Enjoying a day at the Enchanted Forest, Titusville.
As much as I love my time on the water be it fishing or just watching some dolphins, occasionally I like to get out and see something new. One of my new favorite places for a cool day trip is the Enchanted Forest. When I do find somewhere I really enjoy I like to share it with you all. This is just incase you are looking for a cool day trip when visiting the Florida Space Coast.
The other day was just that kind of day. The weather was beautiful, I had some free time and felt like being outdoors. I jumped in my truck and headed to The Enchanted Forest in Titusville, FL. It is just a short drive, about 20 minutes north of Merritt Island. Even better, its free. The Sanctuary is about 470-acre and is family friendly. It is a low-key nature preserve loaded with beautiful hiking trails, gift shop, and a visitor center with interactive exhibits the kids will enjoy. The trails range from short walks to about 5k. The terrain ranges from boardwalks and sandy trails to well kept dirt trails under a canopy of Spanish moss.
The Enchanted forest is truly a Brevard County gem.
As the flagship property of Brevard County’s Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) Program, this sanctuary offers a rare glimpse into the “Real Florida”. Here’s why it should be your next weekend escape.
- Choose Your Own Adventure: The Trails
With over 4.5 miles of hiking trails, there is a path for every pace.
For the Views: The Coquina Ridge Trail takes you along the Atlantic Coastal Ridge, where you can see dramatic rock formations and elevated views.
For the Shade: The Magnolia Loop is a lush favorite, featuring massive live oaks draped in Spanish moss and a floor carpeted in wild coffee and ferns.
For Easy Strolls: The Tomoka Trail includes a scenic boardwalk perfect for spotting turtles or listening to the breeze through the cypress knees. - Meet the Locals (Wildlife & Plants)
This sanctuary is a biodiversity hotspot where northern and subtropical plant species overlap.
Gopher Tortoises: Keep an eye out for these “landlords of the forest.” They are commonly seen near their burrows along the Tortoise Trail.
Birding Paradise: During migratory seasons, the woods fill with warblers, hawks, and even the occasional barred owl.
Butterflies: Before you head into the woods, visit the Butterfly Garden behind the education center to see queens, zebras, and swallowtails fluttering among native blooms.
Stepping back into History
For History buffs the park has a bit of that too. Look for the Addison Canal, a 1912 engineering project that attempted (and failed) to cut through the ridge. In 1911 Businessmen Edgar W. Ellis and J.H. Beckwith formed the Titusville Fruit and Farm Lands Company to purchase 22,500 acres of marshland. Their ambitious plan was to drain the marshy St. Johns River valley to create usable agricultural land. They also wanted to provide a transport route for crops to the Indian River Lagoon. By 1913, crews had dug 43 miles of lateral canals using heavy machinery—some of which had been used to build the Panama Canal. However, they hit a massive ridge of coquina rock (a hard, shell-based limestone) that their equipment could not penetrate. Thus, the project went bankrupt and was abandoned.
Get out and enjoy the great outdoors!
My visit to the Enchanted forest was really enjoyable, albeit too short. I should have got there earlier. During my hike I saw many armadillos, a few gofer tortoise, birds, wild oranges and more. I learned a bit of local history and enjoyed a peaceful walk in a really beautiful park.
I recommend spending some time here if you enjoy the outdoors or need to burn some energy out of the kids. Don’t forget to bring a camera, some water and during the summer maybe some bug spray ( my visit was in Feb and there were none). Also, if you want to make a day of it grab a bite after your hike at the Moonlight Drive-In located in Titusville. It is a great old fashion drive inn, tray hung on the window and all.