|
Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail
Segment 21
Indian River/Pelican Island
Emergency contact info:
-
911
-
Indian River County Sheriff’s Office:
772-569-6700
-
Brevard County Sheriff’s Office:
321-264-5100, 321-633-7162
-
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission 24-hour wildlife emergency/boating under the influence
hotline: 1-888-404-3922
Begin: Ft. Pierce
Inlet State Park
End: Front Street
Park in Melbourne
Distance: 46-47
miles
Duration: 3.5 days
Special Considerations:
Boat traffic can be heavy along the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW),
especially on weekends and holidays. Paddling along the high energy East
Coast shoreline is not recommended due to safety considerations. While
some calm periods may make it suitable for paddling the coastal
shoreline, conditions can change abruptly and few inlets allow paddlers
to move to more sheltered waters.
Introduction
Covering the
middle section of the Indian River Lagoon, considered to be North
America’s most diverse estuary, this segment incorporates premier state
and county parks, federal land, numerous spoil islands, and a
traditional fish camp. Paddlers are almost guaranteed to spot sea
turtles, manatees, dolphins and a wide variety of bird life.
A highlight is
the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge, where paddlers can cruise
along the small island rookery that marked the beginning of the National
Wildlife Refuge System. For more information, log onto
http://www.fws.gov/pelicanisland/. Two scenic state parks are
covered, Ft. Pierce Inlet and Sebastian Inlet. Both of these parks link
the Indian River Lagoon with the sparkling Atlantic Coast. Paddlers can
land in safe waters and visit sandy Atlantic beaches on foot if desired.
For more information, log onto
www.floridastateparks.org.
This segment
also covers the Indian River - Malabar to Vero Beach and the Indian
River - Vero Beach to Ft. Pierce aquatic preserves. A purpose of both
preserves is to highlight the ecological and economic importance of the
Indian River Lagoon since the entire natural system is estimated to
generate more than $800 million in annual revenue to the local economy.
Preserve efforts have helped to reconnect mangrove marshes and seagrass
beds that act as nursery grounds to recreationally and commercially
important species, such as snook, grouper, snapper, seatrout, tarpon,
and lobster. Also, many species of
migratory waterfowl winter in the Indian River Lagoon.
Of
special benefit to the paddling trail, aquatic preserve staff and
volunteers work from October through April of each year to enhance the
numerous spoil islands along the ICW by creating campsites, installing
fire rings and picnic tables, blazing trails, stabilizing shorelines,
removing trash and exotic species, and building informational kiosks.
Many groups have adopted spoil islands and regularly remove debris and
do enhancement work. Some of the recommended campsites in this guide
have been enhanced through these efforts. For more information about the
aquatic preserves, log onto
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/programs/aquatic.htm.
Leave
No Trace principles should be utilized for any primitive camping
outlined in this guide. To learn more about Leave No Trace principles,
log onto:
http://www.lnt.org/main.html.
This
guide covers some of the spoil islands available for camping, but for
free comprehensive guides to spoil islands in the Indian River Lagoon,
call the Florida Inland Navigation District: 561-627-3386.
Also, for maps and information about current spoil island enhancement
projects, check out the Indian River Lagoon Spoil Island Website at
http://spoilislandproject.org.
1. Ft. Pierce Inlet
State Park to Gifford Point, 14.5 miles
Once a place
where U.S. Navy Frogmen trained for the D-Day invasion in World War II,
Ft. Pierce Inlet State Park offers a great rest stop and beach. You can
launch or land along a sandy stretch on the north side of the inlet near
Dynamite Point, named for the activities of the Navy Underwater
Demolition Team (see map). From here, you can access restrooms, the
picnic area, beaches and a short nature trail.
Several
islands near the park along the ICW are available for camping. Many
local paddlers recommend Island #SL2, otherwise known as Run-a-Muck
Island. This is about a mile from Round Island, a popular place for
paddlers and a good place to spot bottlenose dolphins and manatees.
There is a county-run kayak launch at Round Island along with restrooms
and water.
2. Gifford Point to
Island #IR5, 11.5 miles
As you head
north, you can follow the narrowing ICW on the east side of Pine Island,
or you can paddle on the shallower west side and avoid most of the boat
traffic.
