Map of canaveral national seashore portable#
Map of canaveral national seashore plus#

In summer, camping is banned to allow nesting by sea turtles and shorebirds. Overnight beach camping on Panther Key is OK from October through April, and no permit is required. The 100-mile Wilderness Waterway in Everglades National Park is popular with adventurers who paddle from Everglades City to Cape Sable, overnighting on islands and tiki platforms along the way. Two of our favorite destinations in the Ten Thousand Islands are Panther Key and Tiger Key, but you’ll find many worthy camping destinations among these islands off the coast of Southwest Florida. Ten Thousand Islands Beach camping by boat Our campsite on Panther Key Call ahead if you are unsure whether you can leave your vehicle overnight. Here’s a link to the state boat ramp map to find a ramp near your destination. Near Sebastian Inlet, you’ll find ramps at Sebastian Inlet State Park, Long Point Park, Donald McDonald Park and Sebastian Main Street Public Boat Ramp. Getting there: There are numerous public and private boat ramps with access to the islands all along the lagoon. Brevard County Spoil Islands MapĬamping allowed only on Recreational Islands (Green) BrevardCountySpoilIslandsĬamping allowed only on Recreational Islands (Green) IndianRiverCountySpoilIslandsĬamping allowed only on Recreational Islands (Green) SaintLucieSpoilIslandsĬost: No fee to camp, but there may be fees for boat ramp and overnight parking. The islands are managed by the state Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the same folks who manage our state parks, under the umbrella of the Spoil Islands Project. On weekends, you’ll often find boaters using the islands for picnics and sandbar parties, so arrive early to stake out your own island.

Map of canaveral national seashore portable#

(An inexpensive portable toilet is not a bad idea.) There are no restroom facilities on any of the islands. Visitors must pack out not just their trash, but all human and pet waste as well. Fires are prohibited during local or state-wide fire bans. Campfires are allowed but must be contained to fire rings. Many of these islands have designated camping areas with picnic tables and fire rings, but that’s about it. As a result, most are close to Intracoastal and other navigation channels. They are spoil islands built up from sand dredged to deepen channels in the Intracoastal Waterway. Most of the islands in the lagoon are not natural. There are dozens of spoil islands in the Indian River Lagoon that are open to camping, extending south from Cocoa south to Fort Pierce. Indian River Lagoon Dozens of spoil islands easily accessible by boat, kayak, canoe Camping on a spoil island in the Indian River (Photo by John J Massung) Know your forecast and your tides and plan accordingly. Weather is a critical element of any island expedition, especially when you’re crossing open water. Tents, cabins and a ferry to get you there.Tent camping by ferry or seaplane out of Key West.Tent camping via motorboat, sail or kayak.Backcountry camping, Canaveral National Seashore.Dozens of spoil islands easily accessible by boat, kayak, canoe.Parking lots fill quickly, so it’s best to arrive early. A beach wheelchair is available, ask at the fee booth.

Guided tours and programs are available, so call ahead for details or check the information center for a schedule when you arrive. Several short trails through maritime hammock are productive for Painted Buntings and migratory songbirds (Castle Windy Trail is recommended). Rarities like Long-tailed Duck, Cory’s Shearwater, and Iceland Gull have been recorded. Pomarine and Parasitic Jaegers are often spotted harassing terns and gulls, and there is always a chance of seeing Black Terns in August and September. They provide birders the opportunity to scope for seabirds and ducks in fall and winter small flocks of Black and Surf Scoters may be seen between November and March. As you drive southward, there are multiple beach access points on the east side, each with elevated boardwalks/platforms on the dune line. Continue south and pick up a bird checklist at the information center, where you can also check the lagoon.

A viewing platform atop the mound is a perfect vantage point to scan the lagoon or ocean for birds. Get a map at the entrance station and proceed to Turtle Mound on the right (west) side of the road, just prior to parking area #2.

Map of canaveral national seashore plus#

Twenty-four miles of undeveloped beach, acres of maritime hammock and coastal strand, plus the Mosquito Lagoon and associated mudflats ensure great birding at this barrier island preserve.