PINE FLATWOODS
A 1 mile loop (1.6 km). Allow 30-40 minutes. The
trail follows established fire break roads. The pine
flatwoods ecosystem is dominated by fire tolerant
plants such as slash pine, several species of scrub
oaks, saw palmetto gall berry and wire grass. This
plant community provides important habitat to many
species of reptiles, amphibians, large and small
mammals, hawks, owls, wood peckers, and songbirds. Look for birds in all layers of the pine forest: the
canopy, sub-canopy, and scrub. Old tall pine tress are
the preferred nest trees for bald eagles. Over a dozen
eagle nests occur on the Refuge. When the habitat
becomes slightly higher and drier, scrub oaks become
the dominant plant. Scrub jays utilize this habitat.
Look for them in open “scrubby” locations. In spring
and fall, enjoy the rich palette of colors provided by
wildflowers. During the fall, winter, and spring look for
migratory songbirds, raptors, and nesting bald eagles.
Scrub jays are common all year.
DIRECTIONS FROM VISITORS CENTER
Turn right out of the entrance road to the Visitors
Center. Go to the traffic light and turn left onto SR3.
Pine Flatwoods is 10.5 miles from the traffic light.
MAPS
Maps are pictured on interpretive signs at each
trailhead.
WHAT TO BRING
Plenty of drinking water, a hat, sunscreen. Use
mosquito and tick repellent year round. Mosquitoes
can be heavy during the wet season from May
through September.
PARKING
There is plenty of parking at all trailheads.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Merritt Island
National Wildlife Refuge
Titusville, Florida
Hiking
Trails
HANDICAP ACCESS
There is no handicap access on any trail except the
Boardwalk at the Visitors Center.
HIKING AREAS OTHER THAN TRAILS
Areas other than trails may be hiked unless posted
with a sign stating “Area Closed”. Dike roads
between impoundments vary in length and can
provide interesting hikes.
BICYCLES
Bicycles are prohibited on all Refuge trails. Bicycles
are permitted on roadways. SR 406 is closed to
bicycle use during the hours of 6:00 – 8:00 am and
3:00 – 5:00 pm.
SAFETY
All trails are essentially flat with little elevation gain.
Shoes should be sturdy and have closed toes.
Watch for roots and rocks. Boardwalks may be
slippery when wet. Thunderstorms are common in
summer. If weather threatens return to your vehicle as soon as possible. Poison ivy is common
along many trails. Although uncommon there are
several venomous snakes in the Refuge. Spider
webs should be avoided. Do not feed or approach
wildlife.
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
Phone: 321/861-0667
BOARDWALK
A ¼ mile loop (.4 km). Allow 15 minutes. The
Boardwalk offers great views of two freshwater
ponds, a native butterfly garden, hammock, a wetland
prairie and associated wildlife. It is posted with twelve
interpretive signs. There are three benches along the
Boardwalk.
Be sure to pick up the detailed guide to the Boardwalk from the Visitor Center desk.
DIRECTIONS FROM VISITORS CENTER
The Boardwalk is directly behind the Visitors Center
and open during Visitor Center hours. Wheelchair
access is available through the Visitors Center.
OAK AND PALM HAMMOCK
Dominant trees are live oak, cabbage palm, laurel
oak, pignut hickory, red maple, and American elm.
Tropical species such as Simpson stopper, wild coffee, and wild orange are common in the scrub layer.
Air plants and orchids are in the canopy. Hardwood
hammocks provide important wildlife habitat for a
wide variety of songbirds, hawks, woodpeckers, owls,
wrens, and mammals. Hammocks commonly occur
in zones between the uplands and wetlands and are
naturally protected from fire by their position on the
landscape.
OAK HAMMOCK
A 3/4 mile loop (1.2 km). Allow 20-30 minutes.
The trail is a figure 8 that winds through seasonally flooded forests. Be sure to take both loops. It is
posted with interpretive signs that explain the ecology
of the hammock community. There are three benches
along the trail.
