Helen Mellon Schmidt Park Paddlecraft Access #3 sits on Matanzas River and serves as a dependable saltwater access point for anyone launching in Saint Johns County. Whether you're chasing a morning bite or just getting the family out for a cruise, it puts you on the water fast. As of the last FWC inventory update, launching is free here.
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At a glance
- County
- Saint Johns
- City
- Saint Augustine
- Waterbody
- Matanzas River
- Water type
- Salt or Brackish Water
- Ramp type
- Hand Launch Only
- Ramp surface
- Sand Kayak Beach
- Dock
- No Dock
- Parking surface
- Not Paved - Gravel/Limestone/Packed Soil
- Restroom
- Portable Toilet
- Fee required
- No
- Managed by
- Saint Johns County
- Status
- Open for Business
- Hours
- Dusk to Dawn
Address: Summer Island Drive, Saint Augustine, FL, 32080 · Coordinates: 29.696325, -81.226059
Get directions on Google Maps →
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
- Rinse your trailer and engine with fresh water after launching in salt — corrosion is the enemy on Florida's coast.
- 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 St. Augustine Beach, about 11 miles away. Here are today's predicted highs and lows (referenced to MLLW):
Boater discussion
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