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Nassau 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 Nassau River begins in a swamp east of Callahan and flows eastward where it empties into the Nassau Sound between Amelia Island and Big Talbot Island. It has limited access and is heavily developed along a good part of it but there are some interesting areas such as the Broward Islands that can be visited along it's route.
Eastern Run
This is a long run and because of it's proximity to the ocean the tidal currents are very strong so it is highly recommended that you plan your trip with the tides . The put-in is at the state ramp on the south end of the new Nassau Sound Bridge. It's not a great place to put-in for kayakers as the road down to the ramp is a very long walk from the parking lot and the current here on Sawpit Creek is very strong. Since it is a State Park there is an access fee unless you have a pass. Sawpit Creek branches off from the ICW a mile or so to the SW and is a very short run to the sound. The incoming tidal current makes it virtually impossible to negotiate and therefore the best way to get into the Nassau River is to head south and enter the ICW where you will turn north. Here you will buck the current but it will be manageable. About a mile north you will reach the point where the ICW crosses the Sound and becomes the Amelia River as it continues northward. The Nassau River ends here and you will start your journey by heading in a NW direction along the densely developed banks of Black Hammock Island. Unless you love to see the a good example of unchecked development it's probably best to cross over to the grass island opposite the docks. This may also afford you some protection from the wind and current that comes funneling down the Amelia River. The channel closest to Black Hammock is called the Back River and it is the quickest route north (approx 6 miles from the put-in) to where it rejoins the main river before making a big loop south just shy of the landmass of southern Nassau County in an area known as Nassauville. Hopefully, at this point any wind or rough water you have encountered will now be shielded by the land to the north. From here you will travel in a SW direction and the Broward Islands will be looming directly ahead of you. A mile to the south will be the entrance to Pumpkin Hill Creek and about a mile past that and you will be skirting the shoreline of the middle Broward Islands. This island has steep banks that are lined with fallen trees and that makes access very difficult. Most of the island appears to be overgrown with Palmetto and other underbrush making it very uninviting for picnickers or campers. One either end of the island the land slopes down into the marsh and it is possible to get out and stretch your legs and take a break - not a bad idea since you have just traveled 8.5 miles and are facing that same distance back. If you have timed things right you will have reached the island just as the tide has turned. If not, there are plenty of places to explore and it would be worth your while to wait for the current to turn in your favor.
Western Run I've only traveled this route couple of times back in January of 2005 and I haven't really felt much of an urge to go back. At different times of the year it may be quite a different place but on the whole I didn't see much of interest there. You can put in where U.S.-17 crosses the river and I chose the SE side of the bridge where a dirt track leads down to the water from the highway. There is a Fish Camp on the north bank and I'm sure you can put in there for a fee. From the bridge you can head east or west but on both of my trips I headed west because of the tides. The river immediately turns to the north and parallels the railroad tracks for about a mile and then bends back to the south as it passes under a trestle. On either side of the trestle is a stream that heads north into the marsh. The stream on the west side of the tracks is called Lumber Creek and it goes deep into the marsh running under some high banks where some big houses are located. It eventually comes back out on the river about 2.5 miles upstream. If you enter from that end you will find yourself running along some tree farms from which this stream gets it's name. I didn't travel any further west on the river as all I could see and hear ahead of me was the Interstate. I'm sure it gets more interesting as it gets closer to its source west of I-95 but I didn't feel like exploring any further.
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