Kings Park

Well-hidden from the steady flow of traffic to and from Kennedy Space Center but only a mile east of SR 3, Kings Park surprises with its waterways and trails.

A 2.7-mile loop paddling trail through mangrove tangles and a 1.2-mile linear paved path make this a popular destination for locals on bike and by foot.

Boardwalk at Kings Park

Resources

Resources for exploring the area

Central Florida Orlando Explorers Guide book cover

Hikers Guide to the Sunshine State book cover

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Overview

Location: Merritt Island
Trailhead: 28.447802, -80.693695
Address: 995 Chase Hammock Rd, Merritt Island
Fees: None
Restroom: Vault toilets at trailheads
Land manager: Brevard County
Phone: 321-633-1874

Open daily sunrise to sunset. Leashed dogs welcome. Accessible pavement and boardwalk.

Picnic tables at trailheads, and sporadic park benches along the route. Use caution off-trail due to poison ivy and Brazilian pepper, also an irritant.

Expect both sun and insects, and plan accordingly. While the paved trail has regular visitors by bike and on foot, the paddling trail is lightly used.

Directions

From Interstate 95 in Cocoa, follow SR 528 east to exit 49, SR 3 on Merritt Island. Drive north towards Kennedy Space Center 2 miles to the traffic light for Hall Rd. There is a sign for Kars Park pointing east. Turn right and continue 0.8 mile to a trailhead on the left that provides access to both trails.
The park’s main entrance provides far more parking but no access to the paddling trail. Continue north on SR 3 past Hall Rd instead of turning there. A mile later turn right on Chase Hammock Rd. Continue a mile to the park entrance. The paved Island Pioneer Trail trail is adjacent a gate by the lake.

About the Park

Spanning 240 acres between Chase Hammock Rd and Hall Rd on Merritt Island north of the Barge Canal, Kings Park offers a variety of outdoor recreation.

Anglers and bank fishermen can cast from non-motorized boats on the surface of a large freshwater lake at the north end.

Lakeside bench at Kings Park

Kayakers can ply brackish waters along canals and tangles of mangrove tunnels from the south entrance on the waymarked Pioneer Paddling Trail.

Connecting the two ends of this slice of old Merritt Island is the Island Pioneer Trail, a linear paved path.

North access to the Island Pioneer Trail

A large open green space adjoining the parking area off Chase Hammock Rd is used for pick-up games of soccer, baseball, and disc tossing.

Picnic tables and benches can be found near both trailheads, with some overlooking the man-made waterways.

Picnic pavilion, privy, and green space

Worn footpaths off the paved trail lead to fishing holes and promontories off the waterways, some of which are hydrologically connected to Sykes Creek.

The park and trails are relatively lightly used. Its proximity to Kennedy Space Center and the launch pads of Cape Canaveral make it a candidate for watching rocket launches.

Kayak launch for the Pioneer Paddling Trail

Trails at Kings Park

Exploring the Pioneer Paddling Trail

Amid mangrove swamps along an old pioneer route in Kings Park, the Pioneer Paddling Trail offers an intimate look at a forgotten wild corridor on Merritt Island.