Circumnavigation of Ft. George Island

Click on an area of the map to go to a description of the route Click here to go to the USGS Topo Map

Put In : Alimacani Length : 4-5 hours (10 miles) Difficulty : Moderate Nature Stuff : You name it. PWC Factor : High This is my way to circumnavigate Ft. George Island. In order to use this route it is critical that you put-in during the last couple of hours of the incoming tide. You have to do this to make sure you have enough water to get through Haulover Creek and still have the current with you when you hit the river and enter Shad Creek. I put-in at Alimacani at the Ft. George Inlet bridge. From Alimacani, you immediately enter Haulover Creek and wind your way along the bank on the east side of the island just under the road. After a while the current will take you out into the middle of the marsh and by this time you will start bucking the incoming tide from the other direction. Soon, you will see the bridge on A1A and a few yards after passing under it you will be at the entrance to the St. Johns River. This is a good place to take a break and prepare yourself for some potentially rough water on the next leg. This is where I stow my camera and don my PFD. If you've timed it right, you will still have the tide with you and after a distance of a just under a mile to the southwest you will see the entrance to Shad Creek, just past the Sand Dollar Restaurant and just before the Mayport Ferry Slip . The current is extremely swift here and it may be a little tricky going under the pilings so be careful. The incoming current should carry you a good ways into the marsh and as soon as you pass the houses on shore, take a sharp turn to the left and head west. From here you can see the islands that line the ICW and you will also see a very prominent channel marker tower which is actually on the east side of the eastern bank of islands. Use this landmark as your guide. As you can see by the map, the route here is very non-defined and just about any path you choose will work so long as you head toward the channel tower . An alternate route that I have recently discovered will cut a good bit of time and effort off of your trip but it is not quite as easy to follow. At the point in Shad Creek where you would turn south to head toward the channel tower, turn to the right and head north. This is Deep Creek and you will soon find a very well defined channel that is looping to the north where it will finally dump you in the ICW just south of channel marker 79 and the entrance to Cedar Point Creek. Be sure to avoid taking any tempting looking branches that head off toward the east or northeast as these will take you no where you want to go - for this trip at least. If you decide to stick to Shad Creek to get to the ICW, then once you reach the ICW, the islands on the east bank are another great place to take a break - in fact, you may not want to leave. From there, you will be bucking the tide no matter what you do. If the wind conditions are not bad, it should be no problem making slow, steady progress due north. You can switch from one side to the other, depending on the current, and generally find some slack water. About halfway to the FGR there is a long line of islands on the west bank and this is a good place to switch sides  This area also provides some great places to take a break. After passing those islands you will pass the entrance to Cedar Point Creek and then both branches of Horseshoe Creek. Once you pass the northernmost branch of Horseshoe, you should start to see the entrance to the FGR. It's easy to confuse with Garden Creek that empties out close to the same location. If you can't see the Kingsley Plantation soon after you enter the stream - you're not in Ft. George River. You are home free at this point. The current, by this time should be outgoing and you should barely have to paddle the rest of the way. There are numerous places to take breaks on the FGR, including Kingsley and a half dozen or more sandbars. If you're making this trip in the summer - you will have a lot of places to relax and swim. You can pretty much take it easy as you float the rest of the way back to the put-in. To see the photo galleries associated with my circumnavigations of Ft. George Island and the links to the journal entries click here.   DISCLAIMER :  This web site is my own personal web site and does not express the opinions or views of any other person or organization. Use the information contained herein at your own risk. I do not attempt to represent myself as an expert in the matters of paddling or the outdoors. Note : There are many references to areas where I have noted as pleasant and inviting places to either picnic, camp or otherwise enjoy. Be aware that you do so at your own risk and any violation of trespass laws you do so at your own discretion. Please be respectful of both the environment and other people's property. Note : I find it really sad that I have to even include a statement like this!