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Wilderness Hiking Trails
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Space Coast North |
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This section
includes Wilderness Hiking in Northern
Brevard, Southern Volusia, and Eastern
Seminole Counties.
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Merritt Island National
Wildlife Refuge ||| North
Merritt Island |||
Canaveral National Seashore
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Spruce Creek Park;
6250 Ridgewood Ave. Port Orange
386-322-5133
The Entrance to Spruce Creek Park is on US-1
in Port Orange 5.5 miles north of the
intersection of State Road 44 and US-1 in
New Symrna. If approaching from the South a
U-turn will have to be made north of the
park.
Spruce Creek Park is located on 1,637 acres.
Its 536-foot boardwalk begins more than
three miles of nature trails leading to the
15-foot observation tower and continues to
Rose Bay. The tower overlooks the marsh area
near Spruce Creek.
Map of Spruce Creek Trail
GPS N 29 05.673 W 80 58.270
Google Satellite Image |
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Salt Lake Conservation Area
From I-95, take SR 46 west. Turn left onto
Turpentine Road, then take a right on
Panther Lane then a left on Arch Road and
follow Arch Road to the main entrance and
parking area.
A mixture of upland scrub and wetlands as
well as portions of Loughman, Salt, and
South Lakes, Salt Lake Conservation Area has
a diverse wildlife population ranging from
deer, turkey, bobcat, and fox to scrub jays,
hawks, egrets, herons, ducks, and songbirds.
Trails Map
GPS N 28 38.415 W 80 53.386
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Buck Lake Conservation Area
encompasses 9,291 acres and has two
entrances and parking areas on the north
side of State Road 46. The eastern entrance
is .75 mile west of I-95 while the western
entrance is 6.4 mile west of I-95. Hiking,
biking, horseback riding and hunting in
season are allowed here and there are four
primative campsites available on a first
come, first serve basis. This is a type 2
management area, meaning during hunting
periods you must have a valid hunting
license to enter the property and no camping
is allowed.
The ridge found in the eastern part of the
property supports about 200 acres of scrubby
flatwoods and oak hammock which is the
habitat for the florida scrub jay, Florida's
only endemnic bird species. This area can be
accessed from several trails that lead from
the main East Entrance Trail. In this Google
link,(Google
Image) I have placed a marker in the
middle of the eastern ridge trail network.
The trails are clearly visible in this image
as is the entrance trail to the left. A
basin swamp community dominates the eastern
third of the property. this basin receives
runoff water from the surrounding uplands
and drains into a wet prarie which forms the
the headwaters of six mile creek. The
western portion of this property features a
large floodplain marsh and a large marsh
lake, Buck Lake. Overall, this conservation
area provides protection for many natural
communities and provides habitat for not
only scrub jays, but gopher tortoises, bald
eagles, otters, deer, fox, bobcats, turkeys,
herons, egrets, owls, and woodpeckers.
Property Map
Trail Guide
GPS (East Trailhead) N 28 40.302 W 80
53.427
Google Satellite Image (East Trailhead)
GPS (Buck Lake Entrance) N 28 40.333 W
80 58.332
Google Satellite Image (Buck Lake Entrance)
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Seminole Ranch Conservation Area
is on Hatbill Road off State Road 46 4.1
miles west of the I-95 SR 46 interchange
(exit 81). Look for signs for Loughman Lake
Lodge and Seminole Ranch Conservation Area
on the south side of 46. There are hiking
trails in Seminole Ranch at 1.1, 2.3 and 4.1
miles from SR46. This area has a total of 35
miles of hiking trails, including several
miles of the Florida Trail which flanks the
St. John's River. Primative camping is
allowed on the portion east of the St.
John's River, as is biking, horseback riding
and canoeing. Hatbill Park, a County Park is
within the conservation area at the end of
Hatbill Road and offers boating and canoeing
access to the river.
