2 Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge: Wildlife and Nature Trails

Created from excess National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) land during the development of the U.S. space exploration program, the 140,000-acre Merritt Island Refuge is Central Florida’s principal wildlife habitat. Essentially, it is a huge expanse of chest-high salt marsh grass (with accompanying mosquitoes; carry mosquito repellent at all times) punctuated by small ponds and hammocks, and mosquito control dikes dating from the 1950s. The Cruickshank Trail, featured below, leads to some of the prime bird habitat. Over 500 species of wildlife inhabit the refuge, with 15 listed as federally threatened or endangered. In addition, the refuge contains several wading bird rookeries, 2,500 Florida scrub jays, 10 active bald eagle nests, and numerous osprey nests. During spring months, several hundred manatees may swim in the nearby Indian River.

Start: Either off State Road 406 or State Road 402, depending on hike

Distance: The longest walk is 5 miles; the shortest is 0.7 mile.

Approximate hiking time: 3 to 4 hours, all hikes

Difficulty: Easy to moderate

Trail surface: Natural path

Seasons: Fall through spring; best in winter

Other trail users: Birders

Canine compatibility: No pets

Land status: National wildlife refuge

Nearest town: Titusville

Fees and permits: None for day hiking

Schedule: Hiking trail open daylight hours; Visitor Information Center open weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday hours vary by season. For waterfowl hunting season, visit www.fws.gov/merrittisland/waterfowlhunting/index.html.

Maps: None needed. Refuge overview map available at www.fws.gov/merrittisland/publications/MINWRmap00.pdf

Trail contacts: Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, P.O. Box 6504, Titusville, FL 32782; (321) 861-0667 or www.fws.gov/merrittisland. The Visitor Information Center is 5 miles east of U.S. Highway 1 in Titusville on SR 402.

Allan Cruickshank Memorial Trail

Finding the trailhead: From Interstate 95 just north of Titusville, take exit 220 toward State Road 46. Drive east for 0.3 mile and turn right onto SR 406 (also called Max Brewer Memorial Highway). Follow SR 406 to Black Point Wildlife Drive. Turn left onto Black Point Wildlife Drive and travel about midway, or 3.4 miles, to the parking lot at Stop 8. The Cruickshank Trail begins here. GPS: N28 40.691' W080 46.310'

The Hike

This 5-mile loop path is named for wildlife photographer and naturalist Allan D. Cruickshank, who was instrumental in the establishment of the refuge. The walk takes between two and three hours. The hike circles a shallow-water marsh that provides excellent birding. An observation platform and a photography blind, visible from the parking lot, are located just a short way along the trail. If it’s the right time of day, you might want to climb the platform now for photography. Otherwise, leave it for the end of the walk, as both a good place to rest and to see what else there might be to photograph.

The trail starts as a jeep road and then becomes a little rougher. The walk is somewhat similar to the wildlife drive—a path bordered by open water and mangroves—but with much less traffic. The best time for hiking in what is considered one of Florida’s premier birding areas is early morning or mid-afternoon, when the birds are usually most active. You’ll probably see alligators in drainage ditches along the trail (you should be perfectly safe as long as you don’t provoke them) and wading birds such as blue herons, shorebirds, and waterfowl.

The impressive bird list identifies 310 species sighted in the refuge over the years. Besides the huge waterfowl migration, spectacular migrations of passerine birds, such as warblers, occur in spring and fall. Eight species of herons and egrets are commonly in residence. Nesting populations of bald eagles, brown pelicans, mottled ducks, and wood storks are a special feature at the refuge. If you’re seriously interested in birding, be sure to obtain a copy of the bird checklist available at the visitor center. The best months for observing the profuse bird life are November to March.

During November or December, visitors may be surprised to hear the sounds of shotguns adjacent to the wildlife drives. Duck hunting has been an annual ritual here for generations and is still permitted, but only on a tightly controlled quota basis. The hunting is an important aspect of waterfowl management.

Merritt Island NWR contains more endangered species than any other refuge in the continental United States.

Miles and Directions

0.0Start at the parking lot at Stop 8 on Black Point Wildlife Drive.

