map MIWR TOUR

Merrit Island Wildlife Refuge Tour

Wildlife Refuge

First stop

Drivable trails

Gator creek trail

Information and gift shop

Hybrid trail options

Observation deck

Walkable trails

Black Point Wildlife Drive/walk

Watching manatees

Hammock trails

Manatee observation deck

From the observation deck, you are given several historical facts about the land, and about the manatees! There are also several peices of information about them and thier eating, traveling, and other observable habbits. This is clearly meant to grow your appreciation for them! I did see one manatee, but they don't photograph well from such distances. It is wonderful to see them swimm, just below the surface.

Black point trail Or drive

Black point wildlife drive includes a pamphlet for either walkers or drivers, with two separate trails for either. Walking only cost a few dollarsz, whereas driving costs ten per vichicle (veterans and certain seniors also got free access to these trails) The driving trails had several checkpoint stops for the drivers to look for key features such as mud flats, signs of life, and migration.

Hammock Trails

When it comes to the walkable trails, there is so much information too be found, just along the paths. This trail is named after "hardwood hammocks" that form when plants of northern and southern latitudes intermingle. They are protected and house significant amounts of diverse species. The trail was set with gravel, to keep matintence low.

Photo from North Brevard Business directory

https://nbbd.com/godo/minwr/index.html

Gator creek is one of many Drivable trails available

Welcome to the MIWR

Merrit Island Wildlife Refuge

A wildlife refuge is different from a state park because the main focus of a refuge is to protect the life there, and parks tend to prioritize the visitors.

Many more oppertunities

There are many other stops along the way, including the Visitor’s center, Beaches, accessible trails, campsites, and many many more. While I was scouting, however, there were many that were closed or unavaible to me. As one of the volunteers explained, you Could spend days on the refuge and never see everything there is to see.