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Ft. George River
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Click on an Area of the Map to go to the
description of the run |
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The Ft. George River is one of my favorite places to paddle for several different reasons. First - It's easy to get to and easy to put in at several locations. Second - It is a great place to get started paddling in the Timucuan and you can quickly access a lot of different locations. Third - It's a beautiful place with lots of wildlife in spite of the Jet Ski's! There a few caveats, however, and you would be wise to pay attention to them. Because of the close proximity to the ocean, the tidal currents here can be very swift - especially close to the bridge. I have found myself paddling against an incoming tide and realized that I wasn't making headway against the current. Also, because of the openness of the area you can be exposed to some very strong offshore winds that can actually bring some large swells rolling down the river. The water here can get very rough very quickly. The final caveat is that this is a very busy area for other boaters, especially Jet Skis. On weekends, during the summer, this place can be scary with the idiots on PWC's trying to outdo each other with acts of stupidity. I generally avoid it like the plague on any weekend but especially in the warm weather months. Other than that, it's a great place and my wife and I go here all the time to paddle, picnic and swim. We generally put in behind the old Ribault Country Club on Ft. George Island but if I'm in a hurry after work I will put-in at the ramp at Alimacani. Since they have re-modeled the Ribault Club they lock it up at sundown so if we are going to be out after dark we always use the Alimcani ramp. It also closes at sundown but they don't lock the gate. Note: This is one of the best places to observe what I like to call the comedians of the bird world - the Reddish Egret. These medium size Egrets love the shallow water with a hard sandy bottom where they can do their comedy dance routines and I have literally spent hours watching these birds over the years. To see the photo galleries associated with my trips to Ft. George River and the links to the journal entries click here.
Put In : Ribault Country Club
"Our Sandbar" is what my wife and I call one of the many sandbars that clog Ft. George River. We chose this one because it is an easy 15 minute (or less) paddle from the Ribault ramp and perhaps less than 30 from Alimacani. It is bounded by a great little creek on one side that has a hard sandy bottom. When the tide goes out the south end of the creek is cut off so it becomes a secluded place to swim and hang out. This sandbar is pretty well under water at high tide so if you are planning a picnic here you will have to time it right or else be prepared to move your stuff. Since we first began visiting this sandbar, like all the sandbars in the FGR it has changed size and shape dramatically due to the erosion caused by the swift currents here. The water literally rips over the sandbar near the grass so be careful. You get to the sandbar by heading north from the Ribault and passing about six houses on a sandy bluff to the west overlooking the river. Once you pass the final house, you'll see the entrance to the creek to your left. The best place to swim and picnic is close to where the grass starts on the sandbar. Our New Sandbar
Put In : Ribault Country Club "Our New Sandbar" is another sandbar that we use when our other picnic spots are taken or when we just feel like it. It is located on the east side of the large grass island that is just opposite the houses. There is a stream that intersects the sandbar that lies on that side of the island but it is inaccessible at low tide. There is a nice pool there and since it is cutoff at low tide you don't have to worry about anyone bothering you. To get there you can put in at the Ribault Club and paddle directly across to the grass island. On the very south end you'll find the entrance to the channel and about halfway up it widens out into a little pool and there is a beach where you can set up your chairs and dig your fire pit.
Put In : Ribault Country Club
Just past the sandbar above, the river takes a sharp turn west as it heads toward the Intracoastal. About 100 yards past the turn you will see a bluff rising from the water. Where the bluff begins is a small creek that heads deep into the island. Along the side of the creek is a large concrete wharf that we think was originally used for the hotel that used to be located on the island. You can get out along the beach on the river and walk around the top of the wharf to some stairs that lead up to an old road. The road leads to the Kingsley Plantation and is a pleasant little hike if you want to take it. The creek that runs in front of the wharf was obviously man-made but is still pretty interesting. It can only be accessed at high tide, however.
Put In : Ribault Country Club
I call this place "camping island" because it is a very popular camp site for boaters and has been for many years. The first time I paddled there, about 10 years ago, I was in my canoe and the place was completely trashed. It has been cleaned up considerably and over the years people have slowly cleared it and made it a pretty nice place to camp. On summer weekends, it's rare that you will see it unoccupied so if you intend to camp, you should try to go in the middle of the week. It has a lot of nice features and couple of choices for campsites. It is also a great place for a picnic destination and has lots of shade, hammock trees and a nice beach for swimming. To get there you basically go the same route as the two runs above but when you get to the bend in the river you go straight across. It is located on the east bank of the river at the mouth of Simpson's Creek - on it's northern bank. There can be a lot of traffic crossing the channel so keep alert. The river can also be rough here and the currents tricky where the two streams converge. NOTE: In the past couple of years, the storms and currents have just about completely eaten away this great spot. Huge hunks of the island have broken off and literally floated away. Also, the power boat campers have begun trashing it out a lot more and with the area more opened up due to erosion, the trash is more evident. It's still a great place for a picnic and a swim.
Put In : Alimacani I've always avoided this area simply because this is the main channel for all other boat traffic on the river, particularly Jet Skis. It's a pleasant place but it can be very busy at times. Basically, you can put in at Alimacani or the Ribault Club. It's probably easier to put in at Alimacani and follow the channel as it bends toward the Little Talbot Side.. Once you get close to the Little Talbot side the channel there is very deep and there are a lot of places to pull off and swim, walk up in the dunes and have a picnic. My favorite spot is all of the way down to the mouth of Simpson's Creek where the bank heads to the east. There is a nice, high cleared area under the trees that is ideal for camping.
Put In : Alimacani
The last few years I have found this to be one of my favorite summertime routes. I try to go at the end of the outgoing tide so that the current will be with me and so that the sandbars on the ocean side of the A1A Bridge in Huegenot Park will be completely exposed. The current under the bridge can be swift and tricky and the water on the east side of the bridge can be extremely rough, especially if there is much of an sea breeze, but once you get past it and turn to the north it usually calms down. This is a great place to go in the summer on non-weekend nights. Paddle out as far as you can - almost to where the breakers start and then beach your boat and spend a few hours out here soaking up the sun, drinking beer and swimming. You have your own private sandbar on the ocean! In the evening, dig a fire pit and cook some steaks but be sure to wake up before the incoming tide carries you or your boat away! Be careful negotiating between the pilings of the bridge. The current is swift and will change direction on you without warning. On weekends - fahgeddaboudit! The PWC's own this area. Also, technically, this is part of Huegenot Park - a city owned facility and alcohol and fires are not allowed, but once the tide turns there are a couple of channels between you and the rest of the park so it's unlikely that anyone will hassle you. The occasional redneck might wander across but only the really dumb ones drive out this far. If they do - well, it's always fun to see what happens when they realize that they are cut off from the rest of the world and about to lose their vehicles! Believe me - I've seen it happen more than once in 22 years.
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