Centennial Trail
check with the trail manager for updated details before visiting.
Centennial Trail
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Backcountry Trail
- Length
0.75 miles
- Elevation Gain
--
- Route Type
out & back
(1 review)
- Length
0.75 miles - Elevation Gain
-- - Route Type
out & back
Located at Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge, the nation's first national wildlife refuge.
Location: At Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge, off A1A, north of Wabasso.
- States: Florida
- Counties: Indian River
Located at Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge, the nation's first national wildlife refuge, the Centennial Trail was dedicated on March 14, 2003, as was the focal point for the Centennial Celebration of Pelican Island and the National Wildlife Refuge System. Unlike any other trail in the Refuge System, The Centennial Trail uniquely features an engraved plank for each national wildlife refuge in the country and highlights Pelican Island and the history of the Refuge System with a series of 20 interpretive panels.
The 0.75-mile asphalt and boardwalk trail winds through newly restored upland and wetland habitats and gently inclines to an 18-foot observation tower overlooking the historic Pelican Island rookery and the expansive Indian River Lagoon. The viewpoints from the trail offer great scenic overlooks and good wildlife observation opportunities for the birds of Pelican Island, ospreys, otters, bobcats, marsh rabbits, dolphins, and manatees. The Centennial Trail intersects the trailhead of Pete's Impoundment Trail, a 2.5-mile loop gravel footpath around a refuge salt marsh impoundment, which offers a more backcountry visit of the Refuge and excellent wildlife observation and photography opportunities.
Accessibility Information
No text provided.
Reviews
Craig Bellavance
Centennial Trail
The Centennial Trail, located in Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge, 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 trail is an out and back. 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 flush-toilet restroom.
Allowed Uses:
Hiking/WalkingPublic Contact
Joanna TaylorU.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
1339 20th Street
Vero Beach, FL 32960
[email protected] • (772) 562-3909 ext. 25
Contact the trail manager for current maps and visiting details.
More Details
- Elevation (low): 96
- Elevation (high): 96
- Elevation (cumulative): --
- Part of a Trail System? No
- Surface (primary): Boardwalk
- Surfaces (additional): Boardwalk
- Tread Width (average): 96"
- Tread Width (minimum): --
- Running length (minimum): --
- Tread Grade (average, percent): 4
- Tread Grade (maximum): 4
- Running length (maximum): --
- Cross-slope (average, percent): --
- Cross-slope (maximum): --
- Running length (maximum): --
- Certified as an NRT
May 31, 2007