North of the
Wabasso Causeway, where you can take a rest break with full amenities,
hug the shallower eastern side of the lagoon along several scenic
islands. Eventually, you’ll come to tiny Pelican Island, part of the
Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge. This island was the last known
brown pelican rookery along the east coast at the turn of the twentieth
century. Diligently defended by German immigrant Paul Kroegel, he
convinced President Theodore Roosevelt to formally protect the island in
1903, helping to spawn the national wildlife refuge system. Today, the
system is comprised of 540 units in all 50 states and includes American
Samoa, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Johnson Atoll, Midway Atoll and
several other Pacific islands. From the Jungle Trail Road off AIA, you
can access this area via a remote kayak launch (see map).
While you
can’t land on Pelican Island, you can observe the birds from a safe
distance. Besides pelicans, you may also spot wood storks, anhingas,
cormorants, American oystercatchers and several types of wading birds.
From Pelican
Island, curve around to the ICW where Island #IR5 is located. A nearby
boat ramp in the town of Sebastian will enable you to access several
restaurants within easy walking distance. Biologists have noted that the
area between Pelican Island and Sebastian Inlet is a nursery ground for
juvenile green sea turtles.
Another
choice for camping, or a good rest stop, is Sebastian Inlet State Park.
If camping, the best place to land is opposite the boat ramp where you
can carry or wheel your kayak a hundred yards or so to a campsite.
Reservations are recommended, especially in late winter/early spring.
Call Reserve America at 1-800-326-3521 or log onto
http://www.reserveamerica.com/.
In
1715, a Spanish fleet laden with gold and silver from Mexico and Peru
wrecked in the vicinity of the park. Most than a thousand sailors made
it to shore. Some died from exposure to the elements, but many more
would have perished if not for the generosity of Ais Indians. When
salvagers from Havana finally arrived, they recovered only half the
treasure. Modern-day treasure hunters found a sunken ship laden with
gold and jewelry. The McLarty Treasure Museum, located within the park
off A1A, highlights the shipwreck and treasure salvage.
Just past the
state park is another campground with full amenities, Long Point County
Park (see map). For more information about reserving a site, log onto
http://www.campingspacecoast.com/rv_tent/longpoint.htm or call
321-952-4532.
Yet another
camping option in the vicinity is Donald MacDonald County Park, less
than two miles up the Sebastian River. Camping at the shaded campground
is on a first-come, first serve basis. Call
772-589-0087 for more information.
3. Island #IR5 to
island #BC38, 13 miles
Besides Sebastian Inlet State Park (see previous section) an interesting
stop along the way is the Honest John’s Fish Camp on Mullet Creek, one
of the last of the Old Florida style fish camps along the east coast. An
1890s pioneer home and a vintage train depot exist on grounds. Kayak
rentals, snacks and cold drinks are available. Fishing in the area is
legendary.
The camp was named for Honest John, otherwise known as the Cracker of
all Crackers. He was best known for his fishing exploits and for his
aversion to wearing shoes. At his funeral, all of his pallbearers were
in bare feet.
For a grocery stop, your best bet is a Winn Dixie supermarket on the
mainland about a mile north of the mouth of the Sebastian River. You can
land along the shore, climb the bank to U.S. 1, and the supermarket is
across the road (see map).
The Island #BC38 campsite is on the southwest side.
4. Island #BC38 to
Front Street Park in Melbourne, 7.5 miles
In this
stretch, several parks on the west bank offer good rest stops, while a
point of interest is the Melbourne Beach Park on the eastern shore.
Melbourne Beach was founded in the 1880s when Captain Rufus Beaujean
began sailing people to the island from the mainland. A railroad was
soon built from the pier to the beach. Several historic buildings exist
within easy walking distance of the park.
At the Front
Street Park boat ramp in Melbourne, you can easily access restrooms and
water along with nearby businesses and restaurants.
For a scenic
day trip, many paddlers enjoy wildlife-rich Turkey Creek in Palm Bay.
The upper portions of the creek wind beneath a hardwood forest canopy
and along steep sandy bluffs.
|