De Soto National Memorial ⓘ

Hernando de Soto was born around 1500 in the Extermadura region of Spain. De Soto was the second born son to a minor country noble or Hidalgo . He would learn in his youth the skills of horsemanship, reading, writing, and armed combat, but due to the laws of inheritance he would have to look outside of his estate for wealth and glory. At the age of 14, Hernando de Soto would leave Extermadura for Seville and enlist in an expedition set for the New World. He would arrive in present day Panama at the colony of Darien founded by his childhood hero Alviar Nunez de Balboa. De Soto would serve Balboa and the governor Pedrarias Davila as soldier of horse, where he would quickly distinguish himself.

Pedrarias named El Furor Domini the scourge of God by his men would quickly strike out and eliminate many of his chief rivals within the colonial government, including Balboa his Son-in-Law. He would wage a brutal conquest over the native people of Central America conquering Panama and Nicaragua. De Soto would carefully navigate the time of political upheaval and executions and would rise to a position of prominence in the colonial government under Pedrarias. De Soto would game wealth and fame due to his partnerships with several men. Entering into a compania or partnership with Hernan Ponce de Leon, and Francisco Companon, De Soto would make a decent fortune ranching horses and trading and shipping Indian slaves.

A Chance for Immortality In 1530 on a failed expedition into South America, a down on his luck conquistador named Francisco Pizarro stumbled upon evidence of a rich and culturally advanced society in Peru called the Inca. Pizarro would fail in his petition to Pedrarias to lead expedition of conquest into Peru. Pizarro would call on Hernando de Soto and Hernan Ponce de Leon to lend horse cavalry and ships for the expedition as well as influence on Pedrarias to approve the expedition. In exchange for his services, De Soto would be named second-in-command of the expedition and receive a lion's share of the spoils of conquest. The largest obstacle would prove to be De Soto's old mentor Pedrarias, who would stand firm on his decision to not allow the expedition. De Soto would attempt a coup to unseat Pedrarias's power and would be thrown in prison and possibly executed. Fortunately for De Soto, Pedrarias would die in March of 1531, freeing De Soto and Ponce to outfit Pizarro's expedition. In 1532 Pizarro and De Soto would lead 300 soldiers into Peru to conquer an empire of millions. The Spanish would find that the Inca empire was experiencing a bloody civil war between two brothers, Atahualpa and Huascar, in which Atahualpa would win and become the Sapa Inca Emperor. Showing contempt for the Spanish, Atahualpa would meet with Pizarro at the Inca town of Cajamarca. Atahualpa would come unarmed and ultimately be captured by Pizarro in a bloody takeover. Atahaulpa and De Soto would become friends during the Inca Emperor's captivity passing time playing chess and teaching him Spanish. Pizarro would offer Atahualpa a chance at freedom for a great ransom in which the Inca Emperor would fill three rooms with gold, silver and precious gems totaling over 90 million dollars in today's money. For his troubles, Atahualpa would be tried and executed by Pizarro. De Soto would disagree with Pizarro's decision and be sent away to put down a false rebellion during Atahualpa’s trial conducted by Pizarro. De Soto would bitterly leave the expedition in 1535 after being denied governorship of the city of Cuzco. He would then travel to Spain and marry Donna Isabellade Bombadilla, a daughter of his old mentor, Pedrarias. In 1537 Hernando de Soto would meet with the Emperor Charles V and impress him with his tales from the Indies. Charles would later approve De Soto's request to govern and conquer a portion of the New world, a place named La Florida. De Soto would depart Spain in September 1537 to travel to Cuba where he would claim his title of Governor and begin forming his expedition to La Florida. In May 1539 De Soto would depart Havana and sail for a selected bay on Florida's west coast to begin the expedition that would cost him his fortune and his life.

Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga) Appearance: Straight billed with light orange/red/brown coloration on the tip of its tail feathers and sometimes on the neck or chest with light spotting or streaking on the body. Size: 35 inches in length and a wingspan of up to 4 feet Lifespan: 10 to 12 years Habitat: They can be seen in shallow, slow-moving, sheltered waters using nearby perches and banks for drying and sunning. It's rarely found out of freshwater except during severe droughts. Generally not found in extensive areas of open water, though it may nest on edges of open bays and lakes. Diet: They eat many small to medium-sized wetland fishes, with very small amounts of crustaceans and invertebrates. It swims slowly underwater, stalking fish around submerged vegetation. Anhingas typically spear fish through their sides with a rapid thrust of their partially opened bill. Reproduction: Anhingas usually nest in colonies, sometimes with other bird species. The nest is built by both adults and is used then from year to year. Two to five eggs are laid and incubation is for around 25 to 30 days, done by both parents. Fun Fact: Also known as the snake bird or water turkey, the anhinga is a year-round resident of Florida.

