Reviews: Bethune Park

Reviews Summary

The reviews for the Bethune Park anchorage highlight a generally positive experience among boaters, with several key points emerging:

1. Good Holding: Many reviewers praised the anchorage for its excellent holding capabilities, particularly in the thick mud bottom, which provides stability even in windy conditions. Most boats reported successful anchoring without dragging.

2. Depth and Access: The anchorage offers sufficient depth for various drafts, with most anchoring in 8-10 feet of water. However, some caution is advised regarding navigation, as charts may not accurately reflect the depths, particularly near the main channel.

3. Crowded with Permanent Residents: Several reviews noted the presence of permanently anchored boats, which can make finding a spot challenging. However, there is still ample room for transient boats.

4. Wind and Wake Conditions: While some boaters experienced wakes from passing vessels on the ICW, many noted that the anchorage calmed down at night. Strong winds from certain directions can create uncomfortable conditions, but the anchorage generally provides good protection.

5. Shore Access: The availability of a dinghy dock and nearby park for shore access, especially for pet owners, was a significant draw for many reviewers. The park offers green space for walking dogs and relaxing.

6. Natural Beauty: Reviewers appreciated the scenic environment, including beautiful sunsets and wildlife sightings, such as dolphins and birds.

Overall, Bethune Park is recommended as a reliable anchorage with good holding, though boaters should be mindful of wind conditions and the presence of permanent residents when choosing their spot.

Review for Bethune Park

Reviewed by: Sherry Render, Witch of November, on Dec 17, 2025
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 54'
Draft: 5.0'

We cut in at R44 since there were a lot of boats further north. As someone else noted, some of the boats seem to be more permanent in nature. It was a great stop for one night, good holding in super thick mud. May not be the best anchorage on a weekend due to boat wake.

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Review for Bethune Park

Reviewed by: Kimberly Clute, Wandering Caye, on Jul 13, 2025
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 42'
Draft: 5.0'

Considering that this is one of the last anchorages heading north to St. Augustine, and the unfavorable anchorage's south through the Daytona area, this anchorage was a welcome reprieve. Several other boats there that look like they may call it home, but there is plenty of room. Good holding with little swing. We did not experience a lot of boat/wake activity. Nice breeze through the area and gorgeous sunset. Just follow the red line in from the channnel to keep you in plenty of depth heading in. Good depth while anchored. Visited by dolphins, big birds and fish activity.

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Review for Bethune Park

Reviewed by: Paul Hoffman, Changes in L'Attitudes, on Apr 9, 2025
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 41'
Draft: 3.8'

We've anchored at the Bethune Park anchorage numerous times and highly recommend it. Since we don't require shore access (the anchorage is our first/or last stop when cruising to/from the north) we prefer to stick closer to Halifax River daybeacon 46 than up by the park. It's a bit shallower here, and usually more crowed than 'deeper' in the anchorage. Our most recent stop (south bound March 2025) was in the teeth of a strong dry front with sustained winds between 20 and 25 knots. Anchor set easy and held with out dragging for 17 hours. Since it was so windy, there wasn't much traffic on the AICW, so no wake issues. The bottom is good mud, adding to it's great holding.

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Review for Bethune Park

Reviewed by: Tony Buntyn on May 20, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 47'
Draft: 4.0'

Excellent holding in mud bottom. Wakes from boats along ICW, but nothing too major. Beautiful spot.

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Review for Bethune Park

Reviewed by: Teresa Scott on Apr 29, 2024
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 40'
Draft: 5.5'

Went in at R44 and anchored for the night in 8 ft of water. A bit lumpy with the ESE wind but anchor held well. Did not go ashore.

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Review for Bethune Park

Reviewed by: Francis Gravel on Dec 11, 2023
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 36'
Draft: 6.7'

We anchore south near R44. A lot of morring balls and depth of 8-10' all around. Too many boats to be able to go near the anchor mark. We had 20kt + South-South West winds that change for West - North West diring the night . That was a ruff night but not too choppy. Waves was their but not big enough to wake you up. The anchor hold well. 36' boat with 45pounds vulcan anchor. Scope of 5:1 all chain.

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Review for Bethune Park

Reviewed by: Reve de Mer on Apr 1, 2023
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 30'
Draft: 5.0'

Good spot, the sunk derilict boat near from the dock that other comment referred to was removed when we were there, we saw it. We dragged the first time so next time we used 8:1 chain and we had a good holding.