The area ecompasses 28,785 acres, 96 % of
which is within the St. Johns drainage basin
and a variety of habitats are found here
including pine, palmetto, hardwood,
hammocks, freshwater lakes and river, and
wetlands. Certain areas have a unique plant
community supported by connate saltwater
which flows from small springs near Harney
and Puzzle lakes. The salinity of small
lakes in the area approaches one-third that
of sea water. Many salt-tolerant and
marine-dwelling organisms present here are
not found anywhere else in the St. Johns
River. Wildlife found here includes
migratory and residential wading birds,
while white pelicans, southern bald eagles,
roseate spoonbills and sandhill cranes
sometimes are sighted. Other wildlife
includes bobcats, otters, deer, and
alligators.
Property Map
GPS N 28 39.904 W 80 56.393
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Lake Proctor Wilderness Area
Lake Proctor is 15.5 miles west of
Interstate 95 on SR 46, on the North side of
the road.
The Lake Proctor Wilderness Area is a 475
acre wooded site located in east Seminole
County near the Town of Geneva. About 6
miles of trails will take you through a
variety of habitats such as sand pine scrub,
pine flatwoods, mixed hardwood swamp,
sandhill or longleaf pine, turkey oak,
bayhead swamp and oak hammock. Wildlife
observed on this site includes the wood
duck, white-tailed deer, sandhill cranes,
wading birds, migratory songbirds, red fox
and Florida worm lizard. The trails are open
to hiking and mountain bikes.
GPS N 28 43.553 W 81 05.929
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Geneva Wilderness Area
Head south about 1 mile on CR 426 from SR 46
in Geneva. The Wilderness area will be on
your left.
The Geneva Wilderness Area is a 180 acre
site that lies to the south of the Geneva
community on SR 426 in East Seminole County.
The Geneva site contains an array of native
Florida plant communities from Mixed
Hardwood Swamp and Mesic Hammocks to Xeric
Oak, all supporting an equally diverse
collection of wildlife. A hike through these
habitats can reward visitors with sighting
gopher tortoise, white-tailed deer, wild
turkey, grey fox.
Seminole County Aerial Map PDF
GPS N 28 42.565 W 81 07.429
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Black Hammock Wilderness Area
Take SR 46 to CR 426 in Geneva, south on CR
426 (4.2 miles). Turn right on Walsh Street,
then take the second left onto Florida Ave,
then the next right on Barr Street, then
turn right onto Howard Ave. Park will be
right there on left.
The Black Hammock Wilderness Area, a 700
acre joint purchase with the St. Johns River
Water Management District, was acquired as
part of a comprehensive effort to preserve
significant habitat along the shores of Lake
Jesup. A round trip hike of approximately
4.5 miles of trails will take you through
habitats such as Mixed Hardwood Swamp, Sand
Pine Scrub and Pine Flatwoods. Wildlife
observed on this site includes the Barred
Owl, White-tailed deer, Bobcat and Eastern
Hognose Snake. The variety of habitats and
beautiful boardwalk and trail system makes
this park a popular destination for local
equestrians (no trailer parking), mountain
bikers, hikers, photographers and other
outdoor enthusiasts.
Seminole County Trails Map PDF
GPS N 28 41.980 W 81 09.546
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Little Big Econ State Forest
There are two separate tracts to the The
Little Big Econ State Forest, the Demetree
Tract and the Kilbee Tract.
The Demetree Tract of
the Little Big Econ State Forest protects
the watershed of one of Floridas most
beautiful Blackwater Rivers, the
Econlockhatchee, a popular canoeing
destination. Along the river one may see
wading birds perched in trees, various
raptors including Bald Eagles are commonly
sighted as well as swallow-tailed kites
flying overhead in spring and summer.
Woodpeckers and kingfishers are also common
sightings. A large variety of songbirds
inhabit the forested areas as well as the
improved pastureland near the Snow Hill Road
entrance. Other sightings may include
whitetail deer, turkey, bobcat, otter,
alligators, sandhill cranes, and many
others.
There are three entrances to the Demetree
Tract, the Barr Street Entrance, the Snow
Hill Road Entrance, which also serves as the
Equestrian use entrance, and the Jones East
Trailhead Entrance.
