Wilderness Hiking Trails, Space Coast Central

F. Burton Smith Regional Park
7575 King Street (Hwy 520), Cocoa
FROM I-95 go 3 miles west on SR-520, turn left into the park.
Open after 7:00 a.m. until dark, except for scheduled use.
This expansive 1,080-acre scenic park features two lakes, tributaries, and rustic or primitive camping. No motorized boats allowed.
A rustic tent camping site and woodland nature trail are on the south side of the lake. Another trail with botanical markers is located near the large pavilion.
Wildlife in the park includes migratory songbirds, ducks, wading birds hawk, osprey, alligator, armadillo, feral hog, raccoon, snake, turtle, whitetail deer.
ADA ACCESSIBLE: Parking, Restrooms, Pavilions, Playground.
GPS N 28 21.968 W 80 51.475
Google Satellite Image

Moss Park
12901 Moss Park RD , Orlando 32832
From I-95 take SR 528 26 miles to Florida 417 south, then stay on 417 for about 2 miles to Moss Park Road (Exit 23). Turn Left on Moss Park Road. Go one mile and take the second right to stay on Moss Park Road. Go 0.7 miles and turn right to stay on Moss Park Road. The entrance will be about two miles ahead on the left.
Located between two lakes, this large 1500 acre park offers many recreational opportunities and bird watching locations. Over 100 species of birds have been sighted there including sandhill crane, wild turkey, wood stork, and migratory songbirds along with deer and many other species.
Park Brochure
GPS N 28 22.877 W 81 11.375
Google Satellite Image

Split Oak Forest
Access by the "Swamp Trail" (0.6 miles) from Moss Park (above)
Split Oak Forest at 1800 acres has over 8 miles of hiking trails. The trails are divided into 3 loops: the 1 mile Lake Loop (blazed blue), the 3.2 mile North Loop (blazed green) and the 4.5 mile South Loop (blazed yellow). Also, there are two small spur trails: the Lake Hart Spur and the Bonnet Pond Spur. Each are accessible from the Lake Loop.
Out in the Boonies website
Trails Map
GPS N 28 21.903 W 81 11.812
Google Satellite Image

Cruickshank Sanctuary (Click tab for Cruickshank in new window)
360 Barnes Blvd, Rockledge
From US-1, turn west onto Barnes Blvd and travel 0.5 miles. The Sanctuary entrance is on the north side of the road. Bike rack provided.
Visitors to the Cruickshank Sanctuary can hike the 1 mile trail on the western portion of the 140-acre sanctuary. This trail winds through pine flatwoods habitat where raptors may be circling overhead or perched in high pine trees. Patches of oak, sand pine scrub, and freshwater depression marshes add to the Sanctuary's diversity. Wildlife on site includes migratory birds, Florida Scrub-jay, bobwhite quail, raptors, gopher tortoise, Eastern indigo snake, bobcat, and more.
Cruickshank Sanctuary Brochure and Map
GPS N 28 17.629 W 80 42.439
Google Satellite Image

River Lakes Conservation Area
River lakes Conservation Area is part of the Upper St. John's River Marsh Wildlife Management Area, and encompasses 36,156 acres of the St johns River Watershed from State Road 520 west of Cocoa to State Road 192 west of Melbourne, and includes lakes Poinsett, Winder and Washington. The one hiking access to the property is the Mocassin Island Trail. The trailhead is located at the very end of Wickham Road in Melbourne. From the trailhead have a choice of hiking to the North or to the South. The north section is about 2.5 miles and ultimately ends at an observation point near Lake Winder. The South section will take you 2.6 miles south and west to the Oak Hammock Loop, which is itself about 2 miles, near the St John's River. Among the wildlife species seen here are wood storks, bald eagles, and many other species associated with the vast wetlands. Portions of this trail system may be seasonally flooded.
Mocassin Island Trails Map
Property Map
GPS N 28 13.797 W 80 48.644
Google Satellite Image

Wickham Park
2500 Parkway Drive, Melbourne
321-255-4307
Wickam Park is a popular 391 acre park with semi-improved camping, about four miles of narrow trails that meander through oak hammocks, scrub, pine flatwoods, and along marshy streams for both equestrian and hiking use, a paved walking trail, two unguarded swimming ponds, and several more small ponds, equestrian facilities, and a dog park. Some of the species sighted here include Brownheaded Nuthatch, Bobwhite, Painted Bunting, Chuck-will’s-widow, Raptor, Killdeer, Migratory Songbirds.
Campground Website
Site Map
GPS N 28 09.471 W 80 39.802
Google Satellite Image

Merritt Island

Manatee Cove Park
4905 N Tropical Trail, Merritt Island
Parks Referendum Project
FROM US Hwy 1, go east 2.7 miles on SR-528 to the SR-3 Exit, then left onto Courtenay Parkway (SR-3) and go 3 miles. Turn left on Porcher Road, go 0.4 miles, then left on North Tropical Trail and go 0.2 miles to the park entrance.
A natural trail around the lagoon provides access for viewng of wading birds, waterfowl.
Open after sunrise until dusk, except for scheduled use.
GPS N 28 26.784 W 80 43.168
Google Satellite Image

Ulumay Wildlife Sancturary
805 Sykes Creek Parkway, Merritt Island
FROM US Hwy 1 go 2.9 miles east on SR-520, turn left and go about 0.5 miles on Sykes Creek Parkway. The park entrance is on the left.
Projecting into Sykes Creek at the southwest corner of the park is a pier commonly known as the Old Humpbacked Troll Bridge. There are also dikes along the impoundment with hiking trails.
ADA ACCESSIBLE: Fishing Pier
Open after 7:00 a.m. until dark.
GPS N 28 22.317 W 80 40.426
Google Satellite Image

Beachside

Samsoms Island
Samsons Island is a 52 acre island nature preserve owned by the City of Satellite Beach accessable only by boat. Except in inclement weather, the City provides free boat transportation each Sunday from the Satellite Beach Fire Station (1390 S. Patrick Drive). The boat, which holds 11 passengers, leaves at 1 p.m. (first come, first served) and returns from the island approx. at 3:30 p.m. Park at the Fire Station, and walk to the dock behind the Station. The island has three docks or landing platforms, walking trails, kayaking trails, and rustic campsites available by permit (a permit is required for anyone on the island after dusk).
Samsons Island Homepage
GPS (Fire Department) N 28 10.367 W 80 36.390
Google Satellite Image (Fire Department)
GPS (Samsons Island) N 28 10.997 W 80 36.685
Google Satellite Image (Sampsons Island)

Space Coast North	Space Coast Central	Space Coast South
Parks	Parks	Parks
Wilderness	Wilderness	Wilderness

Preferred Advertisers