ST. AUGUSTINE KAYAK FIELD GUIDE
Wild Tides: A High‑Tide Paddle Through Salt Run’s Mangrove Labyrinth
A one-hour guided kayak tour of Salt Run in Anastasia State Park that offers high-tide access to mangrove tunnels and close views of dolphins, sea turtles and manatees—this guide distills what to expect and how the trip unfolds.
Wild Tides: A High‑Tide Paddle Through Salt Run’s Mangrove Labyrinth.
For one hour beneath St. Augustine’s coastal light you’ll slip into Salt Run at high tide and follow winding mangrove tunnels and backwaters that vanish at low tide. Led by wildlife experts from Anastasia Watersports, the Wild Tides tour is a focused, guided paddle through a living shoreline where dolphins, sea turtles, manatees and an array of coastal species reveal the vital rhythms of Florida’s estuarine ecosystem.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Dolphins, Sea Turtles and Manatees in Close View
The tour emphasizes the animals that use Salt Run—participants commonly encounter dolphins, sea turtles and manatees while paddling the sheltered backwaters, an experience framed by the guides’ wildlife expertise.
Access Only at High Tide: Mangrove Tunnels and Backwaters
This paddling experience runs only during high tide, which opens waterways and grants exclusive passage through winding mangrove tunnels and otherwise unreachable backwaters within Anastasia State Park.
Guided Exploration of a Fragile Ecosystem
Knowledgeable local guides lead the tour, interpreting the coastal food web, mangrove role and the human‑nature connections that make Salt Run a critical habitat for coastal wildlife.
What the day feels like
What the Hour Feels Like
The Wild Tides tour is a compact, high-tide paddle that moves from a brief launch into progressively narrower channels. Over the course of an hour you’ll pass through open backwaters into twisting mangrove tunnels, guided by local experts who pause to point out birds, crabs and the marine mammals that use these sheltered waters—an intense, interpretive glimpse of coastal life.
THE WILDLIFE
Dolphins, Sea Turtles and Manatees in Close View
The tour emphasizes the animals that use Salt Run—participants commonly encounter dolphins, sea turtles and manatees while paddling the sheltered backwaters, an experience framed by the guides’ wildlife expertise.
THE TIDE
Access Only at High Tide: Mangrove Tunnels and Backwaters
This paddling experience runs only during high tide, which opens waterways and grants exclusive passage through winding mangrove tunnels and otherwise unreachable backwaters within Anastasia State Park.
THE INTERPRETATION
Guided Exploration of a Fragile Ecosystem
Knowledgeable local guides lead the tour, interpreting the coastal food web, mangrove role and the human‑nature connections that make Salt Run a critical habitat for coastal wildlife.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who gets the most from Wild Tides—and who should reassess.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
The tour operates only at high tide, which determines launch times; the activity is a one‑hour guided paddle in Salt Run.
This is a guided kayak/paddling tour—participants should be prepared for a waterborne outing through mangroves and backwaters.
Groups meet and launch from Anastasia Watersports for the guided Salt Run paddle.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the Wild Tides tour?
The guided paddle lasts one hour.
Where do we meet for the tour?
The meeting location and launch point is Anastasia Watersports.
When is the tour available?
The Wild Tides Tour takes place only during high tide, which provides access to mangrove tunnels and backwaters that are unavailable at low tide.
What wildlife might we see?
Participants can expect to encounter dolphins, sea turtles and manatees, along with shorebirds, crabs and other coastal species in Salt Run.
Is the tour guided?
Yes—the paddle is led by wildlife experts and knowledgeable local guides who provide interpretation of the ecosystem.