Articles Great Ride: Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge And Cocoa
Saturday, 04 August 2007 10:46
This run will take you through the open roads of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and the Cape Canaveral National Sea Shore . Once in the Wildlife Refuge you will be in the "Real Florida" where you will see plenty of wetlands and wildlife. Keep your eye out for alligators as they are often spotted in the canals or out sunning along the road. Take a break at Bairscove to see if the manatees are in. Then, continue down to Cocoa and enjoy the beautiful sites of Tropical Trail as it continues down to a narrow peninsula. You will see multi million dollar homes and spectacular views of the inter-coastal as you ride next to the water's edge.
You can pick up this ride at any point along the route depending on the direction you are coming from. If you travel the full route you should log approximately 165 miles for the day. Please remember all mileage is approximate.
From the intersection of SR 408 and SR 50:
| Travel East on SR 50 | 25.50 miles |
| Turn Left on US 1 North | 4.1 miles |
| Turn Right on Max Brewer CR 402 East | 7.5 miles |
| Turn Left on Biolab Road (at light) | 7 miles |
| Turn Left into Bairscove | .7 miles |
| REST STOP: | Follow down to boat ramp and manatee viewing area. Take precautions when traveling down this road as it can have gravel and pot holes. |
| Go back out to Biolab Road | .7 miles |
| Turn Left on Biolab Road | 9 miles |
| Turn Left on US 1 South | 37 miles |
| Turn Left onto SR 520 East | 1.7 miles |
| Turn Right onto Tropical Trial | 5.6 miles |
| Turn Right onto South Tropical Trail | 11 miles |
| Turn Left onto SR 513 North | 4.5 miles |
| Turn Left on SR 404 West | 2.7 miles |
| Turn Right on US 1 North | 24.2 miles |
| Turn Left on SR 405 West | 4.5 miles |
| Turn Left on SR 50 West | 20 miles |
| End back at SR 408 and SR 50 | |
| EXTRA STOP: | Instead of turning Left onto Biolab Road. Continue straight through the light to Playalinda Beach. It is one of the last remaining clothing optional beaches in Florida. There is an entrance fee to get in. |
| FOOD: | I can’t think of Titusville without Dixie Crossroads coming to mind. They always have fresh seafood and are famous for their rock shrimps (like baby lobsters). To get here, turn Right onto Garden Street as you are coming back through Titusville after the Merritt Island Wildlife refuge. They will be on your left. |
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