Kingsland and its surrounding area offer excellent water adventures
KINGSLAND, GEORGIA—JULY 2024—Kingsland and its surrounding areas will get you on the water, from kayaking the many rivers and wetlands to catching the big one of the many species of fish that swim our waterways. A quick ferry ride puts visitors on Cumberland Island with its pristine beaches. Within a short drive lies the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, a world-renown ecosystem where visitors may view a variety of wildlife while canoeing and kayaking or aboard a guided boat tour. In a weekend, visitors may experience a host of water adventures!
Paddle
There are so many ways to paddle the waterways around Kingsland!
Adventures Up The Creek Xpeditions (912-882-0911) provides guided kayak tours of some of the most beautiful rivers in southeast Georgia. Single and tandem kayak rentals are available as well for those experienced paddlers.
If you want to explore the waters on your own, Knuckleheads Kayak Adventures (912-882-3512) rents kayaks from Howard Gilman Waterfront Park in downtown St. Marys.
Have kayak, will paddle? The boat launch at Crooked River State Park (6222 Charlie Smith Senior Hwy., St. Marys, 912-882-5256) sets paddlers right in the wetlands teeming with birds, wildlife and great fishing opportunities. It’s also the shortest route to Cumberland Island National Seashore once kayakers cross the Intracoastal Waterway.
Fish
Naturally, with all the wetlands and waterways, such as Crooked River, St. Marys River and the Satilla River, not to mention ocean access, Kingsland is a fisherman’s paradise. Look for speckled trout, catfish, flounder, tarpon, sturgeon and so much more. Grab your bait, line and tackle and head out for some amazing catches.
First, make sure to acquire a Georgia Fishing license. You can get one online at GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com or locally at the Walmart 836 Supercenter (6586 GA-40, St Marys, 800-366-2661, 912-510-9216).
Next, fill up your bait box and pick up other necessary supplies from area bait and tackle shops. Davidson Bait & Tackle (290 Meeting St. East, St Marys, 912-510-0644) offers all your fishing needs and its located next to the Meeting Street Boat Ramp to get you on the St. Marys River.
North Star Bait & Tackle (912-729-8018) is located at Crooked River State Park, next to the East River boat landing so fishermen can load up and launch in.
Other places to pick up bait include St. Marys Magic Market (100 West Church St., St Marys, 912-439-3055), the Walmart 836 Supercenter in St. Marys (912-510-9216) and the Waverly Minit Mart (24295 U.S. Hwy 17, Waverly, 912-576-5908).
There are numerous fishing charters to choose from and we’ve made it easy for you to find them. Visit the website https://visitkingsland.com/home/explore/fishing for a list of charter companies.
Or, perhaps this URL for the charters from the brochure: https://visitkingsland.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/CC-OUTDOOR-WATER-v08182021-reduced_202108180902310809.pdf
Sunbathe
There are so many reasons to catch the ferry to the Cumberland Island National Seashore, Georgia’s largest and southernmost barrier island with 9,800 acres of congressionally designated wilderness. Most of the island comes under the protection of the National Park Service so the beaches on the Atlantic side and the streams and wetlands on the East River and within are pristine and teeming with life. Cumberland is known for its historic ruins, wild horses, maritime forests and primitive camping, but don’t miss the chance to possibly walk miles on a beach without seeing a soul.
Cumberland Island is only accessible by ferry, which operates from the Mainland Visitor Center (113 West St. Marys St., St. Marys).
Have an Adventure
Hike, paddle or jump on a guided boat tour to experience what the world-renown Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge has to offer. The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge (2700 Suwannee Canal Road, Folkston, Georgia, 912-496-7836), about 30 minutes from Kingsland, sits at the headwaters of the Suwannee and St. Marys rivers and is home to threatened and endangered species. Look for alligators, naturally, but also the red-cockaded woodpecker, indigo snake, wood stork and a host of migratory birds that fly through. The Okefenokee is also famous for its amphibian populations that are bio-indicators of global health.
The quickest way to access the refuge from Kingsland is at the Richard S. Bolt Visitor Center on the refuge’s east side. Visitors may drive a loop that exhibits the refuge’s eco-diversity, hike trails, rent canoes or join a boat led by experienced guides. The center is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily and the refuge opens 30 minutes before sunrise and closes around 7:30 p.m.
If you go
Kingsland is home to numerous chain hotels along Interstate 95, all centrally located to Kingsland restaurants and its historic downtown. Kingland’s sister city of St. Marys is a short drive east.