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If your idea of fun is being on the water, the First Coast is hard to beat! With the Atlantic
Ocean and salt marshes to our east, the Intercoastal Waterway (ICW) along with the
legendary St. John's River and its many tributaries, and the myriad freshwater lakes and
rivers in our area, we are literally surrounded by water. Hitch up your boat and go!

Ocean Access and Salt Marshes

Talbot Island State Park: ICW, Sawpit Creek at old Fla. A1A bridge over Nassau River;
new ramp built in 1999 by Florida DOT as part of new Nassau River Bridge project;
operated by Florida DEP Division of State Parks; single-lane ramp, crowded on weekends;
$2 charge on honor system.

Fort George River: At Fla. A1A bridge; unimproved sand-and-shell ramp behind old Camp
Alamacani; suitable only for small craft and personal watercraft; limited parking; picnic
area and grills, portable restrooms; great ICW access for small craft, but beware at low
tide.

Sisters Creek Park: ICW at 8203 Heckscher Dr. (Bridge); recently improved double-wide
ramp opened last September; adequate parking and new floating concrete docks;
restrooms, paved parking lot, other park amenities are currently under construction, but
ramp remains open except for brief periods; can't be used much of July because of use of
site by Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament.

Joe Carlucci: ICW, McKenna Dr. off Heckscher Dr. on north bank of St. Johns River at
juncture with ICW; new, double-wide, rippled-surface ramp; picnic area, restrooms.

Mayport: Off Fla. A1A at village of Mayport just east of ferry slip, about 3 miles from the St.
Johns River entrance. After extensive expansion and renovation over the last several
years, probably one of the finest ramps for ready access to the ocean on the East Coast.
For that reason, it can also be one of the most crowded, despite expanded parking and
other facilities; currents, wakes from ocean-going vessels can be a problem.

Oak Harbor: In Oak Harbor Subdivision at 2428 Seaway St. in Mayport off Florida A1A;
good access to the ICW and ocean. Good facilities, secluded and seldom overcrowded,
but shoaling is an ongoing problem and shallow water at low tide can be a danger even
for smaller boats.

Beach Blvd.: Just east of B. B. McCormick drawbridge in Jacksonville Beach behind Beach
Marine and Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission headquarters. Good ramp, but parking is
very limited.

St. Johns River and tributaries

Tour and History of the St. Johns River

To locate boat ramps in Jacksonville, click here City of Jacksonville

(North-South)

Lonnie Wurn: At 4131 Ferber Rd. in Fort Caroline area on St. Johns south bank. Recent
renovations and dredging have improved the facility, but like all old ramps built in what are
now residential areas, parking space is limited.

Bert Maxwell: Located just north of I-95 at 680 Broward Rd. on Trout River: about 3 miles
from the St. Johns: this little-used ramp has plenty of parking and a good launching
surface. But despite recent dredging, care is needed going in and out.

Dinsmore: On upper reaches of Trout River at junction of U.S. 1 North and Dunn Ave.
Recently renovated; limited parking.

T.K. Stokes: On upper reaches of Ribault River on Riverview Ave., off Lem Turner Rd;
limited parking.

Harborview: On upper reaches of Ribault River on Harborview Dr.; limited parking.

Arlington Lion's Club: At Lion's Club Park on University Blvd. North, above Jacksonville
University campus. One of the best on St. Johns, set in an idyllic park with plenty of
parking, nature trails, picnic areas, restrooms.

Arlington Rd.: At foot of Arlington Rd. just north of Mathews Bridge; old single-wide ramp
has been renovated over the years, but parking is extremely limited.

Pottsburg Creek: On upper reaches of Pottsburg Creek/Arlington River on Beach Blvd;
old ramp with limited parking.

St. Johns Marina: Last ramp going south directly on St. Johns in Duval county, on Gulf Life
Dr. downtown directly behind River City Brewing Co. restaurant and hard by Acosta
Bridge. Wide and well-surfaced, but parking and access are limited because of location
near restaurant and other businesses and ramps to bridge; currents can also be a
problem.

