Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park is only acessible by watercraft. So if you
have a kayak, canoe, or powerboat, this State Park may be for you. Since there
are no roads that extend into the boundaries of the preserve, you can expect a
pristine "real Florida" experience amidst the salt marshes, mangrove islands,
and tidal creeks. This is Florida's third largest state park at just over 19,000
acres - spanning 20 miles along the coastline from Cedar Key to Yankeetown.
Access to the park is available via a boat ramp on county road 40 in Yankeetown,
from numerous sites in the Cedar Key area, and from a ramp on county road 326
southwest of Gulf Hammock. If you follow the navigation link on the map below,
it will take you to the boat ramp on county road 326 at Wiccasassa Park - not
because it is better or more popular, but because it is the one with the most
centrally located access to Waccasassa Bay. Located on the Waccasassa River, the
boat ramp and small park have restrooms and picnic tables. Launching into the
preserve from Cedar Key or Yankeetown will involve navigating through the open
Gulf waters.
If you launch from the Wiccasassa Park boat ramp, it will be about a 4 mile boat
ride to Wiccasassa Bay and on to the Gulf of Mexico. Fishermen with motorboats
will particularly like this trip. If you are paddling a kayak or canoe, you
might find it more interesting to go upstream from Wiccasassa Park. About 2/3 of
a mile upstream from the boat ramp, the river will fork - stay to the left to
continue up the Waccasassa River, or go right to go up the Wekiva River. You
will see few, if any, motorboats in this area. Whichever way you head, be sure
to bring adequate supplies of water and provisions - there are no facilities
along the river or in the preserve, and you will not likely have any cellphone
signal.
Four primitive campsites along the Big Bend section of the Florida
Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail are available on a first-come,
first-served basis within the boundaries of Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park.
One is at the mouth of the Waccasassa River, two are north of the river along
the Gulf coast, and the fourth is south near Yankeetown. See the Section 6
navigational map link below for details of the locations.
Activities & Facilities
Dogs allowed
Short hiking trails
Open gulf kayaking
Motor boating
Fishing