Simpson Creek - Jacksonville, FL
N 30° 27.680 W 081° 25.653
17R E 458955 N 3369984
Located in the Talbot Islands State Parks is a put in for a nice kayak or canoe trop along a meandering tidal river and the beautiful salt marshes of Amelia Island, Florida.
Waymark Code: WM3M0J
Location: Florida, United States
Date Posted: 04/18/2008
Published By:
nfa
Views: 88
This is the launch into Simpson Creek, a tidal river that flows through a pretty salt marsh in Northeast Florida. On this trip, you can expect to see wildlife, including pelicans, egrets, herons, wood storks, terns, shorebirds, dolphins, manatees, river otters, rays, and other fish.
You can either take a guided tour with the Long Island Outfitters/Kayak Amelia located here or you can rent kayaks or canoes from them and go out on your own. If you're interested in a guided tour, they start with a 30-minute instruction. Then you put in and paddle for about 1 hour. They stop for a break on a sandbar and provide you with a snack. Then they finish up with another hour of paddling. Long Island Outfitters/Kayak Amelia plans the guided tours to go with the tide. You take off from their location in the middle of Simpson Creek. After wandering around the salt marsh for 3 hours, you return to the starting point at the Long Island Outfitters/Kayak Amelia shop, which means that half the trip will be against the tide so be prepared.
Parking/put-in/launching information:
There is ample parking at the Long Island Outfitters/Kayak Amelia concession within the Talbot Islands State Parks. They have a gravel-lined launch area that provides for stable footing.
Paddling conditions to be expected:
Simpson Creek is affected by tides.
Difficulty of the trip:
An easy paddle.
Length of trip: 3 hours if you take the guided tour; as long as you choose if you rent a kayak or canoe.
Portages:
None.
Permits required:
None. However the Long Island Outfitters/Kayak Amelia hours of operation are 9am to 5pm, so you must complete your trip within those hours. For guided kayak tours, the fee is $55/person (includes all gear and a snack). Cost for Kayak rentals: Single Kayak is $30 for up to 4 hours and $45 for over 4 hours; Tandem Kayak or Canoe is $45 for up to 4 hours and $60 for over 4 hours.
Type of trip:
This is a looping trip - you'll need to get back to the launch.
Take-out Coordinates: Not Listed
Other information: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:Logging waymarks in this category requires a picture of your boat and your GPS at the given parking/launching coordinates,and a brief description of your canoe/kayak trip.
Additional photos and information and/or suggestions for future waymarkers will be appreciated, but is not necessary.