0.6 Pass the old boardwalk to a photographer’s blind.

0.8 Pass a shaded bench.

1.4 Enjoy a panoramic view of the lagoon.

2.0 Reach Marker 3.

2.2 Pass a bench and a good view of NASA’s Vehicle Assembly Building, where spacecraft are prepped for flight.

3.0 Reach Marker 2.

3.7 Pass a covered bench.

4.7 Reach the observation tower.

5.0 Arrive back at the parking lot.

Palm Hammock Trail

Finding the trailhead: From Interstate 95 just north of Titusville, take exit 220 toward State Road 46. Drive east for 0.3 mile and turn right onto SR 406 (also called Max Brewer Memorial Highway). Follow SR406 for 2.8 miles. Turn right onto SR 402 (Playalinda Beach Road). Go straight for 1.7 miles to reach the Visitor Information Center. The common trailhead for Palm and Oak Hammocks is less than another mile farther east beyond the visitor center. The two trails begin from the small parking lot on the left. The different trailheads are clearly marked. GPS: N28 38.645' W080 42.996'

The Hike

The 2-mile Palm Hammock loop trail is the longer walk that bears left from the common trailhead. The trail is usually muddy and wet following rains. A sign at the start of the trail indicates whether conditions are “wet” or “dry.” In very wet periods the trail may be rerouted, which will be noted on the sign. Several boardwalks span the wettest sections. The trail passes through cabbage palm hammocks, hardwood forest, and open marsh. Don’t forget the bug spray.

Miles and Directions

0.0 Leave from the parking lot on SR 402, bearing left.

0.1 Trail veers further left to go into a dense hammock.

0.6 Reach boardwalk with bench on left.

1.2 Pass NASA instrumentation.

1.4 Trail turns right.

1.8 Bridge crosses swamp area.

2.0 Arrive back at parking lot.

Oak Hammock Trail

Finding the trailhead: This 0.7-mile loop trail shares a common trailhead (and parking lot) with the Palm Hammock Trail (above). GPS: N28 38.645' W080 42.996'

The Hike

This thirty-minute walk winds through a subtropical forest. The dense, bright green fern bed at the start of the hike is one of the more colorful parts of the plant community, explained in a series of interpretive signs. In addition to large oak trees, you’ll pass through a grove of citrus trees. Indian River oranges and grapefruit are nationally famous, first planted in the area around 1830. This particular grove dates from the 1940s.

Miles and Directions

0.0 Leave from the parking lot on SR 402, bearing right.

0.5 Turn left at boardwalk.

0.7 Arrive back at parking lot.

Alligators are a common sight in many places on the Merritt Island NWR.

More Information

Local Information

Titusville Area Visitors Council: www.spacecityflusa.com.

Local Events/Attractions

Fishing is allowed on the refuge throughout the year in the scattered pockets of fresh water found on the property. For saltwater angling, wading the shoreline for redfish and trout can be extremely productive in spring.

Canaveral National Seashore, adjoining the refuge, has 25 miles of unbroken beach. One of the best, Playalinda, is quite close to this trail. Call (321) 867-4077, or visit www.nps.gov/cana.

The Kennedy Space Center offers public tours and shuttle launch schedules: www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/home/index.html.

Lodging

Lodging is available in Titusville. Titusville Area Visitors Council: www.spacecityflusa.com.

Camping

There is no camping within the refuge. For nearby campgrounds, log on to www.spacecityflusa.com.

Organizations

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, southeast region: www.fws.gov/southeast.

Merritt Island Wildlife Association: www.nbbd.com/npr/miwa.

Migrating Waterfowl

From early fall through winter, migrating waterfowl appear at Merritt Island NWR in truly staggering numbers. As many as 310 species of birds have been recorded, and a good winter bird count goes something like this: 50,000 to 70,000 ducks; 100,000 coots; 12,000 to 14,000 gulls and terns; 2,000 raptors, and enormous numbers of songbirds. The only other Florida site that supports a bird population anywhere near this size is Lake Okeechobee to the south, and it is considered second-best.

Besides the huge waterfowl migration, spectacular migrations of passerine birds, such as warblers, occur in spring and fall. Eight species of herons and egrets are commonly in residence. Nesting populations of bald eagles, brown pelicans, mottled ducks, and wood storks are a special feature at the refuge. If you’re seriously interested in birding, be sure to obtain a copy of the bird checklist available at the visitor center. Prime birding times are always early and late in the day. Binoculars and a powerful telephoto lens enhance the experience tremendously. Best months for observing birds are November to March.