To get to the Barr Street entrance, go south
about 4.5 miles on CR 426 from SR 46 in
Geneva. The Barr Street entrance will be on
the left. To get to the Snow Hill Road
entrance, go south on CR 426 from SR 46 in
Geneva. In just under a mile, Snow Hill Road
veers off to the left. Go about 2.5 miles
south on Snow Hill Road. The parking area
will be on the right. The Jones East
Trailhead can be found on Snow Hill Road
about a half mile south of the Snow Hill
Equestrian Trailhead.
The Kilbee Tract is a
separate tract that straddles the St John's
River on the south side of State Road 46,
and contains the point where the Econ flows
into the St Johns. The trail leads from the
Trailhead heading south then forks into two
trails. Taking the left fork will bring you
to a great vanatage point overlooking the
St. Johns River Floodplain. Scan the marshes
for waders, ducks, raptors, and many others.
The entrance to the Kilbee Tract is off of
SR 46, just west of the SR 46 bridge about
11 miles west of the I-95/SR 46 interchange.
Florida Dept of Forestry Trails Map PDF
GPS Barr Street Entrance N 28 40.952
W 81 09.572
Google Satellite Image Barr Street
Entrance
GPS Snow Hill Road Entrance N 28
41.175 W 81 06.873
Google Satellite Image Snow Hill Road
Entrance
GPS Jones East Trailhead N 28 40.407
W 81 06.845
Google Satellite Image Jones East
Trailhead
GPS Kilbee Tract
Trailhead N 28 42.924 W 81 02.938
Google Satellite Image Kilbee Tract
Trailhead
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Lake Mills Park
From Titusville take SR 50 to Fort Christmas
Road in Christmas, turn right (North) and
follow Fort Christmas for 9.2 miles, turn
left on Lake Mills Road and in .8 miles,
turn left on Tropical Ave. Park will be just
ahead on right.
This 50 acre park is located on the
shoreline of Lake Mills in Seminole County
off of Tropical Avenue just north of Lake
Mills Road. Scrub forest, lakeshore, and a
beautiful mixed hardwwod swamp with
boardwalk and a little creek winding through
the swamp to the lake.
GPS N 28 37.902 W 81 07.537
Google Satellite Image |
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Chuluota Wilderness Area
From Titusville take SR 50 to Fort Christmas
Road in Christmas, turn right (North) and
follow Fort Christmas for 9.2 miles, turn
right on Lake Mills Road for .8 miles bear
right on Curryville Road. The Wilderness
area will be on your left in 2.5 miles.
The Chuluota Wilderness Area is a 625 acre
natural area located in the southeast corner
of Seminole County. It contains a variety of
natural systems such as mesic hammock, pond
pine flatwoods, hardwood swamp and some rare
habitats such as sand pine scrub. These in
turn provide food and shelter for an equally
diverse population of wildlife which
includes white-tailed deer, gopher tortoise,
sherman's fox squirrel, and the eastern
diamondback rattlesnake.
GPS N 28 37.398 W 81 03.742
Google Satellite Image
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Econ River Wilderness Area
From I-95 and SR 50 near Titusville drive
west on SR 50 about 19 miles and bear right
on Tanner Road S for 1.6 miles. Turn left on
Lake Prickett Road, go 0.8 miles, turn right
on Tanner Road N for 2.2 miles, when the
road turns into Old Lockwood Road you are
about there. Entrance is on the right.
The Econ River Wilderness Area is a 240 acre
wooded site located on the Seminole/Orange
County line south of the city of Oviedo, on
the west side of the Econlockhatchee River.
A walk on the approximately 3 miles of
trails will take you through habitats such
as pine flatwoods, sandhill, and river
swamp. Wildlife observed on this site
includes the great horned owl, white-tailed
deer, and golden mouse. Benches are provided
at a bend in the river so you can rest and
enjoy the quiet serenity of this little
piece of natural Florida.
GPS N 28 36.818 W 81 10.463
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Orlando Wetlands Park
25155 Wheeler Road, Christmas, Florida,
32709 Park Phone: 407.568.1706
From I-95, take SR 50 west to the town
of Christmas. Turn right (north) onto Ft.