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) Appearance: They are gray-brown birds with yellow heads and white necks. In breeding plumage, the back and sides of the neck turn a rich dark reddish-brown. Immatures are gray-brown above (including the head and neck) with pale whitish belly and breast. Size: Adults weigh in at approx. 6.9 lbs. Their wingspan approx. 3.3 to 4.5 feet in length. Lifespan: They live up to appox. 30 years. Habitat: Brown pelicans inhabit beaches, sandbars, docks, dredge spoil islands, estuarine islands, mangrove islands, sand spits, and islets. Diet: Almost all fish, also eats crustaceans Reproduction: The brown pelican is a monogamous breeder within a breeding season, but does not pair for life. Nesting season peaks during March and April. The male chooses a nesting site and performs a display of head movements to attract a female. They lay three to four eggs, one brood per year, eggs are 2.6 to 3.4 in length, 1.3 to 1.4 in width, incubation period is 25 to 35 days, nesting period is 77 to 84 days.

Great Egret (Casmerodius albus) Appearance: They are a large white, wading bird with a S-curved neck and long, dagger-like, yellow bill. Their legs are long and black. The Great Egret flies slowly and with its neck retracted, which is an easy way to distinguish it in flight from storks, cranes, ibises, and spoonbills, which extend their necks in flight. Size: The great egret is an impressive large bird with a huge wingspan of around 57 inches. Adults are 1.5 to 3.3 lbs and 2.6 to 3.4 feet in length. Lifespan: The oldest Great Egret lived to 22 years and 10 months. Habitat: They generally hang around wetlands and other areas of water and can be found year round in Florida. Diet: In addition to fish, their diet includes invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, other birds, and small mammals. They feed in a variety of wetlands, including marshes, swamps, streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, tide flats, canals, and flooded fields. Reproduction: Although Great Egrets are primarily solitary birds, they do congregate during mating season and can often be found nesting with other species in shrubs and trees over water. Both males and females exhibit long ornamental plumes during the mating season.

Northern Cardinal (Cardinals Cardinals) Appearance: It has a black mask on its face, a crest on its head, and a short, cone-shaped bill. The mask on the female is usually lighter than the mask on the male. Cardinals are known for their bright red color, but only the male is red. The female is a dull brown or olive color with dull red on her wings and tail. Size: They are about eight inches in length. They weigh approximatly 1.5 ounces Lifespan: They typically reach an age of 3 years old, but they have the capacity to live up to 15 years in the wild. Habitat: Found in areas with shrubs and/or small trees, such as our mangrove forest, including forest edges and interior, shrubby areas in logged and second-growth forests, marsh edges, grasslands with shrubs, successional fields, hedgerows in agricultural fields, plantings around buildings Diet: They eat seeds, grains, fruits and insects. Reproduction: These birds usually raise two broods of young a year. They mate in March and again from May to July. The female usually lays four eggs. The eggs take about 12 days to hatch. Cardinals usually build cup-shaped nests in small trees, bushes, shrubs and thick vines that are no more than three to eight feet off the ground. Their nests are made of twigs and bark and are lined with grass, moss and other soft materials. Young cardinals leave the nest after 11 days and they can fly within 20 days.

Appearance: Ospreys are brown above and white below, and overall they are whiter than most raptors. From below, the wings are mostly white with a prominent dark patch at the wrists. The head is white with a broad brown stripe through the eye. Juveniles have white spots on the back and buffy shading on the breast.

Size: Adults are approximately 1.7 to 2 feet in length and 3 lbs Lifespan: Large raptors are known to live for approximately 15 to 20 years. Nearly half of young osprey can die within the first year.

Habitat: Their habitats are typically located near water, both fresh and salt, for easy access to prey. Nesting can often take place along seashores, coastal estuaries, salt marshes, lakes, reservoirs, and rivers. Ospreys will migrate from wintering sites towards the southern coasts. During migration, ospreys can at times be seen over places far from water, including deserts.

