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Paddling Locations |
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Freshwater, Space Coast South
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This section includes destinations for
Kayaking the St Johns River at its
headwaters in Southern Brevard and North
Indian River Counties.
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Three Forks Marsh Conservation Area
The Three Forks Conservation Area
extends from State Road 192 west of
Melbourne southward to the Fellsmere
Grade, which forms the southern
border of Brevard County and Indian
River County and contains Three
Forks Marsh, within which three
creeks come together to form the
first discernable channel of the St.
John's River. Camp Holly on State
Road 192 is the only clear kayak
access point to the Three Forks Area
allowing you to actually travel the
headwaters of the St. John's River.
Paddling south from here will take
you to Sawgrass lake, little
Sawgrass lake, then to Lake Hell N
Blazes, and finally to the Three
forks that become the St. Johns.
This is an upstream paddle as the
St. John's flows to the north, but
not that difficult as the flow is
very "lazy" and it is well worth the
paddle. There are the
5 designated campsites and camping
platforms within the Three Forks
Area.
Property Map
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Blue Cypress Conservation Area
This area is part of the Upper
St. Johns River Basin Project being
implemented by the District and the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This
project will reduce flooding,
restore and maintain natural
hydrologic cycles and protect water
quality. It will also reduce
freshwater diversions to the Indian
River Lagoon estuary and enhance
native habitat for fish and
wildlife. Blue Cypress Lake and
Kenansville Lake are located on the
western portion of the area.
The eastern portion of the area
contains foraging and nesting
habitat for the listed snail kite.
Wetland-dependent species found here
include great blue herons, white
ibis, snowy egrets, limpkins and
night herons. Other species include
wood storks, ospreys and bald
eagles. There are three primary
locations for Paddling this area.
The
Fellesmere Grade Recreation Pad
allows access to the Stick Farm
Marsh 13 area. These areas are world
reknowned for their Bass fishing.
The Stick Farm gets it's name from
the fact that it was once a forest.
It was flooded in order to create an
impoundment to treat water coming in
from the C-54 Canal before it could
distribute accumilated pollutants
and nutrients to the Upper St.
John's Marsh, improving the water
quality of the River. This stump
filled marsh is a great place to
paddle in the fall and winter to see
flocks of migratory ducks.
Directions: From I-95 in Palm
Bay, take Exit 173 (Malabar Road)
and go 0.25 miles east to Babcock
Street (CR 507). Turn right and go
south on Babcock for approximately
11 miles. Turn right onto Fellsmere
Grade Road just after crossing the
C-54 Canal. From the intersection of
1-95 and CR 512 (Exit 156), head
west for three miles to CR 507
(Babcock Street). Turn right (north)
and, after five miles, turn left
(west) onto Fellsmere Grade Road,
just south of the C-54 Canal. Go all
the way to the end of the dirt road
(about six miles).
Fellsmere Grade Recreation Pad /
Stick Marsh - Farm 13
GPS N 27 49.343 W 80 42.478
Google Satellite Image
Another great place for fishing
and exceptional wildlife viewing,
the
Blue Cypress Water Management Area
is a rectangular impounded marsh
area designed to filter agricultural
run-off before being released into
the pristine headwaters of the St.
Johns River. The southern end of the
management area is off limits to
airboats and boats with motors
greater than 10 HP. The area
supports several wading bird
rookeries and the eastern portion
contains foraging and nesting
habitat for the endangered snail
kite. Other wetland dependant
species found here include all of
the egrets and herons (including
both night herons), glossy and white
ibises, purple gallinules, limpkins
and wood storks. Wood ducks and
Florida mottled ducks are found
year-round and the marshes are used
extensively in fall and winter by
migratory waterfowl and shorebirds.
Bald eagles, hawks, vultures,
anhingas, ospreys and crested cara
cara are commonly seen. In addition
to previously mentioned wildlife,
American and least bitterns, king
rails, soras and fulvous whistling
ducks may be viewed here. Primitive
camping is allowed at designated
sites.
Directions: Public access to the
water management area is at the Blue
Cypress Recreation Area, which can
be reached from the CR 512 and SR 60
exits off I-95. From I-95, take Exit
156 (CR 512) and go west. Go through
the town of Fellsmere and continue
south on CR 512. The recreation area
is 2 miles north of SR 60. You can
also take the SR 60 (Vero Beach)
exit from I-95. Go west on SR 60 for
7.5 miles. Turn right onto CR 512,
then go north 2 miles.
Blue Cypress Restoration Area
GPS N 27 39.762 W 80 38.667
Google Satellite Image
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Lake Blue Cypress County Park
Lake Blue Cypress County Park is on
the western shore of Lake Blue
Cypress and other than Middleton's
Fish Camp right next to the park
this is the only kayak or boat
access to the actual Lake. Paddle
north from here along the western
shoreline and you will know why the
lake is so named. This is a
beautiful paddle though stately
cypress trees and grasses growing
out of the water. Search the canopy
of the trees for osprey and their
nests. A little over a mile north of
the park you will come to the mouth
of a creek that makes a nice shaded
canopy side trip.
Blue Cypress Park is located at 7400
Blue Cypress Lake Road. . To get
there take State Road 60 from
Interstate 95 about 18 miles, turn
right on Blue Cypress Road. The park
will be at the end of this road,
about 4.3 miles, just past
Middleton's Fish Camp (Below)
Features include 2 boat launches, a
floating dock, paved parking, grass
overflow parking, rest room
facilities with showers and 2
covered pavilions.
GPS (County Park) N 27 43.628 W
80 46.599
Google Satellite Image (County Park)
GPS (Mouth of Creek) N 27 44.444
W 80 46.475
Google Satellite Image (Mouth of
Creek)
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