Christmas Road (CR 420) and go 2.3 miles to
Wheeler Road. Turn right on Wheeler and go
east for 1.5 miles to the parking area on
your left.
The Orlando Wetlands Park is a regional
wastewater treatment facility for the
Greater Orlando Area. The system was
designed to polish up to 35 million gallons
a day of reclaimed wastewater. The water is
conveyed through a four-foot diameter
pipeline approximately 17 miles. Seventeen
cells and three different communities were
designed to remove excess nutrients from the
water. Over 2 million aquatic plants and
200,000 trees were planted to create deep
marsh, mixed marsh and hardwood swamp
habitats. The water flows into the influent
structure and is then divided into three
flow pathways. The water first flows into
the deep marsh. The deep marsh cells are
primarily monocultures of cattails or giant
bulrush. From there, the water flows into
the mixed marsh.
Wildlife; The open waters of the lake
and marshes attract wintering waterfowl,
including blue-winged teal, green-winged
teal, common moorhens and Amaerican coots.
Wood storks, white ibis, black-crowned night
herons, and other wading birds are common
during the cooler months. Bald eagles,
limpkins, and red-shouldered hawks, black
vultures, and turkey vultures are year round
residents in the Orlando Wetlands Park.
Raccoons, river otters, white-tailed deer
and bobcats can be seen along the roads and
hiking trails. The Orlando Wetlands is home
to over 30 species of wildlife that are
listed on the Florida Wildlife Conservation
Commission’s Threatened and Endangered
Wildlife list.
GPS N 28 34.162 W 80 59.797
Google Satellite Image |
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Fox lake Sanctuary
Fox Lake Sanctuary is a 2,800 acre
property owned by the Brevard County
Environmentally Endangered lands Program and
has recently opened to the public via a
trailhead located near the boat ramp of Fox
Lake Park west of Titusville. Roughly 7
miles of hiking trails provide access
throughout the property while a marked Canoe
/ Kayak trail connects Fox Lake to South
Lake to the North. Wildlife found on site
includes White Tail Deer, Hogs, Migratory
and wading birds, raptors, wild turkey, and
on at least two occasions the EELs program
was suprised to find motion activated
cameras tripped by Florida Black Bear.
The sanctuary contains a variety of habitats
such as scrub, pine flatwoods, oak hammocks,
depression and freshwater marshes.
Property Map
GPS N 28 35.309 W 80 52.496
Google Satellite Image |
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Hal Scott Regional Preserve and Park
9,515 acres, including individual and joint
ownership by the District and Orange County.
From Titusville, head west on SR 50, past
the town of Christmas. Turn left and go east
on SR 520 for about two miles. Turn right
(west) into the Wedgefield subdivision on
Macon Parkway. Turn left on Bancroft Blvd.,
right on Meredith Parkway, then left on
Dallas Blvd. The parking lot is 1.6 miles
south of the Meridith/Dallas intersection,
on the right.
This vast expanse of flatwoods and open
prairie straddles the Econlockhatchee River
in east Orange County. The big attraction
for birders here is an active colony of
red-cockaded woodpeckers located in the
northern third of the property. Best viewing
time for the RCWs is at dawn when the birds
awaken from their nesting cavities. White
stripes around pine tree trunks identify
trees with RCW cavities. Other common
resident species include eastern bluebird,
brown-headed nuthatch, Bachman's sparrow,
wood duck, sandhill crane and barred owl.
With some luck, visitors may find wild
turkey, whip-poor-will, hairy and red-headed
woodpecker, hermit thrush, orange-crowned
warbler, sedge and marsh wren, king rail and
Cooper's and sharp-shinned hawk.
Property Map
Trail Guide
GPS N 28 29.163 W 81 05.833
Google Satellite Image |
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North Brevard Walking Trail
is found on the corner of Holder and
Dairy roads in Titusville. About 6 acres in
size, it is a preserved section of Atlantic
Coastal Ridge pine scrub habitat with about
a half mile trail looping around the outer
parimeter and other trails through it.
