August 28th, 2015

St. Augustine/Jacksonville Recreation: Discover Outdoor Activities Near Shearwater

For lovers of the great outdoors, there may be no better place to indulge than St. Johns County’s Shearwater, a new master planned community.

Located just thirty minutes from Jacksonville and St. Augustine in Northeast Florida, Shearwater is the perfect home for outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy hiking, biking, kayaking, surfing, boating and both fresh and salt water fishing. Move to Shearwater and you’ll discover your favorite locations.

Parks Near Shearwater:

You’re never far from a park or preservation area when you live at Shearwater.

Trout Creek Community Center & Park – A 165-acre passive park with easy access to Trout Creek and St. John’s River. Features include a double boat ramp, boardwalk and nature trail.

Anastasia State Park – Abundant wildlife and ecosystems can be found within 1,600 acres where you can hike, swim, comb the beach, bird watch and more.

Guana River State Park – Beaches, salt marshes, dunes, lagoons, oyster beds, and mangroves are just some of features that make up this 60,000+ acre park on the Left Coast.

Alpine Groves Park –This 54.5 acre park is a stop on the Great Florida Birding Trail. Beautifully situated on a high bluff overlooking the river, this park offers a butterfly garden, picnic area, winding trails, a farm-themed playground, covered fishing dock, canoe/kayak launch and picturesque winding trails. It is the ideal place to spot eagles, osprey, owls, wood ducks and many other bird species.

Lighthouse Park—This waterfront park’s most distinguished feature is the St. Augustine Lighthouse and museum. Built in 1874, this lighthouse is still active today. The park is populated with a winding forest of scrub oak trees. There is also a playground, a fishing pier with beautiful water views, a boat ramp and restroom facilities.

Fishing Near Shearwater

Jacksonville anglers have their choice of pier, pond, bridge, lake, beach or ocean fishing. Premier spots include Guana Lake, Black Creek South Prong, Mayport Jetties, Jacksonville Beach Fishing Pier and Nassau Sound Fishing Bridge. Find a complete list here.

Hiking & Biking near Shearwater

Nearly every park and nature preserve in the vicinity has some kind of trail system for hikers and bikers. Some favorites of Jacksonville and St. Augustine residents include Ancient Dunes Trail, Bayard Point Conservation Area, Cary Nature Trail, Jacksonville-Baldwin Trail and Pine Loop Trail. Find more biking and hiking near Jacksonville here and near St. Augustine here.

Just 30 minutes from both Jacksonville and St. Augustine, Shearwater is ideal for outdoor enthusiasts, active families and lovers of scenic beauty. The 1,500-acre community includes a system of walking trails through a preserved habitat, plus parks, fields, lakes and canoe/kayak access to Trout Creek. The Kayak Club and Fitness Lodge feature two pools, slide tower, a Lazy River, tennis courts, large fitness facility and multiple entertaining spaces.