Nature & Outdoor Activities Near St. Augustine

1,600 acres of beach, tidal marsh, and maritime hammock on Anastasia Island, just outside downtown St. Augustine. It offers 4 miles of Atlantic coastline for swimming, paddling, and hiking, plus kayak and paddleboard rentals on site. The park also preserves the Old Spanish Coquina Quarries, the source of stone used to build Castillo de San Marcos.

A 73,000-acre national estuarine reserve stretching from Ponte Vedra Beach to Palm Coast, with a free visitor center and over 10 miles of nature trails. It's one of only 30 such reserves in the country, protecting salt marsh and maritime hammock habitat along the coast. The visitor center includes live fish and turtle exhibits along with hands-on displays on local ecology.

10,000 acres of salt marsh and maritime hammock managed by the state between Ponte Vedra Beach and St. Augustine. Trails here support hiking, birding, and horseback riding, making it a quieter alternative to the beach for unwinding outdoors. The area is also a popular put-in point for kayakers exploring the Tolomato and Guana rivers.

425 acres of formal gardens and coquina-rock coastline between Palm Coast and St. Augustine, established from a 1930s private winter retreat. Short trails wind through oak hammock and along the Matanzas River, ideal for an unhurried walk. The park's unique coquina rock formations along the Atlantic beach are found almost nowhere else in Florida.

1,500 wooded acres along Pellicer Creek, 15 miles south of St. Augustine near I-95. It's a quiet spot for canoeing, birding, and hiking beneath longleaf pines, with far fewer crowds than the beach parks closer to downtown. Canoe rentals are available on site for exploring the designated state paddling trail along the creek.

A locally owned outfitter inside the Guana Preserve in Ponte Vedra Beach, offering stand-up paddleboard yoga along with kayak rentals and guided eco tours. It's a distinctive way to combine wellness and the outdoors right on the water. The outpost also runs full moon paddles and guided fishing trips by kayak.

A state park on Fort George Island featuring the historic Ribault Club, live oak forests draped in Spanish moss, and river views along the Fort George River. It sits adjacent to Kingsley Plantation, making the two an easy pairing for a day trip. The park's trails wind through some of the oldest maritime forest remaining in Northeast Florida.

St. Johns County's coastline stretches from Ponte Vedra Beach through St. Augustine Beach and down to Crescent Beach, offering a mix of quiet residential shoreline and more active tourist stretches. Each beach access point has a slightly different character, from surf-friendly spots to calmer family beaches. Public parking and beach access vary by location, so checking ahead helps plan the visit.