach) if you like. Call us (ahead of time if possible) and we'll meet you, with kayaks, at the launch - whether it be Hospital Creek, Salt Run, Moses creek or another area. Here is a summary of six kayak trips offered in the area THE HISTORY TOUR - Hospital Creek to Castillo de San Marcos. Hospital Creek is a tidal creek which borders an area that encompasses the location of the first encampment of the founder of St Augustine (Pedro Menendez) and his fellow pioneers. Paddlers can follow this waterway south past the grounds of the Fountain of Youth and the Great Cross (erected at the 400th anniversary of the Spanish Mission Nombre de Dios) and wind their way to the Castillo de San Marcos, the coquina fort built by the Spanish, which was started in 1672. SALT RUN AND THE LIGHTOUSE. Salt Run is the body of water between Anastasia Island and Conch Island (home to Anastasia State Park).  It is across Matanzas Bay from Hospital Creek and south of the St. Augustine Inlet. The east bank is mostly flats with grass and oyster beds. The west bank has houses, docks and a jetty just south of a marina. MOSES CREEK, CRESCENT BEACH. View the Eagles - Day Trip or Overnight. If you want to get away from the St. Augustine area, you may try a trip which originates about 10 miles to the south in the Crescent Beach Area - Moses Creek.  I can't tell you that this is what Florida looked like a 150 years ago because in many places in Florida, around the 1880's, the native trees were harvested - other trees grew in their place. But I can tell you this is about as natural and beautiful as it gets for Florida scenery today. DEEP CREEK. Windy?  Try Deep Creek - the wind doesn't affect the paddler much on Deep Creek - the many trees that surround the creek act as a barrier. Deep Creek, St John's County, may start out as a spring fed creek, but is primarily a  tidal black-water creek that flows for about 8 miles in a northwest direction and empties into the St John's River. The starting point is State Road 207, about 20 miles southwest of St Augustine, just northeast of Hastings.  Deep Creek, surrounded by conservation land, is almost entirely floodplain, bottomland hardwood, and cypress swamp, with minimal high land.  For this reason, the immediate area around the creek escaped development.  Logging, the cutting of cypress and perhaps other trees, took place, like most places in Florida around the turn of the century. Remnants of logging operations equipment can still be seen plainly on the west bank. GUANA RIVER STATE PARK.  I can meet you (or you can carry the kayaks yourself) about 12 miles north of St. Augustine at Guana River State Park. There are two options at the dam that is located here. You can paddle upriver from the dam on Lake Ponte Vedra . The lake is a great place for birders - especially in wintertime. Launch and return to same launch. THE BIG POND. We have some sit-on-top kayaks which can be paddled in the ocean.  We have, in particular, Ocean Kayak Frenzy for wave riding - tandem Ocean Kayak Zest 2 (a small barge which at the hands of skilled paddlers can easily bust through the breakers, especially on calmer days). Links:

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