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Backcountry Camping
Land Access
Space Coast South |
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Note; The sites listed below feature
opportunities for primitve backcountry
camping in a remote, wilderness setting.
Facilities and or Utilities at these
campsites will either be very limited or
non existent and you are responsible for
your own well being. All food, water,
and other neccesities must be self
provided and all trash packed out.
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Mainland
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St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park;
(Hiking Biking Equestrian access)
At 21,748 acres most of this property is
jointly owned with the State of Florida
and is located in Brevard and Indian
River Counties.
Access:
From I-95, take exit 73 and go east on
Malabar Road (State Road 514). Turn
south onto Babcock Road (County Road
507), travel 11.5 miles and turn east
onto Buffer Preserve Drive. The south
entrance is off Fellsmere Road (CR 512),
1.8 miles east of I-95.
This site preserves open grassy forests
of longleaf pine that were once
commonplace throughout Florida. The pine
flatwoods form a backdrop for other
biological communities, including
cypress domes, scrubby flatwoods,
sandhills, and a beautiful strand swamp.
These habitats are home to many native
plants and animals, including over 50
protected species. Photographers,
bird-watchers, and nature enthusiasts
can explore miles of trails on foot,
bicycle, or horseback. Also in the
preserve where the C-54 Canal meets with
the St. Sebastain River, West Indian
manatees can be see congregating. The
preserve is divided into four sections
with the north and south sections
divided by the C-54 Canal and east and
west bisected by I-95. They are known as
the Northwest Preserve, Northeast
Preserve, Southeast Preserve, and the
Southwest Preserve. The Northeast
Preserve is home to the Green Trail loop
(9.0 miles) but has no designated
campsites. The Northeast Preserve is
home to the Yellow Trail (9.7 miles and
has two camps, the Storytelling Camp and
the Pine Camp. The Southeast Preserve is
home to the Blue Trail (10 miles) and
has 3 camps, the Deer Camp, the Tree
Frog Camp, and the Mullet Camp. The
Southwest Preserve is home to the Red
Trail (14 miles) and has one camp, the
Eagle Camp.
For information about the Visitors
Center or Camping, please call
321.953.5004.
State Parks Map
SJRWMD Website
Property Map
GPS N 27 49.479 W 80 36.401
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Fort Drum Marsh Conservation Area(Hiking
Access only to Camps)
This area contains a mosaic of
wetland and upland communities. The
marsh area represents the southernmost
reach of the St. Johns River’s
headwaters. The area was acquired as
part of the Upper St. Johns River Basin
Project, undertaken jointly by the
District and the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers. The diversity of plant
communities has been shaped by both
people and nature. Natural communities
include dry prairie, pine flatwoods,
hardwood swamp and freshwater marsh. The
diverse habitats support Florida
sandhill cranes, wood storks, caracara,
bald eagles, deer, turkey and a large
population of feral hogs.
There are two hiking only loops on the
Hog Island portion of the property. The
white loop is .6 miles and the Yellow
Loop is 1.2 miles with two connecting
trails between the two loops. Each loop
has a backcountry campsite within the
loop.
Property Map
Trail Map
GPS N 27 38.444 W 80 46.016
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