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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

Merritt Island NWR  |  Titusville
( 28.641567, -80.735717 )      0.5 miles

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On the barrier island that protects Titusville, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is one of the top destinations in Florida for winter birding.

The Visitor Center boardwalk eases you into an introduction to typical habitats on the refuge and provides an easy spot for birding.

Short yet broad, the boardwalk follows the edge of an oak hammock to a roofed observation deck overlooking a pond.

This is an easy stroll for visitors of all ages and abilities.

Exhibits in the Visitor Center Inside the Visitor Center


Resources

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
Length: 0.5 mile loop
Trailhead: 28.641567, -80.735717
Fees: Free
Restroom: Inside the Visitor Center
Land manager: Merritt Island NWR
Phone: 321-861-0669

Open 8 AM to 4 PM Mon-Sat. No pets, please. Check out the interpretive displays in the visitor center, and visit the gift shop for field guides.

If the gate is shut, the area is fully closed. If the gate is open, the trail may be open even when the building is not. Portalets may be available in the parking lot.

Boardwalk through oaks


Directions

 
From Interstate 95 exit 220, Titusville, follow SR 406 east for 8 miles to cross the Max Brewer Bridge and the causeway to Merritt Island. Stay right at the divide in the road to continue on CR 402. Drive another 2.8 miles to the Visitor Center entrance on the right. An ample parking lot adjoins the smaller one.

Hike

Before you walk this trail, take the time to look at the exhibits inside the visitor center. They provide an overview of habitats and history at the refuge.

A gift shop occupies one corner. The exit to the boardwalk is in the opposite direction. As soon as you step outside, notice the signs about painted buntings.

Male painted bunting The male painted bunting is the showier one


During the winter months, they often show up in pairs at the feeders set just off the end of this side of the building.

Follow the boardwalk down towards the ponds. Birders are often rewarded with sightings of wading birds here.

Look for purple gallinules hiding in the grasses along the pond’s edge, and little blue herons stalking the shallows.

Pond with wooden platform in it Alligators sometimes sun on the platform


The boardwalk sweeps around to the back of the building and down to a native plant garden and butterfly garden.

Beyond it, it begins tracing the outline of the larger pond, leading past stands of cattails as it enters the oak hammock.

Boardwalk in oak hammock The boardwalk enters the oak hammock


In the oak hammock there is a junction in the boardwalk. Turn right to continue around the loop.
The next side trail to the right leads to a platform overlooking a large open marsh, another good birding stop.

View of a marsh The marsh view


The trail loops around through the hammock to come back to the edge of the large pond. A roofed platform provides a place to sit and watch wildlife.

More benches are along the path as it continues behind the screen of saw palmetto to finish the loop.

Continue back along the walk to the visitor center to finish this easy half-mile excursion.

Pond with cattails The largest of the ponds along the walk


Trail Map

Visitor Center Boardwalk Trail Map


Explore More!

Learn more about Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

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


Nearby Adventures

More to explore in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

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

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

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

Manatee Viewing Area at Merritt Island NWR

Manatee Observation Deck

Where Haulover Canal connects the Indian River Lagoon and Mosquito Lagoon in Merritt Island NWR, a manatee observation deck makes it easy to watch for manatees drifting by


Slideshow

See our photos of the Visitors Center Boardwalk

Refuge Map (PDF) Official Website

Category: Central Florida, Hikes, Loop Hikes, Nature TrailsTag: Accessible, Best Family Hikes, Birding, Easy Hikes, Family-Friendly, Favorites, Merritt Island, Merritt Island NWR, National Wildlife Refuges, Titusville, Wildlife Viewing

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Our recent park & trail updates in this region

Lengthy boardwalk heading towards mangrove flats

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Boardwalk framed by live oaks and saw palmetto

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Leaning sand pines in scrub

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Balm Boyette Nature Preserve
Dock edged by mangroves

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Maximo Park

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