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 Visitors are always welcome!
Begin your day with a stop into the visitor center to receive an orientation to the refuge. Interactive wildlife and habitat exhibits, maps and brochures, and educational videos about the refuge and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are available for viewing upon request. Also located at the center is a nature orientated bookstore which stocks environmental educational materials. A 1/4-mile handicap-accessible boardwalk adjacent to the center offers great views of a freshwater pond and hammock habitats and associated wildlife.
For more information on visiting the refuge, visit the official Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge website at http://www.fws.gov/merrittisland/
Walking Trails, Wildlife Drives, and Observation Platforms
The refuge offers a number of outdoor facilities and trails which are great places for students to explore interact and enjoy the natural world. The following describes the outdoor facilities and trails available for school trips.
Oak Hammock and Palm Hammock Trails share a common parking lot and are located one mile from the visitor center. Oak Hammock is a 3/4 mile trail posted with interpretive signs that explain the ecology of the hammock community. Palm Hammock Trail is a two-mile walking loop.
Scrub Ridge Trail, located on SR 3, is a one-mile loop through scrub habitat. Interpretive displays explain the importance of this habitat and the role of fire in Florida's ecosystems.
Black Point Wildlife Drive is a 6-mile one-way drive through salt and freshwater marshes and it is a great place for viewing wildlife. A self-guided brochure is available that describes the habitat, wildlife and management of the area. Passenger vans and cars are permitted. However, due to safety issues, full size buses and vehicles over 29 feet and 2.5 tons are not permitted on the Drive. Midway along the drive is a parking lot which provides access to the Cruickshank Trail, a five-mile walking loop around a marsh. Located just a short walking distance from the parking lot is an observation tower that offers a grand overlook of the surrounding area.
Bio Lab Road is a five-mile two-way road that separates Mosquito Lagoon from an impounded marsh. It is an excellent area to observe wildlife and to compare natural and managed water systems.
Manatee Observation Deck is located at Haulover Canal, just north of the Sendler Education. The Observation Deck offers close views of these endangered animals.
An information kiosk and a handicap accessible observation tower share a common parking area at the west entrance. They are located along State Road 406. The kiosk contains informational displays and brochures and the observation tower overlooks an impoundment providing wildlife viewing. The refuge staff is ready to assist you in making your field trip an educational, fun and exciting experience.
We hope you enjoy Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge!
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