Paddling on the Space Coast Pg 3 Brevard County FL Kayaking

Merritt Island NWR - Haulover Canal

The best location on Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge from which to view dolphins and manatees, Haulover Canal is a passageway between the Indian River and Mosquito Lagoon. Just to the west lies a significant colonial waterbirds nesting island. Mullethead Island and its surrounding grass flats provide an opportunity to view a variety of birds from the water’s level. In the late spring, there’s a good chance you’ll see Roseate Spoonbills and Reddish Egrets feeding their young. Other egrets and herons as well as Brown Pelicans and cormorants nest on the island.

From the east end of the canal, look toward the southern end of Mosquito Lagoon, where Space Shuttle launch pads and the Vehicle Assembly Building stand as monuments to space exploration. Mosquito Lagoon is great for unobstructed views of space launches.

Directions: Cross the Titusville Bridge and head toward the Black Point Wildlife Dr. Go past the Drive to the stop sign at SR 3. Turn left and go 4.5 miles north, crossing the bridge over the Canal. Take the first left at the bottom of the bridge, across from the Manatee Viewing Platform sign. Follow the road around, turn right and pass through a gate. The road now parallels the canal. At the end is a sandy beach for launching.

Caution: Like many similar nesting islands in the state, Mullethead Island is protected and posted. Please stay offshore of the signs to avoid disturbing the bird. DO NOT go on the island. Paddling in the estuaries within Merritt Island NWR and Canaveral National Seashore is encouraged; however, due to disturbance to wading birds and waterfowl, paddling is not permitted within impound areas inside the dikes.

321-861-0667
www.abouttitusville.com/outdoors
www.fws.gov/merrittisland
www.nbbd.com/godo/minwr

Cold Light –
Black Night Bioluminescent Kayaking

When the conditions are just right, Haulover Canal is the best place in Florida to experience a wonderful phenomenon while paddling on moonless summer nights. Shortly after sunset, you will slowly begin to see swirls from your paddle produce a flow in the water that is caused by bioluminescence – living lights in the water. As it gets darker you will discover that you can see almost everything from schools of darting fish to manatees and dolphins. Even the flow of water generates a ghostly radiance as tiny luminous organisms scattered through the shimmering sea grass sparkle like flickering stars. In bioluminescence, electrons are excited by very efficient chemical reaction that generates no heat at all, hence the name “cold light.” Bioluminescent creatures are beautiful, fascinating, and critical to the very existence of most marine life. They are also

little known and under appreciated because so few people have the opportunity to see them with their own eyes. As soon as you leave the canal and paddle out over the shallow flats, schools of mullet explode all around the boats – it looks like popcorn on the surface and fireworks down below. Mullet hurtle through the air, colliding with kayaks, leaping over bows and sometimes smacking right into paddlers. The combination of pitch-black darkness and the emerald green splashes from airborne mullet, the meteoric streaks of fish that choose to swim instead of fly, the profusion of multi-colored light-sticks dangling from exuberant paddlers, the reflections of stars in the mirror-still water, persistent distant flashes of lighting, low rumbling thunder, and the taste and smell of salt-laden air is a marvelous cornucopia for all five human senses. It is a pleasure to just sit still and listen to shrieks of joy and laughter coming from delighted kayakers – few, of course, have ever experienced anything like this.

WSEG Boat Ramp, Dummit Cove & Max Brewer Causeway

Merritt Island NWR has several other notable paddling areas. The WSEG Boat Ramp, located 3.7 miles north of Haulover Canal, provides access to Mosquito Lagoon. From the ramp, a 2.5 mile paddle across the lagoon takes you to a collection of islands and waterways within the most remote area of Canaveral National Seashore, accessible only by boat. If you like fishing, large schools of redfish that congregate in this part of the lagoon are legendary. Check out Dummit Cove, located 2.1 miles south of Haulover Canal. Providing access to the Indian River Lagoon, Dummit Cove is somewhat sheltered and can be an interesting place to visit on windy days when paddling on the open waters of the lagoon becomes difficult. The east end of the Max Brewer Causeway in Titusville is another good place to launch from. Launch in on the south side of the causeway to access Gator Creek, Brock’s Point and Peacock’s Pocket near the mouth of Banana Creek. This is the closest area on the water from which to view Space Shuttles take off and land; the launch pads are just nine miles from the mouth of the creek, and the landing strip is 2.5 miles away. Banana Creek itself is closed to the public.

Callalisa Park

Ponce Inlet and Callalisa Creek are easily accessible from Callalisa Park. From the park it is a two-mile paddle north to reach Ponce Inlet. A restored lighthouse is located on the north side of the inlet. Low tide exposes large sandbars near the inlet, preferred loafing spots for impressive numbers of birds, especially in winter. Baitfish activity at the inlet’s mouth attracts numbers of large seabirds like Northern Gannets, which put on a spectacular show as they crash into waters near the inlet’s mouth. From the park, paddle south under the bridge to enter Callalisa Creek, a tidal stream through salt marsh and mangroves on the north end of Canaveral National Seashore. Wading birds are common, and encounters with manatees and dolphins possible.

Directions: Take SR 44 east from either I-95 or US 1 in New Smyrna Beach. After you cross the high bridge, turn left at the first traffic light onto Peninsula Ave. Callalisa Park is immediately on the left.

Caution: The areas around Ponce Inlet as well as inland waters in the north end of Mosquito Lagoon are tidal with sections that are exposed to wind and currents that can sometimes be rapid and dangerous. There is little, if any, tidal influence in the southern end of Mosquito Lagoon.

Where to Stay	Adventure Guide	Things To Do	Calendar Of Events
Special Packages	How To Get Here	Group Travel	Newsletters

Merritt Island NWR - Haulover Canal

Cold Light – Black Night Bioluminescent Kayaking

WSEG Boat Ramp, Dummit Cove & Max Brewer Causeway

Callalisa Park

Cold Light –
Black Night Bioluminescent Kayaking