Description:
This 24-mile stretch of undeveloped seashore is situated on a subtropical barrier island bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the east and brackish Mosquito Lagoon on the west. Hammocks of ancient oaks, salt marshes, mangrove islands, and dunes covered with sea oats, seagrape, and palmetto shelter wildlife between the island's shores. There are several nature trails, an Indian midden, and a canoe trail.
Watchable Wildlife:
The Atlantic beach is a critical summer nesting ground for loggerhead and green sea turtles. Mosquito lagoon provides refuge for manatees during the spring and summer. Bottle-nosed dolphins are often seen in both the ocean and Mosquito Lagoon. Brown pelicans and ospreys are year-round residents, while many species of shorebirds forage along the beach during winter months. Gulls, terns, and black skimmers are common.
Ownership:
National Park Service
Contact:
(321) 267-1110
Directions:
Canaveral has two access points: New Smyrna Beach to the north, and Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge to the south.
Related Sites:
Other East Central Florida Wildlife Sites
Florida State Parks
National Park Service Site
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