Frank B. Butler Saint Johns County Park

Frank B. Butler St. Johns County Park, located at 399 Riverside Boulevard in St. Augustine, provides a public boat ramp for access to the Matanzas River and Intracoastal Waterway. This free ramp is managed by St. Johns County and is well-suited for kayakers, canoeists, and motorboaters launching into the scenic saltwater estuary. The park itself offers waterfront amenities and is situated in a historically rich area near downtown St. Augustine.

The Matanzas River in this section flows through the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve, a 55,000-acre network of salt marshes and mangrove tidal wetlands. This protected estuary supports diverse fishing and paddling opportunities, with relatively calm, tidal conditions typical of coastal Florida's estuarine waters. Paddlers should be prepared for tidal currents and saltwater conditions, and should respect the ecological sensitivity of the surrounding reserve.

For more information about this ramp or other St. Johns County boat launch facilities, contact the county at (904) 209-0328. Nearby attractions include Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, making this access point convenient for visitors combining paddling with cultural exploration in the historic St. Augustine area.