Throughout 1,700 acres of flatwoods and scrub surrounding a collection of linear wetlands west of the Indian River Lagoon, see sandhill cranes and Florida scrub-jays alongside this pair of loop hikes.
Interstate 95 bisects the protect. With two entrances, its East Tract lies between the interstate and US 1, simpler to entry and higher for climbing.
Mountaineering the Crimson PathThe 6.5 mile Crimson Path circles the complete East Tract, however spends a protracted stretch inside earshot of the interstate in some seasonally soggy habitats.
Our 6.1 mile route cuts out a sometimes moist nook of the protect by pairing a South Loop on the Crimson Path utilizing the White Path as a crossover with the Blue Path on the north finish.
The Crimson and Blue Trails share the northeast portion of the loopEquestrians and hikers even have the choice of the Yellow Path, a separate 4.3 mile loop by the East Tract following outdated roads.
Given its remoteness from a trailhead, the West Tract is favored by equestians approaching by way of the grassy greenway adjoining the Brevard C2C bike path north of Aurantia Rd.
Entry level to West Tract off Brevard C2CSources
Overview
Location: ScottsmoorLength: As much as 6.1 milesTrailhead: 28.764242,-80.881636Address: 4055 Magoon Ave, ScottsmoorFees: FreeRestroom: On the trailheadLand supervisor: Brevard CountyPhone: 321-256-4466
Day use solely. No pets. Parts of the path system might flood. Use climbing follow navigate stretches of extraordinarily uneven, tender footing.
Mountain bikes are welcome, however each wetlands and hog harm churning up the path current a critical problem.
Equestrian use is restricted to present roads and trails posted for his or her use. Not one of the trailheads have house for horse trailers.
Instructions
Hike
From the parking space in Parrish Park, observe the worn path in entrance of the ballfield due south to the path kiosk at a fence surrounding Scottsmoor Flatwoods Sanctuary.
Step by the hole and cross a broad grassy firebreak to a crimson and yellow-tipped submit,the beginning of the clockwise loops of the Crimson and Yellow Trails.
Path kiosk on the north fringe of Parrish ParkMove a big reside oak earlier than the path splits. Follow the Crimson Path, taking the proper fork in the direction of a line of pines.
Ascend into scrubby flatwoods, the understory an expanse of gallberry, shiny lyonia, and noticed palmetto.
Scrubby flatwoodsAmid palm fronds, drop by a drainage. Fluffy younger longleaf pines grace a curve. Emerge at a broad firebreak with a crimson and white-tipped submit on its far aspect.
The South Loop diverges behind the submit at 0.2 mile. Bear left to remain on the Crimson Path in a hall outlined by noticed palmetto and younger pines.
A small copse of scrubby oaks and a line of cabbage palms break up partitions of gallberry.
Begin of the South Loop is simply previous the firebreakGleaming a viscous crimson within the sunshine, sundews poke by the grassy footpath. These tiny carnivorous crops thrive in barely damp acidic soil.
Throughout from a gap to the paralleling Yellow Path, glimpse one of many linear moist prairies to the west.
An historic shoreline defines this panorama, the wetlands trapped in swales between the north-south dune ridges.
Moist prairieWind by the flatwoods understory, crossing the equestrian path at a half mile. Gaining elevation, swing proper previous the subsequent yellow submit.
Enter a drier, extra scrubby habitat. The decrease understory affords panoramic views throughout a palmetto prairie.
Palmetto prairiePast an expanse of white sand street, stroll amid prime scrub-jay habitat with myrtle and Chapman oaks.
Transition into pine flatwoods briefly earlier than re-entering the palmetto prairie. Cross the white sand street a second time right into a panoramic expanse.
A seasonal array of wildflowers delights, with the purple blooms of deer’s tongue a standout in fall and winter.
Transition to flatwoodsBecause the density of pines will increase, the habitat shifts to moist flatwoods. A grassy and clearly damp street bisects the path at 1.1 miles and runs parallel to it briefly round a bend.
The understory is grassier, the noticed palmetto extra relaxed. Examine the sides of the path for extra delicate blossoms.
Curving by the southeast nook of the tractCross that very same street twice extra within the subsequent quarter mile. Turning away from it, traverse a low ridge the place a forest of oaks and pines is studded with cabbage palms.
Assembly the Yellow Path, the Crimson Path joins it at a pointy proper. A showy expanse of moist prairie opens up forward, a plank boardwalk bridging it at 1.5 miles.
Boardwalk over moist prairieMake a proper on the crimson and yellow-tipped submit, veering left quickly after onto the broad path into an immersive pine flatwoods.
Excessive and dry, this wholesome habitat occupies a lot of the southern finish of the protect and is a delight to stroll by. Songbirds flit by the branches.