Diet: Almost entirely fish. Typically feeds on fish 4 to 12" long. Type of fish involved varies with region with a concentration on species common in each locale, such as flounder, smelt, mullet, bullhead, sucker, gizzard shad. Aside from fish, they rarely eat small mammals, birds, or reptiles, perhaps mainly when fish are scarce.

The park consists of about 26 acres of which approximately 80% is coastal wetland. This wetland area is dominated by intertidal mangrove forest with associated shoreline along the Manatee River. The remaining area is mostly upland pine flatlands and mixed hardwood forest. An area of approximately 11 acres adjacent to the park known as Riverview Pointe is managed by Manatee County and consists primarily of upland sand pine scrub.

The mangrove forest is generally dominated by black mangroves, a tree that is usually found away from high energy shorelines or large tidal variations, and buttonwoods, a tree often found along the edges of mangroves. Red mangroves, typically associated with the edge of the forest adjacent to open water, occur here, but are not overly abundant. White mangroves also are not common, but are found in the somewhat higher elevation mangrove areas.

The coastal strand occurs as a narrow strip of vegetation between the mangrove forest and the open sandy beach along the Manatee River shoreline. The strand community is shrubby with buttonwood as the dominant shrub, while the ground cover is made up of salt-tolerant herbs, such as yellow joyweed, sea oxeye and sea purslane.

The central area of the park, in the vicinity of the visitor center and parking, is primarily a cleared and landscaped space that is maintained for aesthetics and visitor use. The area is surrounded on three sides by mangroves and on the north by the Manatee River. As you enter the park live oak trees line the driveway and parking area, while several large gumbo limbo trees form a canopy adjacent to the visitor center. The large grassy mall within the parking area is planted with St. Augustine grass, as is the grassy area around the visitor center.

The coastal location of De Soto National Memorial and the combination of aquatic and upland forested habitats attract a wide variety of wildlife. Mammals and butterflies are found in interior habitats, amphibians and fish in wetland areas, and reptiles in both interior and wetland habitats. Birds are the most significant fauna of the site, commonly observed in the aquatic, as well as upland, areas of the park. Invertebrates, particularly fiddler crabs, are common species of the park’s mangrove swamp.

Since many of the park’s mammal species are nocturnal, including the raccoon, opossum, armadillo, and grey fox, it is unlikely to spot them during the day. The park’s reptiles are also often elusive. Among the species sometimes observed in the park, the gopher tortoise finds its home in the pine flatwoods area of the park’s interior, while the most common reptile in the park, the brown anole, is actually an exotic from Cuba. Due to the variety of habitats, birds are probably the most visible wildlife in the park. Bald eagles are occasionally observed fishing offshore in the Manatee River. Brown pelicans may also be viewed offshore throughout the year and, in winter months, are sometimes joined by American white pelicans and common loons. This marine habitat also attracts a variety of gulls, terns, and shorebirds whose species change with the seasons. Snowy, reddish, and great egrets are frequently found along the park’s shoreline or feasting on invertebrates in the mangrove forest, as are great blue, little blue, and tricolored herons. Occasionally, the endangered wood stork may be observed feeding in the mangroves as well. The richness of upland vegetation also provides habitat for many bird species. Although more difficult to observe in these forested areas, a wide range of warblers, gnatcatchers and flycatchers reside there in winter months.

Barred Owl (Strix varia) Appearance: They are large, stocky owls with rounded heads, no ear tufts, and medium length, rounded tails. Their colloration is normally brown to grey with striping, hence the name "barred". Size: The adult measures anywhere from 16 to 25 inches in length, while the wingspan may range from 38 to 49 inches. Lifespan: 18 years is the oldest recorded age Habitat: Strix varia is arboreal, living in coniferous forests near water source, and wooded swamps. They require dense foliage for daytime roosting, and large trees with cavities for nesting. Their reliance on large tree cavities means that populations of barred owls are dependent on the presence of old growth forests throughout much of their range. Diet: Strix varia individuals are generalist carnivores, feeding on small mammals up to the size of rabbits, birds as large as grouse, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. Barred owls have been observed capturing fish from perches and by wading in shallow water. Without exception Strix varia hunts prey that can be swallowed whole. Hunting is mainly done from a perch. Once prey is spotted, barred owls swoop down upon prey and grab it with sharp talons. Like most owls, barred owls cache prey in tree branches and nests. Reproduction: Although they prefer to nest in tree cavities, this species is known to use empty hawk nests, crows nests, or squirrel nests. A clutch of usually two to three eggs (range is from 1 to 5) will be laid in the nest; the female incubates the eggs for 28 to 33 days. Young do not hatch at the same time, since egg laying occurs over a period of days and incubation begins immediately. While the female incubates eggs the male will hunt for her. Barred owls are capable of breeding at about 2 years of age. Fun Fact: They are monogamous, pairing for life.