Located atop an ancient sand dune, this type
of unique habitat is rapidly being bought up
by developers in Florida and is probably the
most endangered habitat in the state. It is
dominated by tall slash pine trees and a
lower growth of scrub oak and saw palmettos.
Nice 1/2 hour or so hike and lots of
songbirds during migratory periods.
GPS N 28 38.261 W 80 51.403
Google Satellite Image |
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Dicerandra Sanctuary
This 44-acre Sanctuary is named after an
endangered mint plant, Dicerandra thinicola,
also known as the Titusville mint. When the
shrub blooms in November and December the
tiny flowers put on a purple and white show.
The sanctuary is 44 acres in size and has
about a two mile loop trail through the
property. The eastern edge of the property
is dominated by a depression marsh. Look for
songbirds in the trees along the edge of the
marsh while at the same time keeping an eye
out over the marsh for egtrets and the
occasional sandhill crane. From the primary
trailhead off of Mellisa road follow the
trail as it turns to the left. very soon you
will come to a firebreak road. Turn to the
left on this firebreak which follows the
western edge of the depression marsh. You
will come to an intersection to a trail that
takes you up to the top of the scrub ridge.
Near the top keep an eye out for Florida's
only endemnic bird species, the Florida
scrub jay. Rufous towhees, blue jays,
various species of woodpeckers, raptors and
other species are commonly seen here.
Melissa Drive,
Titusville
From I-95 take SR-50 Exit 215 east 3 miles.
Turn right on Key Largo Drive, go 0.4 miles
and turn right on Karen Drive. Go less than
0.1 mile, turn right and go to the end of
Melissa Drive. Enter on foot.
From US-1 Take SR 50 .7 miles to the west
and turn left on Key Largo, go 0.4 miles and
turn right on Karen Drive. Go less than 0.1
mile, turn right and go to the end of
Melissa Drive. Enter on foot.
Trails Map
GPS N 28 33.099 W 80 48.650
Google Satellite Image
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Wuesthoff Park
at 2000 Wuesthoff Street is Just off
Barna Ave, just south of Cheney Highway in
Titusville, Wuesthoff Park is a 25 acre park
that offers good hiking and birdwatching
through a variety of habitats including a
boardwalk over a small wetlands, and trails
that loop through hardwood hammock and and
upland pine habitats. This is a nice park
for family gatherings. Beautiful deeply
wooded hike, picnic area, and a nice mowed
open field and play area.
GPS N 28 33.342 W 80 49.541
Google Satellite Image |
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Canaveral Marshes Conservation Area
This area can be accessed from a parking
area on the south side of SR 50
approximately three miles west of I-95.
Canaveral Marshes Conservation Area is a
6,741-acre property owned and managed by the
St. Johns River Water Management District.
The trail from here heads due east for about
a mile then turns due south for about
another mile until it meets the Addison
Ellis Canal, then follows along the canal
east until it comes to the border of the
Great Outdoors Golf and RV Resort. along
this route this elevated dike trail trail
offers expansive views of the marshes, which
provide habitat for a diverse population of
wildlife, including numerous migratory and
resident wading birds and waterfowl,
alligators, and many endangered species.
Once you get to the point where the canal
enters the resort, the trail turns south and
forms two loop trails which take you through
wooded hammock habitat providing habitat for
various songbird species, deer, turkey, and
other wildlife, while looping around an
extensive indian midden.
There is no camping or hunting allowed here.
Property Map
GPS N 28 32.708 W 80 53.790
Google Satellite Image |
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Tosohatchee Wildlife Management Area;
(Orange County)
3365 Taylor Creek Road
Christmas, FL 32709-9130
(407) 568-5893
can be found west of Titusville on SR 50
over the St John's River and into the town
of Christmas. Look for Look for Taylor Creek
Road on the south side of SR 50. Then head
south for about 3 miles and you'll see the
entrance on the left on Beehead Road. There
is a nominal day use fee per vehicle. A box
to deposit the fee is at the entrance kiosk
Overnight primitive camping is available.
There are two classes of trails here.
