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Dummett Cove Merritt Island

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

With recreational activities ranging from hiking to biking, boating, fishing, and bioluminscent kayaking, Florida’s top destination for birding is also home to Kennedy Space Center

Titusville      ( 28.641204, -80.735856 )      

Between the Indian River Lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge protects more than 140,000 acres.

Most of them are wet. Most of them are for the birds. The refuge has its roots in a concerted effort to preserve a major winter migratory bird destination by the National Audubon Society.

Local resident and nationally-renowned ornithologist Allan Cruickshank led the effort to protect Cape Canaveral and northern Merritt Island as the first rocket tests began.

NASA acquired the land in 1962, uprooting entire communities. Within a year, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge became a buffer for Kennedy Space Center.

NASA tracking station NASA tracking station near Beacon 42


Resources

Resources for exploring the area

50 Hikes in Central Florida Central Florida Orlando Explorers Guide book cover Complete Guide to Florida Wildflowers Hikers Guide to the Sunshine State book cover

Disclosure: As authors and affiliates, we receive earnings when you buy these through our links. This helps us provide public information on this website.


Overview

Location: Titusville
Visitor Center: 28.641204, -80.735856
Fees: Access to most of the trails, coves, and birding sites is free. There is a charge at the boat ramps and for Black Point Wildlife Drive, $10 per vehicle or $2 per bicycle. A National Parks Pass, Duck Stamp, or Federal Public Lands Pass covers your parking fee.
Restroom: Provided at fee areas
Land manager: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Phone: 321-861-0669

Except for the visitor center complex which is closed on Sundays, most areas are open daily. Boat ramps are open 24 hours. Trails and Wildlife Drive are open dawn to dusk.

Marshes and birds at Merritt Island

Camping is not permitted except by special permit for groups using established camping areas.
 
Leashed dogs permitted except where posted. This is not an optimal place to bring a dog because of the abundance of alligators and other wildlife.


About the Refuge

Although Kennedy Space Center is surrounded by the refuge, recreational activities occur on the north end of the refuge, north of the launch pads and landing strips.

Access the refuge via CR 406 (Garden Street) east from downtown Titusville, crossing the Max Brewer Bridge over the Indian River Lagoon to the causeway.

Visitor information station Visitor information station at the entrance along SR 406


The refuge begins at the end of the causeway, with a pulloff and welcome kiosk on the right where you can pick up maps.

A short trail leads to an observation deck looking over the lagoon towards the immense Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center, called the world’s-largest one story building.

Past this entry point, at the split in the road, keep right to visit the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, or go left to visit Black Point Wildlife Drive.

Indian River Lagoon shallows Shoreline accessible for fishing from a back road near the causeway


Birding

More than 310 different species of birds have been recorded on the refuge, including Florida scrub-jays, bald eagles, black-necked stilts, and roseate spoonbills.

Black Point Wildlife Drive is by far the top destination where birders will find life list species during the winter months.

Cars parked along a mangrove marsh

Black Point Wildlife Drive

Winding along a narrow dirt road, Black Point Wildlife Drive offers from-your-car birding in the marshes and mud flats of Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Ibis in pine White ibis in a pine tree


Hiking

Most hiking trails on the refuge are short nature trails, ideal for family exploration. Only the Visitor Center Boardwalk is fully accessible, but several of the trails have improved surfaces.

Boardwalk under oaks with a bench along it

Visitor Center Boardwalk

The only fully-accessible trail at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, the Visitor Center Boardwalk offers many overlooks for wildlife watching and birding

Boardwalk between palms and oaks

Oak Hammock Trail

The wildlife-rich interpretive Oak Hammock Trail at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge provides an easy introduction to the hammocks of the island

Palm trunks in palm hammock

Palm Hammock Trail

Delving deep into the hammocks of North Merritt Island, the Palm Hammock Trail treats you to a lush forest of mature saw palmettos under a dense canopy of live oaks on the way to an island of cabbage palms

Wild Birds Unlimited Trail

Wild Birds Unlimited Trail

An easy walk for birding along Black Point Wildlife Drive in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Wild Birds Unlimited Trail is a short trail with observation platforms

View of mangrove-lined ponds with salt marsh in distance

Cruickshank Trail

The longest hiking trail at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, the 4.8-mile Allan Cruickshank Memorial Trail makes a large loop off Black Point Wildlife Drive

Observation platform on pond Observation deck at the Visitor Center


Biking

The Brevard Coast to Coast Trail starts at the edge of the refuge on the causeway over the Indian River Lagoon. It will eventually be extended through the refuge to Playalinda Beach.

It is the eastern anchor of the state-spanning Coast to Coast Trail, 250 miles to St. Petersburg.

There is no bike lane on refuge roads and cars do travel at high speed. Download a copy of the Refuge map, below, to see the road system.