Black Crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) Appearance: They are small herons with rather squat, thick proportions. They have thick necks, large, flat heads, and heavy, pointed bills. The legs are short and, in flight, barely reach the end of the tail. The wings are broad and rounded. They have a black cap, hence the name "black crowned" while the rest of their body is grey and white. Their bright red eyes can help distinguish them from other herons and egrets. Size: They weigh between 1.5 and 2.2 pounds, have a wingspan of 45.3 to 46.5 inches and are 22.8 to 26 inches in length. Lifespan: They are believed to live to about 3 years Habitat: Common in wetlands across North America, including saltmarshes, freshwater marshes, swamps, streams, rivers, lakes, ponds, lagoons, tidal mudflats, canals, reservoirs, and wet agricultural fields. They require aquatic habitat for foraging and terrestrial vegetation for cover. Diet: Mostly fish, but also squid, crustaceans, aquatic insects, frogs, snakes, clams, mussels, rodents, and carrion. They sometimes specialize on eggs and young birds which can cause problems in tern colonies. Reproduction: Eggs are between 3 to 4, sometimes 1 to 7. They are pale green. Incubation is by both sexes, 21 to 26 days. Both parents feed young, by regurgitation. Young clamber about in the nest tree at 4 weeks and are able to fly at about 6 weeks. After 6 to 7 weeks they may follow parents to foraging areas and beg to be fed there. Nesting: They usually reach reproductive maturity at age of 2 years. They breed in colonies, of their species or mixed with other herons, egrets, ibises, sometimes with Franklin's Gulls. Some colonies are occupied for several decades. They may begin nesting earlier in the season compared to other herons. Male choose the nest site and display there to attract a mate. Displays include stretching neck up and forward with feathers ruffed up and slowly bowing while raising feet alternately, giving hissing buzz at lowest point in bow. The nest site varies with colony situation, from on ground to more than 150' high, in trees, shrubs, marsh vegetation; most commonly 10 to 40' up and on firm support. Nests (built mostly by female with materials supplied by male) are a platform of sticks, flimsy or substantial.

Reproduction: On average, the female osprey lays around three brown speckled eggs in the spring, with a month-long incubation period.

Red-bellied woodpecker (Melanerpes carolina) Appearance: They have a full head of bold red feathers, with zebra-like stripes on the backs and wings. They get their name from the rouging on their belly that is almost always out of sight. Size: Approximately 9 inches in length with a wingspan up to 16 inches Lifespan: Approximately 10 to 12 years Habitat: They are common in many Eastern woodlands and forests, from old stands of oak and hickory to young hardwoods and pines. They will also often venture from forests to appear at backyard feeders. Diet: They are omnivorous. Like most woodpeckers, they eat many insects. Diet may be more than 50% plant material at some seasons, including acorns and other nuts, wild and cultivated fruits, and seeds. Occasional items in their diet include tree frogs, eggs of small birds, oozing sap, and even small fish. Reproduction: Most woodpeckers lay eggs during the spring and early summer, but it can depend on species and region as well as fluctuations in weather patterns from year to year. Some woodpeckers lay eggs during early to mid spring, usually between March and May. The mated pair excavates a nesting area in an old stump or tree. Then the female lays four to six white eggs per clutch. Both parents put in the work to incubate the eggs per clutch. In the south they have 2 to 3 broods.