Multi use trails can be hiked, biked, and
ridden on horseback and are marked with
orange or rust colored blazes while the foot
only trails are blazed in white. Horses are
not allowed on vehicle roads except at
designated horse crossing points. Bicycles
are allowed on all park roads, service roads
and firelines. This 28,000 acre area runs
along the St John's River and features about
30 miles of trails, primative camping,
virgin pine flatwoods, and a 900-acre virgin
cypress swamp which running along Jim Creek
is thought to be the largest remaining stand
of cypress left uncut in the state. This is
a beautiful area which can be accessed from
the last parking area west on Power Line
Road before it crosses Jim Creek. The trail
head is a log bridge over a creek just
accross the road from the parking area. In
the pinewoods near Beehead Ranch at the end
of Beehead Road, some of the tall slash
pines are thought to be 250 years old.
Bird and wildlife watchers will love the
opportunity to see some of the large raptors
such as osprey, bald eagles, and
swallow-tailed kites that can be found here.
Wild turkey, white tailed deer, bobcat,
racoon, armadillo and on rare occasions,
Florida panther are rumored to have been
spotted here. Other points of interest
include the 30 indian mounds in close
proximity to the trails.
The Park Roads provide parking areas and
trail access throughout the park. Refer to
the map for specifics.
Trails Map
GPS N 28 29.912 W 80 59.903
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Enchanted Forest Sanctuary
is a truely unique sanctuary where
Walking & Learning trails wander through
timeless Scrub, Mesic, and Hydric ecosystems
with their wide variety of endangered and
threatened species. An ADA accessible trail
extends from the Nature Center to an
overlook of the Addison Ellis Canal. The
relationship between soil types and plant
communities is easily seen here. Guided
hikes are available or you can strike out on
your own with a map provided by volunteers
at the visitor's center and gift shop, who
are always eager to answer any questions. A
study conducted in 1994 documented usage of
the Enchanted Forest Sanctuary by 52 bird
species including wild turkey, bald eagle,
red-shouldered hawk, barred owl, cooper's
hawk, northern bobwhite, eastern screech
owl, and numerous songbird species. Bobcats
and white tailed deer also are known to be
here. In addition, this sanctuary provides
refuge for two of Florida's endangered
reptiles, the eastern indigo snake and the
gopher tortise. With the Titusville area
being located within an isotherm, a
transitional zone separating a temperate and
a subtropical climatic zone, the variety of
plant life to be found here is truely
astounding.
The entrance to the Enchanted Forest
Sanctuary can be found on the North side of
State Road 405 in Titusville just west of
the intersection of 405 and US-1.
Trails Map
GPS N 28 31.731 W 80 48.138
Google Satellite Image |
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Fay Lake Wilderness Area
6300 Fay Boulevard, Port St John
At the west end of Fay Bvld in Port St John,
this 192.7 acre park has a 27 acre lake on
the property, walking trails, shaded
pavillions, and offers the chance to see
wading birds, migratory songbirds, deer, and
many other species.
GPS N 28 27.694 W 80 50.054
Google Satellite Image |
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Merritt
Island National Wildlife Refuge
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Canaveral National Seashore
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Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge;
Visitor Center Trail
To get to the refuge visitor's center,
stay on the main road as it veers to the
right (at which point it becomes State Road
402). You will soon see the entrance on the
right about 2.3 miles past the Black point
turnoff.
The Visitor's Center has interactive
displays and an information desk inside, and
outside has a dock leading over one
freshwater pond with an osprey's nest
visible on an elevated platform, To the
right, a boardwalk winds along the shoreline
habitat leading to a gazebo over another
pond. Red bellied and pileated woodpeckers
can be seen as well as northern parulas,
gray catbirds, carolina wrens, american
redstarts, and many other songbirds.
GPS N 28 38.602 W 80 44.202
Google Satellite Image |
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Oak Hammock Trail
/ Palm Hammock Trail;
The Hammock Trails are found about a mile
east of the visitor's center on the left,
where parking is provided and two loop
trails take you through the hammocks and
wetlands. The Oak Hammock trail is about 3/4
mile in length while the Palm Hammock Trail
runs about 2 miles. Both of these trails can
be pretty wet following periods of rain and
be sure to bring plenty of bug repellent
from about March through October. Songbirds,
Peleated woodpeckers, and raptors can be
spotted along these trails along with some
wading birds. Other possible sightings
include bobcats, raccoons, and other
woodland wildlife.