South finish of the loopBecause the path turns west, the flatwoods change into scrubby. We encountered a scrub-jay household a bit of earlier than the turnoff to the south entrance to the protect at 1.9 miles.
It’s a walk-in entrance from a neighborhood, out of view of a junction with two red-tipped posts. Flip proper to remain on the loop.
Stroll-in trailheadAiming north, the Crimson Path continues by lush pine flatwoods, crossing a prairie swale with St. Johns Wort. It’s the primary spot previous the boardwalk the place you could have to wade.
Rise right into a drier flatwoods the place pond pines make their first look. These skinny pines are simply distinguised by needles rising out of their trunks.
Prairie swaleProceed a gradual climb, and loblolly pines predominate over the noticed palmetto lining the path.
Hemmed in by palm fronds, the footpath narrows because it twists and winds. Because the sound of the interstate will increase, glimpse a prairie past the pines.
Slender hallBe part of the Yellow Path at 2.3 miles to spherical a big marsh. Look ahead to the red-tipped submit to veer off the equestrian path into the pines.
The noticed palmetto are taller and older alongside this hall. Scattered cabbage palms and dahoon holly rise above them.
Regardless of the density of the understory, the mesic flatwoods are drenched with site visitors noise on this aspect of the protect.
Alongside the marshA deep dip within the footpath among the many noticed palmetto might maintain water. Intersect a grassy firebreak at 2.7 miles, interstate site visitors seen to the west.
Cross the Yellow Path a tenth of a mile later. Extra grassy openings punctuate the forest because the path twists and winds.
Ascend into scrubby flatwoods earlier than the subsequent Yellow Path crossing, returning to mesic flatwoods quickly after.
Yellow Path crossingAn extended straighaway yields to grassy curves the place water collects typically sufficient to nourish spagnum moss. Whereas largely dry, these flatwoods have their low spots.
Meet the junction with the White Path at 3.4 miles. Proceed straight forward, now following white-tipped posts. Gently rise over a ridge inside a drier pine forest.
Becoming a member of the White PathMerge into the Yellow Path briefly in a grassy space, diverging to traverse a sometimes-wet grassy swale.
Proceed alongside a broad two-track street amid the pines, expecting a blazed turnoff to the proper at 3.6 miles.
Grassy swaleAscending one other ridge between the central moist prairies, observe the light curves of the path underneath the pines.
Attain the conclusion of the White Path at 3.8 miles. Flip left onto the Crimson Path, retracing its route again to Parrish Park to finish a 4.1 mile hike.
Nearing the White/Crimson path junctionCrossing the park to the parking space, proceed straight forward in the direction of a gate. Simply past it’s the trailhead kiosk for the north finish of Scottsmoor Flatwoods.
The Crimson and Yellow Trails begin counterclockwise from right here, in addition to the Blue Loop. Flip left previous the kiosk to start out.
Entry level for Blue LoopBlazed with posts tipped crimson and blue, the hall edged by palms and oaks yields to pine flatwoods. After 0.2 mile, flip proper at a T junction.
The footpath is accented by a bounty of blooms every spring. Wild bachelor’s button grows in profusion; grass-pinks wave within the breeze.
April is prime time for wildflowersCross a firebreak at 0.4 mile and proceed alongside a line of pines right into a palmetto prairie. Low-bush blueberries develop alongside the sides of the footpath, ripening in late April.
Inside earshot of US 1, wind previous a stand of pond pines on the japanese aspect of the the protect.
These bushy-looking pines emerge from the encompassing sea of palmettos because the path progresses.
Blueberries ripeningAt a mile, alongside the northern fringe of the protect, the Yellow Path turns in from a firebreak and joins the Crimson and Blue Path.
All three share an arc by the mesic flatwoods for a tenth of a mile to the subsequent junction.
Crossing the flatwoodsFlip left to proceed on the Blue Path, broad and carpeted in pine duff. At first, bracken fern obscures the forest ground, however because the path descends, cinnamon fern edges the trail.
Returning to mesic flatwoods, anticipate some dampness within the grassy path round 1.5 miles, the place a moist prairie occupies a swale past the pines to the west.
Prairie after a prescribed burnParallel this landform till the pathway turns east, shortly reaching a crimson and blue-tipped submit to finish the Blue Loop.
Flip proper to stroll between the cabbage palms and pines to exit, reaching the trailhead after 1.9 miles on the Blue Loop, 6.1 miles for the total hike.
Sealing the Blue LoopPath Map
Discover Extra!
Video
Mountaineering Scottsmoor Flatwoods Sanctuary
Slideshow
See our images from Scottsmoor Flatwoods Sanctuary
Close by Adventures
Path Map (PDF) Official Web site
Articles collectively researched, written, and photographed by Sandra Buddy & John Keatley, Florida authors and publishers of FloridaHikes.com.
