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Space Coast
Paddling |
Weather |||
Links |
Directories of Space Coast
Paddling Locations |
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Paddling
along our Space Coast is one of the best
Florida Kayaking experiences you can get as
the Indian River Lagoon System boasts the
highest biodiversity of any estaurine
ecosystem in the country. Kayak the Indian
River Lagoon System and you can find
yourself paddling over Grass Flats loaded
with fish, wading birds and a look down into
the seagrasses themself brings into view all
kinds of marine life. Paddling among
manatees and dolphins is a common occurance.
There are many islands to explore, some of
which serve as bird rookeries, while
paddling or kayaking along many areas of
mangrove shoreline offer a chance to see the
Florida that Ponce DeLeon experienced upon
his arrival. |
Overview of Paddling the Space
Coast |
There are three primary water bodies within
the Indian River Lagoon system within the
Space Coast. They include the Indian river
Lagoon itself, the Banana River, and the
Mosquito Lagoon. One of the premere kayaking
areas within the Indian River Lagoon include
the chance to kayak the Merritt Island
National Wildlife Refuge. There is literally
miles of paddling here and many places to
launch from. Some of the more popular venues
include Haulover Canal, Mullethead Island,
Dummits Cove, Patillo Creek, Gator Creek,
Catfish Creek, and Peacocks Pocket. The
North End of the Indian River Lagoon is
anchored by Turnbul Creek, an absolutely
great paddle from US-1 in South volusia
County and paddling northwest takes you to a
freshwater habitat while paddling southwest
from the put in takes you through a
saltmarsh and into the northernmost point on
the Indian River Lagoon.
Canaveral National Seashore, located in
North Brevard just west of Titusville and
South Volusia County just south of New
Smyrna Beach is another premere paddling
destination and offer several places to
kayak, paddle or canoe the Mosquito Lagoon.
In the North District the Shipyard Island
Canoe Trail offer chances for Island Camping
as well while the south portion of the
Mosquito Lagoon can be reached from Eddy
Creek and several put in spots from Biolab
Road. The paddling here is spectacular and
was named by Outdoor Magazine as one of the
top paddling destinations.
Freshwater paddling destinations in the
Northern Space Coast Area offer the
opportunity to kayak the St. Johns River in
the vicinity of Puzzle lake, Salt lake,
Loughman Lake, and a great paddle is the
Econlockhatchee River, flowing from the west
near Orlando and into the St. Johns River.
Meanwhile, Fox Lake Park in Titusville is a
hidden gem among kayaking destinations.
The Central part of the Space Coast, while
more developed offers some great kayaking as
well, anchored by the opportunity to kayak
the Thousand Islands Area of Cocoa Beach
paddling through mangrove tunnels between
the islands. Kayaking at Port Canaveral puts
you in one of the busiest seaports of the
world yet still offers the chance to see
manatees dolphins and birdlife such a
gannets gulls, shorebirds, and wading birds
along the rocks and docks while looking down
among the rocks may reward yoou with the
sighting of a seaturtle grazing on algae.
Ulumay Sanctuary offers the chance to get
lost paddling through a salt marsh. Samsons
Island in Satellite Beach offers camping and
kayak trails while the Eau Gallie River im
Melbourne offers another kayaking hidden
gem. Freshwater Destinations here include
three access points to kayak the St Johns
River within the River lakes Conservation
Area.
The Southern Portion of the Space Coast is
anchored in saltwater by Sebastian Inlet
State Park, one of Florida's premier state
parks and offers camping , fishing, hiking,
snorkeling, and beachgoing in addition to
the great kayaking along Mangrove
Shorelines. The Mangrove Islands and
Channels of Mullet Creek, accessed from
Honest Johns Fish Camp is one of the best in
the entire state. Pelican Island National
Wildlife Refuge just to the south offers the
chance to kayak America's oldest wildlife
refuge, established in 1904 to protect
egrets and herons from commercial hunters
shooting them for the feathers that were
popular in women's hats at the time. From
the mainland you can kayak the many spoil
islands of the Indian River lagoon, many of
which offer primitive camping opportunities
while others are reserved for bird
rookeries, making for a spactacular Indian
River kayaking experience.
In freshwater, you can access Three Forks
Conservation Area and kayak the headwaters
of the St Johns River, while Lake Blue
Cypress Conservation Area offers
unparalelled birding and bass fishing by
kayak. |
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