Bike on bridge at creek on Brevard Coast to Coast Trail

Brevard Coast to Coast Trail

The eastern terminus of the state-spanning Coast to Coast Trail is in the trail town of Titusville, where a ride on the Brevard Coast to Coast Trail provides cyclists the best ride in the county

How many cyclists does it take to fix a flat?

North Merritt Island by Bike

A bike ride through the northern part of Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge from Titusville to the Haulover Canal and back.

Paddling

There are many places to launch a kayak or canoe at the refuge. Open shallow waters in the north Indian River Lagoon north of Haulover Canal attract kayak anglers for redfish.

The biggest deal here is bioluminscent kayaking, at its best during the hot summer months. The shallows literally glow beneath your boat.

When conditions are just right – usually in the summer months – the tips of the waves glow, and every stroke of your paddle lights up with shimmering shades of blue.

Even the drops of water falling from it glow. As fish dart past, you can see them leave illuminated streaks in their wake. Still waters and dark skies are best.

Bioluminescence glowing blue under a kayak

Bioluminescent Paddling in Titusville

During the summer months, bioluminescence makes its appearance in the Indian River Lagoon and is especially strong along Merritt Island near Titusville. On my paddling trip, I saw the best glow I’ve ever seen.

Paddling Mosquito Lagoon

A Paddle I Will Never Forget

Taking on a remote stretch of the Indian River Lagoon paralleling the wildest part of Canaveral National Seashore, our group of paddlers turns back until only two kayakers are left, fighting the wind to reach our goal.

Paddlers can enjoy the refuge in daylight as well. The Florida Saltwater Circumnavigational Trail tacks its way across the lagoon from Parrish Park in Titusville to the Haulover Canal.

The best protected shallow water paddling is north of Haulover Canal. If you put in at Bairs Cove, be aware of tides, which make for strong currents through this narrow waterway.

Manatees in Bairs Cove

Bairs Cove

A go-to location for spotting manatees at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Bairs Cove off Haulover Canal is also a launch point for bioluminescence

You are most likely to see manatees at Bairs Cove and in the Haulover Canal at any time of year, especially when paddling.

Both the Beacon 42 Boat Ramp and the WSEG Boat Ramp are ideal launches for paddlers. WSEG is always less busy, as it’s a dirt slip between the mangroves into extensive flats.

Indian River Lagoon protected waters Protected waters near Beacon 42


Beaches

While Playlinda Beach is part of Canaveral National Seashore, which stretches up the coastline all the way to Ormond Beach, the only way to access it by vehicle is through the refuge.

The beach is one of the more spectacular places to witness a rocket launch. In addition to the oceanfront, Eddy Creek and the Salt Ponds provide birding and wildlife watching.

Playalinda Beach, Canaveral National Seashore

Playalinda Beach

At the south end of Canaveral National Seashore, Playalinda Beach is a popular destination for beachgoers along the Space Coast thanks to its natural beaches and views of Kennedy Space Center.

Recreation Sites

Click on any icon to get directions and details on the recreation sites we’ve written about at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, or select from the destinations listed below the map.


Paddling Mosquito Lagoon

A Paddle I Will Never Forget

A Paddle I Will Never Forget
Manatees in Bairs Cove

Bairs Cove

Bairs Cove
Bioluminescence glowing blue under a kayak

Bioluminescent Paddling in Titusville

Bioluminescent Paddling in Titusville
Cars parked along a mangrove marsh

Black Point Wildlife Drive

Black Point Wildlife Drive
View of mangrove-lined ponds with salt marsh in distance

Cruickshank Trail

Cruickshank Trail
Manatee Viewing Area at Merritt Island NWR

Manatee Observation Deck

Manatee Observation Deck
Boardwalk between palms and oaks

Oak Hammock Trail

Oak Hammock Trail
Palm trunks in palm hammock

Palm Hammock Trail

Palm Hammock Trail
Boardwalk under oaks with a bench along it

Visitor Center Boardwalk

Visitor Center Boardwalk
Wild Birds Unlimited Trail

Wild Birds Unlimited Trail

Wild Birds Unlimited Trail

Refuge Map (PDF) Official Website

Category: Access by water, Central Florida, Day Hikes, Destinations, Launch Points, National Wildlife Refuges, Nature Centers, Nature Trails, Off Road Biking, Scenic DrivesTag: Best Birding, Birding, Florida's Space Coast, Indian River Lagoon, Locations, Merritt Island, National Wildlife Refuges, Titusville

Have an update? Contact us.

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Our recent park & trail updates in this region

Lengthy boardwalk heading towards mangrove flats

John R. Bonner Nature Park

John R. Bonner Nature Park
Boardwalk framed by live oaks and saw palmetto

George McGough Nature Park

George McGough Nature Park
Leaning sand pines in scrub

Balm Boyette Nature Preserve

Balm Boyette Nature Preserve
Dock edged by mangroves

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