Trip Overview
Next to the Kennedy Space Center and Canaveral Air Force Base is 140,000 acres of pristine wilderness known as the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (MINWR). Mangroves edge the water and provide habitat for alligators, manatees, dolphins, and hundreds of different species of birds. In fact, The MINWR is home to the one of the largest populations of the endangered scrub jay, and a number of wood stokes. In other words, this is a birding paradise, and the best way to see many of these creatures is from a kayak. As an added bonus, sometimes you can see a rocket being prepared for launch peeking over the horizon to your south!
The paddle is about 5 miles roundtrip - expect to be out for about 3.5 - 4 hours.
