[ CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR RENTAL ]

WHY PADDLE FORT BAYOU

Old Fort Bayou is more than a scenic paddle. It is part of the Old Fort Bayou Blueway, a waterway that winds through Jackson County. Its headwaters begin in the pine savannas south of Vancleave and continues through quite a few conservation parks and coastal preserves as it goes. The bayou waters deepen at its mouth which is located at Biloxi Bay (O.S.), right alongside the French Hermit Farm Store— where the bayou meets the sea!

This area is a vital estuary on the MS Gulf Coast and acts as a nursery for many of our marine species. The bayou Blueway supports boating, fishing, birdwatching, and a mix of marsh, wetland, forest, and estuarine habitats. That variety is exactly what makes a short paddle feel bigger than it is. The local ecology story is grounded in the fact that Old Fort Bayou contains changing freshwater-to-estuarine conditions and supports a diverse coastal food web.

See firsthand our coastal habitats, wildlife, and tides, and discover just how connected everything is! Hear about the history of Fort Bayou as well as of the oysters which helped create the coast as we know it. Find out about the importance of a healthy estuary, and uncover how oysters continue to play a major role in keeping our MS Gulf Coast thriving.

(See the Old Fort Bayou story, as well as the Blueway map, before you go!)

[ Click here to see a video of a paddle out on the bayou.. ]

 

CHOOSE YOUR EXPERIENCE..

Kayak Rentals. Paddle at your own pace and take in all Fort Bayou on your schedule. We offer single, one-person kayaks as well as tandem kayaks that seat two! Rentals are available from 1 hour to a full day, and include the kayak (which is outfitted with a small anchor and dock rope), paddle, PFD, sound signaling device, map of the different kayaking routes, and a waterproof phone bag!  Click here for more information and to book your rental. Click here to check the weather conditions at Fort Bayou.

Guided Ecotours. Discover the connections between a healthy estuary and a working oyster farm. Depending on conditions and route, you may move from quiet shoreline vegetation into wider water, with changing views, birds, and tidal influence. Our guided kayak ecotours focus on the bayou, its wildlife, and the working waterfront; all are distinct parts of the experience. Guided tours are typically 1.5-2 hrs. Included are the kayak- outfitted with a small anchor and dock rope, paddle, PFD, signal whistle, and a waterproof phone bag.

Shoot us an email or call/text the shop to inquire about booking a private ecotour for your group!

 

 

PADDLE + FARM STORE 

Pair your time on the water with a stop at French Hermit’s Farm Store! Come ashore afterwards for fresh oysters, shucking & grilling lessons, local goods, local brews, good people, nice views, and a waterfront place to linger. See y’all on the bayou!

From a kayak on Fort Bayou, an oyster farm is not an abstract idea. Water movement, weather, habitat, boat traffic, and human work are all part of the same coastal system. We raise Eastern oysters in floating cages on our farm south of Deer Island, so the oysters our visitors love to eat are all connected to the same Mississippi Sound environment they are seeing from the water.

That is also why French Hermit is proud to take part in local efforts focused on about shell recycling, living shorelines, and oyster reef restoration. If you want to go deeper into that side of the story, visit our Conservation page.