Lighthouse Marine: Cedar River, 5434 San Juan Ave. at bridge; recently improved ramp
with floating dock, restrooms; opened in 1999; limited parking.

Wayne B. Stevens: Fishing Creek off Ortega River at Ortega Farms Blvd. and Seaboard
Ave. (off Timuquana Rd.); recently renovated and dredged; adequate parking, restrooms.

Hood Landing: On Julington Creek at foot of Hood Landing Rd. at Clark's Fish Camp; old
single-wide ramp with no dock; parking is virtually non-existent, but ramp offers only ready
access to St. Johns from east bank between downtown Jacksonville and St. Johns County.

Clay County
Black Creek--Middleburg Ramp (#119)
Travel North on Route 21 from Middleburg, turn right on CR 220E (Main Street). Go to
end of pavement 1.0 mile to ramp. There is a single lane ramp with paved parking lot
capable of accommodating 20 vehicles. Bathroom facilities are present. There is a fishing
pier and fishing from the bank is also allowed.

Black Creek--Rideout Ferry (#46)
From Black Creek Bridge in Middleburg, go 1.0 mile north on SR 21 to CR 220. Turn right
and travel 3.0 miles to CR 209. Turn right and go 1.8 miles to Old Ferry Road. Turn left
and go 0.5 mile to ramp. Single lane ramp with paved parking lot capable of
accommodating 13 vehicles. Bathroom facilities are present.

Lake Brooklyn (#148)
From CR 21 in Keystone Heights go north on SR 100 for 0.8 miles. Turn right on King
Street and go 0.2 miles to ramp. Ramp is on right side of road.
Single-lane ramp with unimproved parking lot capable of accommodating 20 vehicles.

St. Johns River--Old Shands Bridge (#95)
From Green Cove Springs go south on SR 17 for 5.0 miles to 16E. Go east for 2.5 miles
to Shands Pier Road. Turn left and follow road 0.3 miles to ramp.
Single-lane ramp with paved parking capable of accommodating 35 vehicles. Bathroom
facilities are available and a fishing pier is present.

Governor's Creek--Governor's Creek North (#186)
Head north on Rt 17 from Green Cove Springs. Ramp is on right side of road across
Governor's Creek Bridge 0.5 mile from downtown.
Fishing observation pier, paved parking lot capable of accommodating 25 vehicles.
Universally accessible.

Lake Magnolia--Camp Blanding (#83)
From Hwy 100 in Keystone Heights, go north on Hwy 21 for 1.9 miles to paved road
entrance to Camp Blanding WMA on the left. Turn left on Treat Road and go 1.5 miles to
dirt road on right. Follow dirt road 0.1 mile to ramp.
Public paved ramp.

Lake Lowery--Camp Blanding (#84) From Hwy 100 in Keystone Heights go north 1.9 miles
on Hwy 21 to paved road entrance to Camp Blanding WMA on left. Turn left (northwest)
on Treat Road for 3.1 miles to dirt road on right. Go 0.4 mile to ramp.
Public paved ramp.

Nassau County
St. Mary's River--Walker Landing (#24)
From Hilliard, go north on US 301 for 7.0 miles to Boulogne city limits sign. Go 1.1 mile to
Lake Hampton Road and turn right and go 0.7 mile to unnamed graded road. Turn left
and go 0.5 mile to ramp. Single-lane ramp with paved parking lot capable of
accommodating 20 vehicles. Picnic facilities are available and bank fishing is allowed.

Bradford County
Little Lake Santa Fe (#144)
From Starke, go south on SR 100 for 11.0 miles. Turn right on CR21 for 1 mile. Turn right
on 21B and go 2.1 miles. Ramp is on right side of road. Double lane ramp. Renovated in
1994. Unimproved parking lot capable of accommodating 20 vehicles. A fishing pier is
present.