Sandwich Tern (Sterna sandvicensis) Appearance: These birds are medium to large terns with grey upperparts, white underparts, a yellow-tipped black bill and a shaggy black crest which becomes less extensive in winter with a white crown. Young birds bear grey and brown scalloped plumage on their backs and wings. Size: 4.6 to 11 ounces and 14 to 18 inches in length with a wingspan of 33 to 38 inches. Lifespan: 12 to 30 years Habitat: Coastal waters, jetties, beaches. They favor the warm waters near coastlines, often fairly shallow areas such as bays and estuaries near extensive beaches, mudflats. They sometimes forage farther out to sea. They nest on sandy islands, beaches, sandbars, in coastal lagoons or offshore. Diet: Small schooling fish, as well as squid, shrimp, crustaceans, and insects. They capture prey by plunge-diving from the air into the sea, grasping the prey in the bill. Reproduction: They usually reach reproductive maturity at age 3 to 4 years. They nest in colonies, very often associated with Royal Terns. Their courtship includes a high spiraling flight with long descending glides. On the ground, males feed fish to female. Another part of courtship involves both birds pointing their bills up, drooping their wings, and turning their heads from side to side. Nest sites are on the ground in an open spot. Nests (built by both sexes) are shallow scrape, sometimes lined with bits of debris. They nest in a ground scrape and lays one to three eggs, one to two, rarely three. The eggs are pale cream, blotched with black, brown, gray. Incubation is by both parents for 21 to 29 days. Young: If the colony is subject to disturbance, young may leave the nest after a few days and gather in a group (called "creche") with others. Young birds recognize their own parents by voice. They will come out of the creche to be fed when they approach. They reach the age of first flight at about 28 to 32 days; young may remain with parents another 4 months.

White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) Appearance: Large, long-legged wading bird with a football-shaped body and a long, curved bill. Adults have white bodies, bright red legs, a bare patch of red skin around the eye, and a curved, red bill. Size: Approximately 22 inches long with a wingspan of 37 inches. Males weigh in at between 1.924 to 2.780 lbs and 1.307 to 1.899 lbs for females. Lifespan: They live between 16 and 27 years Habitat: Coastal Marshes and wetlands Diet: The diet of the white ibis primarily consists of crabs, crayfish, fish, snakes, frogs, and insects. Reproduction: Ibis breed in large colonial groups along the coast and inland between February and October, with the peak in March to April. They breed once a year. They can lay between 1-7 eggs per season. It takes 21 to 22 days to get to the hatching stage. Average time to independence is 40 days.

De Soto's Haunted Trail Walk, October 30, 2027 NPS Photo Special Park Event! This tour is now closed. All reservations spots have been filled. De Soto's Haunted Trail Walk, Friday October 30th Step into the shadows of Bradenton’s past with our Haunted Trail Walk! Join us for a spooky, family‑friendly adventure along the historic Manatee River as our ghostly guide leads you through tales of local legends, eerie encounters, and the haunting history that lingers in the Florida breeze. Your ticket includes admission to the Spooktackular Party, where guests of all ages can enjoy pumpkin painting, lighthearted frights, and festive fun. Costumes are encouraged to make the night even more enchanting! This combined tour and party experience lasts approximately one hour—perfect for families, thrill‑seekers, and anyone ready to celebrate the Halloween spirit. Tour times: 6:00 pm, 6:30 pm, 7:00pm, 7:30pm. Register in advance using https://www.recreation.gov/ticket/10089289/ticket/10253728 Tickets include both your tour and admission to our Halloween Party. Tours will be capped at 15 people and may sell out. Tours cost $1. Call 941-792-0458

Replica Indigenous artifacts on display for visitor interaction. NPS Photo Winter Living History programs at De Soto National Memorial 2027 De Soto National Memorial's signature programming is our living history talks and demonstrations. On Friday's through Sunday's a tent is set up at the palisade gate, where visitors can interact with replica artifacts from Indigenous societies and Europeans. Learn about life in Florida in the 16th through 19th Century. Replica armor on display can be tried on so suite up and see if you can walk in the footsteps of Conquestadores. Historic Weapon demonstrations will be at 10:00, 12:00 and 2:00. Special programs wil be featured on Saturadys like guest food trucks, native mask painting and more. Living history programming will start Friday, January 8th and run every weekend until April 18th. Programming can be cancelled due to rain and severe weather. For more information please call 941-792-0458 option 1.