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Review for Bethune Park

Reviewed by: Janet Gannon on Feb 7, 2023
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 37'
Draft: 6.0'

Easy on and off. Entered at Red 44 and found enough water for our 6 foot draft. Dinghy dock is sufficient and the park is great for the dog.

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Review for Bethune Park

Reviewed by: Brent Massey, True Story, on Jan 22, 2023
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 40'
Draft: 5.0'

Echoing some other reviews, the shore access for our pup is what drew us to this spot. We didn't venture too far into the anchorage because of the many permanent residents here, but found a good spot off the channel and dropped the hook in about 8-9 feet of water. Holding was excellent! We even brought some of the thick mud/shell mix up with our anchor the next morning. There are multiple options for shore access here, but we opted for the floating dock at the park's boat launch. Be cautious: there is a submerged sailboat on the southern dock with only the mast and rigging visible. Plenty of room to tie up on the north side of the dock though. The park was really nice, with plenty of greenspace to play ball with the pup and for the humans to stretch their legs.

Weather was calm during our stay, but I wouldn't want to spend time here in a strong N or S wind. There is nothing to block the wind or wave action from those directions. Would definitely stay here again.

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Review for Bethune Park

Reviewed by: Jeremy Hatch, River Girl, on May 23, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 49'
Draft: 5.0'

Surprisingly after 2+ mos. of cruising, mostly anchored, we couldn't get a good set here. Options with sufficient depth were limited by the large number of permanently anchored small local boats. 1st set dragged immediately on 5:1 scope in 12' of water with 100lb Spade & all chain plus snubber in 10-15 G 20 max. Reset @>7:1, and got an initial hold, but would drag back 10' every hour, them regrab. Anchor came up without the sticky mud Bob Scherrer described, but we weren't exact on his spot. Moved on to Memorial Bridge on the East side & stuck immediately.

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Review for Bethune Park

Reviewed by: Jim Mincher, Nomad, on Mar 11, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 5.0'

This was a great anchorage and had a beach as well as a boat ramp to take our dog for a walk. Good in most winds except strong N-NE-E-SE-S directions.

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Review for Bethune Park

Reviewed by: Robert Sherer, on Jan 16, 2022
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 42'
Draft: 5.0'

This is a large anchorage with room for dozens of boats although you'll have to look a bit to find a spot among the permanent residents. The holding is excellent and it shows when you pull up your anchor in the morning, it will be covered in thick mud. The attraction for me is a dinghy dock for shore access for my dog. Passing boats on the ICW will rock you during the day but it dies down at night.

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Review for Bethune Park

Reviewed by: Len Barton on Jul 3, 2021
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 41'
Draft: 5.0'

If your draft is more than four feet, do not proceed very far off the main channel. Turn west northwest at the Red 44 and proceed far enough to stay out of the main channel and anchor in about nine feet. My Navionics chart says you can carry 14 feet in. But that is incorrect. My chart said I was in 13 feet of water, but I was hard aground. It is good holding and protected from westerly winds.
We did not attempt going ashore.

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Review for Bethune Park

Reviewed by: Paul Hoffman, Changes in L'Attitudes, on Jan 5, 2021
LOA: 41'
Draft: 3.8'

Big fan of Robert Sherer so this was a no brainer place to stop. We don't have a dog, so we only came about two hundred yards north of Halifax River DB 44 and about two hundred yards west of the channel to support quick in and out - while keeping enough distance from the channel to minimize rocking from wakes. Stopped here twice (end of DEC ' 20 and early JAN '21) and both times it was very windy from the south/southeast. Mud/clay bottom really made for strong holding - we didn't drag at all. Bit of a pain to clean off in the morning - had to scrape a bit because the wash down hose just couldn't knock some of it off.

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Review for Bethune Park

Reviewed by: Billy Wilson on Jan 20, 2020
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 43'
Draft: 4.5'

Navionics chart shows 9’ access from R40, not true, we bottomed right away and entered at R44. Anchored in 9’, good holding.

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Review for Bethune Park

Reviewed by: Robert Sherer, on Apr 23, 2019
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 42'
Draft: 5.0'

We like anchorages where we can get our dog ashore easily and that are not crowded (so there are no bumps in the night!) Bethune Park fulfills those requirements. There is protection from waves from the north and west and it does settle down at night when the ICW traffic lessens.

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