Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge — Attraction in Orchid Island

We visited on a late Friday afternoon in late December 2024. The weather was great and driving down the jungle trail to the parking lot was a fun experience. We've experienced similar roads to some other National Wildlife Refuges we've visited.

At the parking lot there is a nice bathroom and signage/information about the refuge. We continued down the road to the Centennial Trail. Being the FIRST National Wildlife Refuge, it was befitting how they designed this trail. It starts at the most recent Wildlife Refuge and lists the year and goes back in time as you walk the entire trail/boardwalk. It was fun reminiscing on the different ones we've visited over the years and the kids trying to find their favorites. The trail ends at the observation tower and there are plenty are benches on the trail as well. It's a pretty gradual slope and I think is pretty wheelchair accessible.

We only had time to do the one trail but we did see other folks with bikes and a number of cars in the main parking lot. There was only 1 other car with us at the trail head parking. There was also a nice picnic bench area under a pavilion covering. There was also a very surprising lack of mosquitos, which probably means their mosquito program is working great. There were warning signs and low flying aircraft that they were using for mosquito control. Drones are not allowed at the refuge.

The one thing that jumped out to us was 1 car parked near the entrance to the centennial trail where a guy looked to be chasing his unleashed dog, who was running into the tall grass and brush barking wildly at something? I didn't say anything but I recall most wildlife refuges not allowing pets like dogs in the park and especially ones not on a leash. However, every unit can have it's own rules so maybe this one was an exception.

We would gladly return and explore more of this...

This Place is simply so beautiful,the Pelicans are just awesome .And not afraid of humans.!!! The park down the street is situated by the Intercoastal Waterway you can just site and watch the Dolfins are such a beautiful site to see jumping in and above water,such a beautiful Park and its almost always empty .The park is all yours . The locals who have been here for the past 20 or something years don't frequent it any more . As for me I love it and would never get quiet surrounded by such a scenic place with total Quiet. The Town is full of Down To Earth People Mithy friendly FOLKS . I love it here the Serenity is a Dream Come True,If you want a nice vacation with the Pelican Island Natural Wildlife and the abanded Park .Facing the intercoastal Waterways and full of Lots of History . One of the. Worlds most Famous Poet known for her Pomes about Anthology She is an AfricanAmerican named ZORA .No forgive me she was from FtPierce about 33 miles South of here if you are into Poetry check out her Work,I'm sure you will be Mithy Empressed .So if you are looking for a Place to Raise Your Children This is the place Sebastian,Florida .And a great place to retire in ..........Remember Its Noise Free and not hurried ..............And I've met the Children who were raised here and they are Really Nice Grown Adults .Well that's all for now Season is Coming soon still no Traffic..... Come On...

Walked the Centennial Trail, a National Recreation Trail, which is a 0.75-mile trail that begins as asphalt and, when reaching the water’s edge, continues as a boardwalk/bridge of molded plastic. The molded plastic planks used to construct the deck of the boardwalk have the names of all US National Wildlife Refuges and the year they were established. When you get to the end of the Centennial Trail, you’ll see the plank for Pelican Island NWR, established in 1903. The trail is short and, because of its construction, can accommodate strollers or wheelchairs. The observation platform at trail’s end provides views Pelican Island and the Indian River Lagoon. Pelican Island NWR has several other trails. While there I also hiked the Joe Michael Memorial Trail which is more of a marshland-type trail common in this part of Florida. The Wildlife Refuge does not have a visitor center. It does, however, have a...