PALM HAMMOCK
A 2 mile loop (3.2 km). Allow 40-50 minutes. The
trail makes a loop through the palm hammock and
returns on the same path. Hiking conditions can be
muddy after rain.
DIRECTIONS FROM VISITORS CENTER
Turn right out of the entrance road to the Visitors
Center. The Hammock Trails are 1.2 miles on the
left. Both trails cross a railroad track which can be a
challenge for individuals with disabilities.
CRUICKSHANK AND WILD BIRD
WILD BIRD
A ½ mile (0.8 km) round trip that follows a gravel
lined dike road. Allow 30 minutes. The trail offers
views of two distinctly different wildlife habitats each
of which has a viewing blind. The water level of the
habitat to the right rises and falls with tides of the
Indian River Lagoon. Exposed mudflats and tidal
wetlands attract a variety of shorebirds. Mixed species
such as avocet, ruddy turnstone, willet, semipalmated
plover and stilts are often seen feeding together.Water
levels of the habitat on the left are controlled to a depth
of 12-18 inches. Watch for waterfowl, raptors, and
wading birds such as egrets, herons, and spoonbills.
ALLAN D. CRUICKSHANK MEMORIAL
A 5 mile (8.1 km) loop that follows a mosquito
control dike. Allow 2–4 hours. The east loop forms
a ring around Black Point Marsh and is an excellent
place to observe marsh and wading birds. During fall
and winter the marsh is allowed to fill with water to
provide feeding areas for overwintering migratory
birds. Water levels of the marsh are allowed to fluctuate with tides of the Indian River Lagoon during the
remainder of the year. Generally the best birding is
October through April along Black Point Marsh where
three habitats converge: salt marsh, marsh stream,
and interior impoundment. There are 3 weather shelters along the trail.
DIRECTIONS FROM VISITORS CENTER
Turn left out of the entrance road to the Visitors
Center. Turn right at the first intersection onto
SR 406 and follow the signs to Blackpoint Wildlife
Drive (BPWD). Enter BPWD. The Wild Bird trailhead
is at stop 4. Park on the right past the entrance to
the trail. The Cruickshank trailhead is
at stop 9.
SCRUB RIDGE
A 1 mile loop (1.6 km). Allow 30-40 minutes. The
trail offers a leisurely stroll through some of the most
unique habitat in Florida. The loop starts on a solid
sandy limestone trail that runs through scrub and
returns back over a grass covered road that runs
between a freshwater impoundment and scrub habitat. Scrub is a distinctive plant community found in
scattered locations throughout Florida. The Merritt
Island scrub community provides a home for more
endangered and threatened wildlife than any other
Florida habitat. Signs of wildlife may not be visible
at first glance. Look closely and you will probably see
tracks of endangered gopher tortoises, white tailed
deer, spotted skunks, bobcats and feral hogs. Watch
for the endangered and harmless indigo snake. You
may also see the tracks of sand lizards, scrub jays, or
the Florida mouse all of which live exclusively in
scrub habitat. Listen and look for a rich variety of
birds. One of the most common is the Eastern towhee
whose call sounds like “drink your tea.” Look for redbellied and pileated woodpeckers and northern flickers near the pines. During spring and fall migration
numerous songbirds can be seen flitting through the
pines. Look carefully for a very important resident, the
endangered Florida scrub jay. This colorful blue-gray
resident lives in family groups of 2-5 members establishing territories of 10-50 acres. Watch for sentries
posted on guard duty and listen for their warning call
as you approach.Scrub jays and other endangered
species can only survive if the unique scrub habitats
are protected and properly managed.
DIRECTIONS FROM VISITORS CENTER
Turn right out of the entrance road to the Visitors
Center. Go to the traffic light and turn left onto SR3.
Scrub Ridge Trail is 3.8 miles on the right. Follow
the dirt road 0.4 miles to the trailhead.
