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Canoeing & Kayaking
St. Sebastian River, North Prong, Sebastian Florida USA
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Copyright 2003 Alfonso Vazquez-Cuervo - See Terms of Use

Our Route Summary

  • Submitted by: Rick Follet , Space Coast Paddlers with photos courtesy of Al Vazquez alvazquez@kayakguide.com
  • Date Submitted: 2/2003
  • Location: Sebastian and Roseland, Indian River County, Florida USA
  • Class: Class 1 flatwater with no obstructions, though the first couple of miles are more open water and can have some wind blown waves
  • Distance Paddled: about 7 miles round trip to the canoe landing at the buffer preserve (see below)
  • Water Level: It is tidal, but we paddled it during low local water conditions with no problem

  • Water: Brackish to fresh
  • Wildlife: Tiny, fine Epiphytes like the one in the photo above, Manatees and Otters, Gar, Herons, Egrets, Osprey, Kingfisher, Anhinga, Alligator. Venue: Mangrove thickets to pine/oak scrubby flatwoods and marsh
  • Special Regulations: Canoe deck is on St Sebastian River Buffer Preserve which has the following regulations:
    • Plants and animals may not be removed nor harassed (fishing is permitted)
    • No camping or fires at the canoe landing
    • Boats (including canoes) may not be tied up overnight
    • All trash must be packed out
    • Campers must obtain permits for buffer preserve camp sites at 321-953-5004
    • Removal or damage to cultural artifacts is forbidden
    • Alcoholic beverages, hunting, traps, firearms, and pets are prohibited

Entry and Exit

  • Directions: Entry/Exit at Dale Wimbrow Park.
    From I-95, exit at Country Road 512. Drive east about 2 miles to County Road 505 (Roseland Blvd.). Turn left on 505 and proceed 4 miles to Dale Wimbrow Park on the left..
    From US1 south, take right on CR505 in Roseland, Dale Wimbrow Park is on the right. From I95 south, take CR512 to County Road 505 (Roseland Road), left on County Road 505. Dale Wimbrow Park is on the left.
  • GPS: N 27 degrees 48.624' W 80 degrees 30.325'
  • Fee: none
  • Description: grassy mud bank beside concrete ramps
  • Parking: paved parking adjacent
  • Facilities: restroom (though they were locked at 10 am Sunday morning), picnic tables. There is also a campground (Donald MacDonald Campground) with paved, sheltered put-in and fishing dock approximately 1 mile north of Dale Wimbrow Park on Roseland Rd (CR505). Primitive camping is available at the St Sebastian River Buffer Preserve (Pine Camp) but it's a prohibitive distance from the canoe deck.
  • Handicap Access: paved ramp and accessible restrooms

What We Saw

Head downstream (North) from Dale Wimbrow Park put-in. You'll paddle by mangrove lined banks in a wide part of the river, passing some residential areas on the east shore.
Much of the basin where you will start is open water with power boat traffic. Power boats are forced to idle or slow speed because this is a manatee-protected area. Small powerboats are occasionally encountered on the North Prong itself. The North Prong stream twists significantly, so follow main channel.

After paddling about 1.85 miles, you should be in sight of the railroad bridge shown in the photos at right.

Take a left at the cut-through shown in the other photo at right, heading west along western branch of the St Sebastian River Basin.

GPS: N 27 degrees 49.996' W 80 degrees 30.109'

The shore will have some nice trees and this is the area where manatees may often be seen.
After about 1 mile, take the North Prong of the St. Sebastian River (shown in the photo at right). The grassy banks of the C-54 Canal and dam will be in view to the south of the turn.

GPS: N 27 degrees 50.150' W 80 degrees 31.035'
Proceed about 0.65 mile to the St Sebastian River Buffer Preserve Canoe Deck shown in the photo below.

The river continues past the canoe deck into a number of small but navigable tributaries upstream with somewhat hidden openings if you want to explore further.

Reverse the route to head home.
The canoe deck is not a viable take-out because of steep stairs from the deck landing to the picnic and trail area.
The canoe landing take-out has a picnic table, but no facilities. A map of the St. Sebastian River Buffer Preserve is displayed at the site. These trails are a nice break for paddlers. Feral hogs can be seen occasionally in the pine scrub around the canoe deck. And equestrians also frequent the trails of the preserve shown in the photo at left.