With 1,500 acres straddling the sandy uplands of the Atlantic Coastal Ridge, Scottsmoor Flatwoods Sanctuary is one of Brevard County’s largest preserves.
It is broken into two parts by Interstate 95. Scottsmoor Flatwoods East spans between US 1 and the interstate just south of the county line, offering two access points to its trails.
Scottsmoor Flatwoods West sits west of the interstate and is edged by the Brevard Coast to Coast Trail, which at present provides the only access to that tract.
Resources
Resources for exploring the region
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Overview
Location: Mims and Scottsmoor
Length: Loops of 1.9 to 6.1 miles
Trailhead: 28.764242,-80.881636
Address: 4055 Magoon Ave, Scottsmoor (primary access)
Fees: None
Restroom: At the Parrish Park access point in Scottsmoor
Land manager: Brevard County
Phone: 321-256-4466
Open 7 AM to dusk. Pets are not permitted. Portions of the trail system may flood.
Trails are open to hiking, biking, and equestrians, although none of the trailheads support horse trailers. Equestrian use is limited to existing roads and trails posted for their use.
Directions
There are two access points to Scottsmoor Flatwoods East. The primary trailheads are accessible from Parrish Park in Scottsmoor, just west of US 1 at the end of Magoon Ave. Both are somewhat hidden; you won’t see them from your car. One is north of the entrance road/ballfields and the other is behind the maintenance shed south of the parking area. The southern trailhead for Scottsmoor Flatwoods East is at the north end of International Ave north of Golden Shores Blvd in Mims, but there are only two parking spaces at that entrance.
While the street address for Scottsmoor Flatwoods West is 5000 Rose Marie Place, Mims, there is no pass-through and nowhere to park, just a locked gate. There are two access points into this tract along the Brevard Coast to Coast Trail at pass-through gaps in the fence.
About the Preserve
Given the size of the preserve, it is a huge expanse to explore, which is why mountain biking these natural surface trails is an option.
Local equestrians can ride out of their neighborhoods into the preserve, where a mixture of marked trails and unmarked roads provide access.
While scrub and flatwoods dominate the central and northern portions of the preserve, it is not without its wetlands.
We found vast wet prairies in Scottsmoor Flatwoods East, and a ribbon of cypress strand runs parallel to the Brevard Coast to Coast Trail in Scottsmoor Flatwoods West.
Trails
At Scottsmoor Flatwoods East, there are three color-coded trails that interconnect. At 4.3 miles, the Yellow Trail is the official equestrian trail and follows old roads.
The 1.9-mile Blue Trail makes a nice loop through the northern extent of the preserve, showing off open pond pine flatwoods and prairies.
The 6.1-mile Red Trail uses the outer portion of the Blue Trail and then diverges to sweep to the southern edge of the preserve, reaching the International Ave trailhead along its circular route back to Parrish Park in Scottsmoor.
In 2020, we noticed white-tipped posts added to Scottsmoor Flatwoods West just inside the new fence and walk-through access from the Brevard Coast to Coast Trail.
We have yet to find a map of this preserve or a way to get into it from its street address, but when the weather is cooler will tackle this newly created trail off the bike path.
As we complete trails within the preserve, we will post their details here.
Explore More!
Slideshow
See our photos of Scottsmoor Flatwoods
Nearby Adventures
More worth exploring while you’re in this area.
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
Seminole Rest
The accessible Seminole Rest Trail provides interpretive information about a historic and archaeological site at Canaveral National Seashore along the shores of the Indian River Lagoon.
Salt Lake WMA
Spanning nearly 8,000 acres between Salt Lake, Lake Loughman, and South Lake, Salt Lake WMA is a popular birding and fishing destination with many miles of trails
Buck Lake East Loop
On this 1.5-mile loop atop a scrub ridge in the southeast corner of Buck Lake Conservation Area, watch for a flash of blue- Florida scrub-jays are found here.