Samsons Island Nature Park — Attraction in Satellite Beach

Sampsons Island is like a private butterfly preserve this time of year; we went in late August. Painted ladies, zebra longings, Emperors - they were flitting about everywhere. The only way to get to the island is by boat, and we kayaked there on a Sunday morning, and it was deserted save for the aforementioned wildlife. The pavilions are in good shape but we never did find the bathrooms (although there are signs). Bring plenty of water and use a stick when you walk - spider webs are strewn liberally across the trails. Mostly well kept, though we did see what appeared to be a large amount of camping trash in one...

Samson Island Nature Park is a nature preserve located in the Indian River Lagoon. Beautiful mangroves line the waterways, providing a stunning backdrop for kayaking in the Lagoon. This preserve is accessible by boat, canoe, or kayak. The park has miles of hiking trails to explore and observe Florida’s biodiversity. Primitive camping is available with permit, island has designated sites with very basic amenities; picnic tables, pedestal grills, and fire rings. Visitors can expect to see an abundance of bird life, few manatees, and other native wildlife. Yes, that includes bugs, bring your preferred...

We launched our kayaks from Desoto park and it was a 45min kayak trip to the island. We went through the canals and saw tons of dolphins and pelicans very close. We were able to find a couple of suitable places to land our kayaks. After this we set up camp and stayed for a couple nights. The bugs are bad but there is plenty of firewood. You will need to bring your own water because there is no freshwater available on the island. The campsites were clean and the trails were maintained, but at the same time it was very peaceful and it’s a hidden gem. We saw birds mostly, but also lizards and a...