GPS N 28 38.636 W 80 42.993
Google Satellite Image |
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Cruickshank Trail;
About halfway through Black Point Wildlife
Drive there is a parking area with restrooms
forming the trailhead for the Cruickshank
Trail, a walking trail that follows the
impoundment dike around the wetlands for
about 4 1/2 miles. Good place for egrets,
herons, ducks, pelicans, and numerous other
waterfowl. Just a few hundred feet to the
left of the trailhead is an elevated
platform with a mounted spotting scope for
viewing the vast salt marsh visible from
this elevation.
GPS N 28 40.708 W 80 46.338
Google Satellite Image |
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Scrub Ridge Trail
The Scrub Ridge Trail features the favored
habitat of the Florida Scrub Jay, an
endemnic species to the state, existing
nowhere else. It is a one mile loop through
a habitat of low lying scrub oak and
palmetto bushes. In addition to the Scrub
Jay, many migratory birds use the low scrub
for food and habitat while the skies are
often patrolled by Raptors. Indigo snakes,
gopher tortises, armadillos, and bobcats are
other possible sightings.
The trailhead can be found by taking the Max
Brewer Causeway across the river (SR 406)
and taking The Black Point turnoff to the
left then continuing on past the entrance to
Black Point Wildlife Drive until the road
ends at SR 3. Turn left (north) and you will
see the sign pointing the way down a dirt
road on your right (east) to the trailhead.
Most of the vegetation here is pretty low
(ie, not much shade) so I would recommend
bringing a hat, sunscreen, and water.
GPS N 28 41.700 W 80 42.949
Google Satellite Image |
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Pine Flatwoods
Trail;
The Pine Flatwoods Trail is located
north of haulover Canal on the east side of
State Road 3 and is a one mile loop through
a pine flatwoods. The trailhead can be found
by taking the Max Brewer Causeway across the
river (SR 406) and taking The Black Point
turnoff to the left then continuing on past
the entrance to Black Point Wildlife Drive
until the road ends at SR 3. Turn left
(north) and drive for 7.2 miles. The
trailhead will be on the right (east).
GPS N 28 46.181 W 80 47.195
Google Satellite Image |
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Canaveral National Seashore
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Pine Island Conservation Area;
2121 Pine Island Road, Merritt Island
From SR-528 (Beeline Cswy) take SR-3 north
for 5.5 miles. Turn left on Pine Island Rd
and go 2.5 miles to the unpaved parking area
at the entrance.
From SR-520 go north on Courtenay Parkway
(SR-3) across the Barge Canal and continue
for 5.5 miles. Turn left on Pine Island Rd
and go 2.5 miles to the unpaved parking area
at the entrance.
The Pine Island Conservation Area is a
dynamic landscape supporting a diverse plant
community and abundant wildlife. Adjoining
the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge,
the 879-acre conservation area is jointly
owned by the Brevard County Environmentally
Endangered Lands Program (EEL Program) and
the St. Johns River Water Management
District. Two hiking trails accessed from a
trailhead 0.5 miles from the entrance
parking area offer moderate 1.0 mile and 1.5
mile walks through pine flatwoods and hydric
hammock habitats. Each trail features
overlooks providing visitors with panoramic
vistas of shallow water feeding habitat of
wading birds, shorebirds and waterfowl.
Biking is allowed on established trails.
Pine Island is not actually and island. The
name comes from the fact that an "island" of
pine flatwoods is surrounded by other
habitats, including on one edge the Indian
River Lagoon without the normal habitat
transition from pine flatwoods to wetlands
to lagoon. There are also mangrove forests,
hardwood hammocks, and cabbage Palm
Hammocks. The diversity of habitats for many
species of wading birds, shorebirds,
waterfowl, and migratory birds is a
prominent feature of the conservation area.