Ranger Led Kayak Tours at De Soto National Memorial Park Photo De Soto National Memorial Ranger Led Kayak Tours Tours operate during the summer through Fall. In 2027, scheduled tours will be posted in May All equ ipment including theTandem (2 person) Kayaks, Paddles, Personal Floatation Devices (PFD vests) are provided by the park for participant use. The duration of the tours average 1.5 hrs and are conducted from park grounds. Kayak tours are offered for groups up to 10 people. Tour check-in is between 9:00-9:15am at the Visitor Center. Children must weigh at least 50lbs and be at least 7 years old. Children under 15 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. Maximum weight load for the tandem kayak is 420 lbs. Participants will be divided up if tour guides believe this weight limit will be exceeded. Tours are designed for all ages and all levels of skill from the first time beginner to the seasoned Pro. All participants must be capable of paddling for at least an hour and a half. Participants must also be capable of commiting to a physical strenuous activity. Please be mindful of your limitations and any medical conditions. Tour guides are responsible for the safety of all participants involved and may request that participants stand down if they believe they are not able to preform the tour. Participants are responsible for thier valuables. Tours may be canceled due to weather and hazardous water conditions. Reservations are on a first-come basis and are booked through Recreation.Gov .

Pet Visits De Soto National Memorial is pet friendly. We encourage visitors to bring their furry friends out to enjoy the park and its trails and water areas. While you are here, there are a couple of rules we ask for you to follow to respect everyone's use of the park: All pets must be maintained on a leash at all times. It does not matter if your pet is friendly, some visitors do have a fear of pets; Also, another dog on a leash might not be friendly. We ask that you please pick up your pet's waste. We love to preserve our nature and trails and pet waste can leach toxic substances into the ecosystem. It is also a health hazard for others. We do provide pet waste receptacles at several areas along the parks trails. Please dispose of the bagged waste in the proper receptacle and not the surrounding wetland estuary. Please be considerate of others. While you and your pet may enjoy the park, other visitors may enjoy the park differently. Please refrain from any confrontation while in the park, feel free to contact Park Staff at 941-792-0458 and we will handle any situation. De Soto National Memorial does work with Manatee County Animal Services and Florida Fish and Wildlife (FWC). If you are found in non-compliance of local, state or federal leash laws, these officers can issue up to a $300 fine for each infraction they find. De Soto National Memorial treasures all its visitors and wishes everyone to have a safe and enjoyable National Park visit Nature Trail The Nature Trail winds along the shoreline and through several Florida ecosystems, including a mangrove forest like the one that De Soto's men would have encountered when they landed. Trails include interpretive signage and waysides that tell the story of the De Soto Expedition and the natural history of the area. Bicycling is allowed in the parking lot, but not on the sidewalks or trails. Camp Uzita Our Living History Camp is open January through April. Rangers and volunteers dressed in period clothing will present talks on a variety of historical topics related to the De Soto Expedition and Florida's Native Americans. There will also be weapons and Spanish and native craft demonstrations throughout the day. Please see the Plan Your Visit page for the latest updates. Picnic Area A picnic area is located adjacent to the parking lot and is available for visitors on a first come basis. Large groups and schools should call ahead to reserve seating. Grills and alcohol are not allowed within the park. Bird Watching The seasonal migration of birds brings many bird watchers to the park in the fall and early spring. The exact timing of migration is dependent upon weather. Come to our visitor center and inquire what new and rare birds have been sighted recently at De Soto National Memorial. Camping De Soto National Memorial has no facilities for camping. The park grounds are closed from sunset to sunrise. Shorelines and Beach Small beaches are located within the park. The De Soto Point Beach is located west of De Soto Point and northwest of the Visitor Center. This beach is exposed to the current of the Manatee River and the waves of Tampa Bay. The Cove Beach located on the south side of De Soto Point and is more popular because it is sheltered from most currents and waves. No life guards are on duty. Swimmers use park beaches at their own risk. Fishing Fishing with rod and reel is allowed within the park. You must posses a Valid Florida Drivers License and Valid State of Florida Fishing License. Fishermen are not allowed to stand on rip rap or to clear brush from any area in order to gain access to the water. Boating The Cove is a popular temporary anchorage for small pleasure boats. Canoes and kayaks that may be easily carried to the water by hand may be launched from the park beaches provided that vegetation, terrain, and wildlife are not disturbed. Loud motors and the creation of excessive wave action is prohibited.