Part of the array of coastal parks between Jacksonville’s Northside and Fernandina Beach, George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier State Park sits in two counties.
The East Coast Greenway was routed across it, and its signage still implies that. But the span now has missing pieces across the expanse.
Sign at the north end of the spanOn its north side, parking at Amelia Island State Park is a must to walk under the current highway bridge to reach the former one.
On its south side, access to the park is via Sawpit Creek Recreation Area in Big Talbot Island State Park.
Sign at south end of the spanResources
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Overview
Location: Nassau Sound
Length: 1 mile in two round trips
Trailhead: 30.522094, -81.444751 (north) 30.510315, -81.458674 (south)
Address: 9550 First Coast Hwy, Fernandina Beach
Fees: $3 per vehicle
Restroom: At the north end
Land manager: Florida State Parks
Phone: 904-251-2320
Open 8 AM to sunset. Pets are prohibited. Swimming is not safe due to strong currents within Nassau Sound. There is no shade.
Directions
From Jacksonville, drive north via I-295E over the Dames Point Bridge and exit at Heckscher Dr (SR 105). Drive east. After the highway passes the St. Johns River ferry dock 9 miles into the drive, the road becomes A1A. Continue another 9 miles, driving through Little Talbot Island State Park before crossing a bridge to Big Talbot Island State Park. Pass all of the trailheads on the right side of the road. Where the boardwalk begins north of the park’s main entrance, watch for the turnoff on the left before the Nassau Sound bridge for the south span. Bear right upon entering the parking lot to use the non-boater parking area close to the old bridge. For the north span, continue across the bridge to the entrance to Amelia Island State Park. Turn right once inside the park and follow the park road to park close to the Nassau Sound bridge.
About the Park
Preserved from demolition in 1998 due to the active efforts of Florida Representative George Crady, this bridge across Nassau Sound dates to 1949.
While the bridge was a mile long, sections of it have collapsed in the middle of the sound and have not been repaired. It is not possible to cross it.
Sections to the island in the middle have collapsedAt its north end, a ramp leads up and under the active highway bridge from an access point adjoining the beach ramp for vehicles at Amelia Island State Park.
Emerging from under the A1A bridge, continue up to the bathhouse and bait shop along Old A1A.
Underpass between state parksBehind this structure, a path leads to a lovely white sand beach along Nassau Sound. It’s a nice spot for sunbathing.
Anglers sometimes cast from this shore, but most head out onto the bridge, setting up lawn chairs, umbrellas, and pop-up tents for shade.
Beach behind the bait shackDraining a vast estuary between Jacksonville’s Northshore, Yulee, and Fernandina Beach, Nassau Sound teems with saltwater species. Redfish and tarpon pass under the span every fall.
Accessed from Sawpit Creek Recreation Area, the quieter south end is where fishing is best. Grass flats provide hiding places for smaller fish.
Shoreline access on the south endHiking
The park discourages cyclists from riding out onto the bridge, but you are welcome to walk it. A round-trip to the end of the north span is 0.6 miles.
Whenever it’s possible to step over to the side instead of walking down the middle, enjoy the expansive view up the Nassau River.
Folks fishing can’t see behind themselves, so it’s up to you to steer clear of anyone casting.
Visitors enjoying the north end of the bridgeThe south span is a superior destination for birders. We’ve spotted both white pelicans and roseate spoonbills soaring across this landscape.
From the parking area at Sawpit Creek Recreation Area, follow Old A1A into the extensive marshes where Sawpit Creek empties into Nassau Sound.
Marshes to the west of Old A1AWhere the bridge is fenced off so you can walk no further, worn pathways flank it down to water level.
Anglers use these to reach a slim line of beach in the salt marsh. They provide another angle to scan for birds. Return to the parking area after 0.4 miles.
Shoreline access at the south endPass through the parking lot, edging the pines, for a different look at the estuary from the path adjoining the boat ramp, adding another 0.2 miles.
Across A1A from the entrance to Sawpit Marsh Recreation Area, birders will find a long boardwalk along Nassau Sound valuable. A crosswalk leads to stairs up to the boardwalk.
The boardwalk provides a great birding spotIn addition to paralleling a cove along the south, the boardwalk continues south into a coastal hammock where painted buntings appear each spring while migrating.
A round-trip along the boardwalk adds another mile to a walk at the south end of this state park. Add more miles by following the Timucuan Trail farther south.
Timucuan Trail Connecting a series of state parks north of the St. Johns River in Jacksonville, the Timucuan Trail is a delightfully scenic segment of the East Coast Greenway.Trail Map
Explore More!
Learn more about Big Talbot and Amelia Island State Parks
Big Talbot Island State Park Wind and water perpetually reshape the landscape along this rugged Atlantic shoreline with tidal pools, black rock beaches, and a boneyard of sand-scoured trees.
Amelia Island State Park The thud of horse's hooves on sand makes for a unique experience at Amelia Island State Park, the only Florida State Park where you can ride horses on the beachSlideshow
See our photos from George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier State Park
Nearby Adventures
Big Talbot Shoreline Access Trail Slipping through coastal habitats on the bluffs of Big Talbot Island, this linear path keeps extending as erosion forces shifts in shoreline access.
Big Talbot Black Rock Trail An unusual and picturesque geologic anomaly, Blackrock Beach at Big Talbot Island is covered with formations that look like black lava rocks but are made of sand.
American Beach Home to the largest dune system on the Atlantic Coast in Florida, American Beach has a rich history as a vacation destination that served the African-American community during the days of segregation in the South.
Peters Point Park At the south end of Fernandina Beach, a park with a small swath of Atlantic Ocean beachfront includes a trailhead for the East Coast Greenway. 
- Hal Scott Red Trail - November 13, 2026
- Baseline Trails - November 7, 2026
- Hal Scott Yellow Trail - November 3, 2026