Reptiles and amphibians including alligators
and aquatic turtles are common, as are
mammals such as bobcats, river otters,
raccoons, and opossums that seek food and
refuge on the site.
GPS N 28 29.507 W 80 43.302
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Kings Park
995 Chase Hammock Road, Merritt Island
FROM US Hwy 1, take SR-528 east 2.7 miles,
turn left onto Courtenay Parkway (SR-3) and
go 3.1 miles.Turn right and go 0.9 miles on
Chase Hammock.
Open after 7:00 a.m. until dark.
This is a 240 acre park with a manmade
freshwater lake and a myriad of creeks and
smaller brackish ponds that make for a very
interesting birding and wildlife area,
especialliy with the addition of the
multiuse trail on the property, which runs
along one of the creeks. There are also
several rustic hiking trails through the
park for some off the beaten path hiking.
Look for wading birds and other waterfowl
along the creeks and backwaters, and
migratory songbirds and raptors in the
wooded sections.
GPS N 28 26.840 W 80 41.690
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Canaveral National Seashore
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Canaveral National Seashore;
There are two distinct districts with
two separate entrances and you cannot drive
between the two. The North or Apollo
District is accessed from New Symrna Beach
in Volusia County while the South or
Playalinda District is accessed from
Titusville. (Please
Read) All established hiking trails
on the seashore are accessible from the
North District only. There is an old roadbed
that connects the North and South District
just above the dune line, and there are some
websites that promote this as a hiking
trail. However, if the Park Service finds
you on this trail they will arrest and fine
you $$. This is to protect the fragile sand
dunes from erosion. (From personal
conversation with Park Personnel)
Owned by NASA, this property is managed
by the National Park Service and protects
roughly 26 miles of Atlantic Ocean Shoreline
and provides nesting grounds for up to 7
species of sea turtles while protecting
natural dunes, coastal strand scrub, salt
marsh and other wetlands, and virtually the
entire body of the Mosquito Lagoon. Over 300
species of birds have been seen at the
seashore from gulls, pelicans, ducks,
herons, egrets, terns, gannets, assorted
shorebirds, and raptors, to painted
buntings, migratory songbirds in the hammock
areas and scrubjays just inside the north
district entrance.
Map of Merritt Island National Wildlife
Refuge and Canaveral National Seashore
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Canaveral Seashore
Hiking Trails
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Turtle Mound
Turtle Mound Trail leads to the Turtle
Mound, so named because it loosely resembles
a turtle. The Turtle Mound is a Timcuan
Indian midden, not to be confused with an
Indian Burial Mound. A midden is essentially
a garbage pile made over many years as the
Timicuan discarded the shells of oysters,
clams and other shellfish that they depended
on heavily for food. Other artifacts were
tossed in as well. Today this mound is
roughly 35 feet in height and is a protected
treasure trove of insight into the lives of
the Timicuan before the arrival of
Europeans. The trail is roughly 1/3 of a
mile in length.
GPS N 28 55.829 W 80 49.542
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Eldora
Statehouse Trail
This short trail can be accessed from
parking area #8 and leads to the Eldora
State House, after passing through a coastal
hammock. Built during the 1800s the house
was one of several large houses built in the
community of Eldora after the Civil War and
later served as a hotel for passengers
traveling by steamboat along the Mosquito
Lagoon.
Here's a quick history of the area from the
Library of Congress Website
GPS N 28 54.565 W 80 49.111
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Eldora Hammock
Trail
Eldora Hammock is a one mile loop taking
visitors through a coastal hammock, good
opportunities for seeing migrant songbirds
and learning about this habitat through
interpretive signage.
GPS N 28 54.519 W 80 48.920
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Castle Windy
This is a one way trail about a half mile in
length that provides a unique birding and
ecotouring opportunity, by allowing you to
travel from the Atlantic Shoreline to the
Mosquito Lagoon, noting the changes in
vegetation, geology or topography and the
wildlife. On the lagoon end of the trail is
Castle Windy Midden, a Timucaun Indian shell
midden.
GPS N 28 53.903 W 80 48.215
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