MerrittIsland

Pioneer Trail at Kings Park on Merritt Island

The Pioneer Trail, inside of Kings Park, could be the trail that you have been missing. Located in north Merritt Island, this 240-acre community park is largely a wetlands preserve. The paved, well-maintained trail is suitable for walkers, runners, or cyclists (mountain, hybrid, cruisers, or road bikes will all work here), perfect for your whole family to enjoy. If you go later in the afternoon or evening, you will find portions of the trail are shaded.

The Pioneer Trail is a straight 1.1-mile trail connecting E. Hall Road and Chase Hammock Road. A straight line without looping makes it not only impossible to get lost but safe and easy for even the most novice trail enthusiasts to use! You will likely cover 2.2 miles round trip unless you turn back early or take a side trail. The trail takes you along two ponds and other water features, with plenty of native Florida vegetation including wildflowers, grasses, palm trees, and more. Keep an eye out for alligators. With the opportunity to see more of this natural Florida scenery, you might want to wander down a side trail.

The small developed area at the northeast corner of the park features a multi-use field and paved parking that accommodates practice games and neighborhood play. A deep freshwater lake adjacent to the parking area offers a natural ramp for non-motorized boats. Another small lake, a canoe trail, and rustic nature trails invite exploration for the adventurous. Don’t forget your sun protection, extra water, and bug spray. There are restrooms, a pavilion, and picnic tables at either end of the trail.

Amenities:

Restroom

1.4-mile Pioneer trail.

Picnic area

1 Multi-use field

Canoe Launch,

Freshwater,

Non-motorized Access

Photo Credit and Author: Director Bobby Putnam

BioLab Road

BioLab Road at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

Take a slow 5.6-mile drive in the comfort of your car on Bio Lab Road in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. It is a one-way road running north to south. With wetlands to your right and the water to your left, you are sure to see plenty of shorebirds. Look for ducks, ibises, egrets, sandpipers, spoonbills, pelicans, herons, and of course, alligators. Be sure to bring your camera and binoculars.

In 1962, NASA purchased 140,000 acres of land located adjacent to Cape Canaveral. The John F. Kennedy Space Center was built complete with launch pads. In 1963, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFW) and NASA entered into an Interagency Agreement. This agreement allowed USFW to establish the land that was unused by NASA as the Merrit Island National Wildlife Refuge.

Established to provide habitat for wildlife diversity, migratory birds, and endangered and threatened species, Merrit Island National Wildlife Refuge consists of scrub, pine flatwoods, hardwood hammocks, saltwater marshes, freshwater impoundments, and coastal dunes. Over 1,500 species of plants and animals including 15 federally listed species make their homes here.

Watch for bobcats, otters, and deer. Lizards, snakes, alligators, and turtles make their homes here. 358 species of birds have been recorded at the refuge. Birds of prey include bald eagles, osprey, red-shouldered hawks, and American kestrels. Look for killdeer, Wilson’s snipes, and ring-billed gulls along the shore. Look up to see blue jays, barn swallows, American robins, pine warblers, and more. Blue herons, ibis, and egrets are plentiful. Ring-necked ducks, blue-winged teals, and wood ducks can be seen swimming in the waters at the refuge. Threatened and endangered species such as the eastern indigo snake, scrub-jay, gopher tortoise, wood stork, West Indian Manatee, and Southeastern Beach Mouse find refuge here.

For more information click here: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Merritt_Island/

Photo credit: David Gale

Cinnamon Teal

Cinnamon Teal Spatula cyanoptera (septentrionalium) –

This beautiful male Cinnamon Teal decided to visit Florida in February. As you can see in the map pictured below, these migratory ducks are native to the western US and Mexico. According to The Cornell Lab, “In western North America, loss of wetlands to agriculture, grazing, and especially the development of human settlements has meant the massive loss of habitat for Cinnamon Teal.”

We are sure this striking bird found plenty to eat in the wetlands at Merrit Island National Wildlife Refuge. There is certainly a wide variety of insects and vegetation year-round in Florida. While it is a rare occurrence, Cinnamon Teals do occasionally make a winter stop in Florida.

Photo Credit: Andy Waldo

Pioneer Trail at Kings Park on Merritt Island