Florida Hikes

Hike Bike Paddle Camp Florida with authors Sandra Friend and John Keatley as your guides

Rocket with exhaust plume rising up behind trees

Florida's Space Coast

Outdoor recreation and other points of interest along Florida’s Space Coast between Titusville and Melbourne.

Micco Scrub Sanctuary

Palm Bay   3.1 miles

Hike the best part of two loops across former ranchland amid scrub, flatwoods, and seasonally wet prairies on this 3.1 mile hike at Micco Scrub Sanctuary.

Paddling the Thousand Islands

One of the hidden natural treasures of Cocoa Beach, the Thousand Islands provide a fun paddle through a maze of mangroves on a marked trail through a conservation area.

Paddling Turkey Creek

A chance meeting of old friends leads to my first paddling trip down Turkey Creek and the opportunity to connect with our local paddling club, the Space Coast Paddlers, by talking about our most recent guidebook.

Parrish Park

Catch a stellar sunset across the shimmering Indian River Lagoon with a westward view from Parrish Park.

Patterson Botanical Garden

Melbourne   1.0 miles

Fronting the campus of Florida Tech in Melbourne, the Joy and Gordon Patterson Botanical Garden is a lush oasis of tropical plantings in an urban setting.

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.

River Lakes Conservation Area

Melbourne   7.2 miles

Bounding the eastern side of Brevard County between Lake Poinsett and Lake Washington, River Lakes Conservation Area protects the St. Johns River floodplain.

Salt Lake WMA

Mims   miles

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.

Sams House at Pine Island

Merritt Island   2.8 miles

A delightful immersion into the natural side of Merritt Island, the trails at Sams House at Pine Island range from mild to wild as they delve into habitats along the Indian River Lagoon.

Scottsmoor Flatwoods Sanctuary

Mims   6.1 miles

Straddling the sandy uplands of the Atlantic Coastal Ridge, Scottsmoor Flatwoods Sanctuary protects 1,700 acres of flatwoods, scrub, and wetlands in North Brevard.

Sebastian Inlet State Park

One of few places where the Indian River Lagoon mingles with the Atlantic Ocean, Sebastian Inlet is the central feature of a state park protecting the tips of both barrier islands.

South Lake Conservation Area

Titusville   1.2 miles

A scrub preserve on the Atlantic Coastal Ridge in Titusville, South Lake Conservation Area provides a surprisingly hilly loop hike through the territory of Florida scrub-jay families.