John M. Bethea State Forest - Maple Set Recreation Area - Canoe Launch anchors freshwater access on St. Marys River in Baker County. It's a reliable jumping-off point whether you're wetting a line, running the flats, or simply logging a lazy afternoon on St. Marys River. As of the last FWC inventory update, launching is free here.
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At a glance
- County
- Baker
- City
- Sanderson
- Waterbody
- St. Marys River
- Water type
- Freshwater
- Ramp type
- Hand Launch Only
- Parking surface
- Not Paved - Gravel/Limestone/Packed Soil
- Managed by
- Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
- Status
- Open for Business
Address: State Road 127, Sanderson, FL, 32087 · Coordinates: 30.524456, -82.230973
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Where it is
Live NEXRAD radar from Iowa State Mesonet — past ~65 minutes animated. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Ramp location from the FWC boat ramp inventory. Not for navigation.
On-water restrictions nearby
No mapped state manatee-protection or boating-safety zones were found within 500 m of this ramp in the current FWC dataset. This does not mean the area is unrestricted — posted signs and other local, state, or federal rules may still apply.
Restriction zones: For general awareness only — not for navigation or legal determination. Florida Administrative Code and posted on-water signs prevail. Other local, state, or federal restricted zones may exist that are not shown here. Source: FWC manatee protection & boating-safety GIS layers. Zone data as of .
What to know before you launch
- Clean, drain, and dry your boat between freshwater launches to help stop the spread of invasive plants like hydrilla.
- Parking and lane space can be tight on weekends; have your gear staged and your plug in before you back down.
- Always check current tides, wind, and marine forecasts before you launch — Florida afternoons can turn stormy fast.
Tides at the nearest station
The closest NOAA tide station is Fernandina Beach, Amelia River, about 47 miles away. Here are today's predicted highs and lows (referenced to MLLW):
Boater discussion
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