Spruce Creek Park
A 1.5 mile combination of boardwalk and pathways through cedars and pines borders the Rose Creek estuary. The trail leads to an observation tower, where you’ll find a rugged loop into the woods and a spur trail that takes you out on forest roads to Rose Bay.
Directions: Located between Port Orange and New Smyrna on U.S. 1, north of Spruce Creek on the west side of the highway. The trail starts at the playground. Free.
386-322-5133
Smyrna Dunes Park
Enjoy this 1.4-mile boardwalk around the tip of this scenic cape along the Mosquito Lagoon at Ponce Inlet, traversing maritime hammock, massive coastal dunes, and mangrove marshes. Spot a variety of birds without leaving the boardwalk. Watch for gopher tortoises as you pass over pristine coastal scrub habitat.
Directions: Take Peninsula Blvd. north from SR 44 in New Smyrna Beach. The park is at the end of the road on the right. Fee.
386-424-2935
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North Canaveral National Seashore
Showcasing the maritime forest and coastal habitats of a barrier island, the Turtle Mound, Eldora Hammock, and Castle Windy nature trails of Canaveral Nat’l Seashore provide 1.5 miles of pleasant hiking. The middle section of the Seashore has no vehicular access, but a 12-mile dike trail connects the north and south ends, allowing for a wilder experience viewing the lagoon and its wildlife. A hike down the beach reveals the coast of Florida as it looked when early Spanish explorers arrived – a wilderness of endless sand and dunes.
Directions: Take SR 44 east from New Smyrna to A1A. Go south 7 miles to the park entrance. Ask for a trail map at the entrance station. Fee.
386-428-3384
Lake Ashby Park
A network of 1.5 miles of nature trails meanders through hardwood hammocks and floodplain forests along the shores of Lake Ashby, leading to a boardwalk that passes through impressive cypress trees and along the open waters of the lake.
Directions: Follow SR 44 west 4.5 miles from I-95 (or east 10 miles from I-4) to its junction with CR 415 in Satsuma. Turn south and drive 4.2 miles on CR 415 to Lake Ashby Rd; turn left. After 0.7 mile, turn left on Boy Scout Camp Rd. Continue to the park entrance on the right. Free.
386-428-4589
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