Shiloh Marsh Road

ALL NATURAL

The Shiloh entrance on the northwest side of the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge is about as close to natural Coastal Florida as you can get.

Shiloh borders the northwest end of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and the Indian River (Inland Waterway) near Boathouse Point.

HABITATS

The access road is completely open and takes you past hardwood hammocks, open wetlands and grasslands and ends by passing through a small Orange grove.

Another possibility is to take the drive from the entrance to the small parking area and walk southeast between the banks of the placid Indian River to the south and the marsh and hammocks to the northeast. The Indian River forms a half-moon bay at this location and is a beautiful place to watch the sunrise or sunset.

It is, as you would expect all natural, there are no facilities.

Shiloh is a "Day Use Area" meaning camping is NOT allowed.

BIRDING

Birding in this area is very good. Because of the hardwood hammock that borders the west side of the drive into the parking area there are numerous Warblers, Gnatcatchers, Catbird, Mockingbird and Cardinals. On the marsh side of the road you'll see Egrets, Heron, Grebes, Double-crested Cormorant and Belted Kingfisher.

During the late spring when the Shiloh Marsh Road is re-opened after waterfowl season, it is not uncommon to see several hundred White Pelicans feeding in the estuaries along Shiloh Marsh Road.

DIRECTIONS

The entrance is just off of U.S. highway 1, about 3/10 mile north of the Brevard County line in Volusia County.

From Titusville, Florida:

• Take U.S. 1 north, about 3/10 mile past the Volusia County line, to the two small bridges.
• Immediately after the second bridge turn off the highway to the right onto the unpaved feeder road to the Shiloh Day Use Only entrance.
• The feeder road actually doubles back next to the bridge embankment.
• At the entrance take the left access road about 2 miles to the small parking area and barricade.
• Park here and walk past the barricade around the edge of the Indian River or double back along the entrance road for excellent birding.

From Oak Hill, Florida (Volusia, County)

• Drive south on U.S. Highway 1, go past the turn-off to State Road 3 (the north entrance to the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge)
• Drive over the two small bridges on U.S. 1, (about a mile)
• At the first left turn area after the bridges, make a "U" turn and double back on U.S. 1, north bound. The turn around is about 1.2 miles from SR3. Immediate after the second bridge heading north, turn off the road to the right onto the feeder road.
• The feeder road actually doubles back next to the bridge embankment.
• At the entrance take the left access road about 2 miles to the small parking area and barricade.
• You can either park here and walk past the barricade around the edge of the Indian River or double back along the entrance road for excellent birding.
• For a longer trip the entire access road is completely open and eventually intersects with route 3.

The two mile stretch from U.S. Highway 1, to the shore of the Indian River offers great songbird viewing all year round.

Travel Notes: Best Driver's Side Viewing:
If you plan to visit during the late afternoon then enter from the U.S. Highway 1, entrance.
For an early morning visit enter from one of the southeast feeder roads such as Patillo Creek road.
Patillo Creek road is 10.1 miles north of the SR402 and SR3 junction. SR402 is the road that passes the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge Visitors Center.

NOTE: Shiloh Marsh Road is closed during waterfowl season and occasionally for maintenance.
If you plan to take the full drive please check with the Visitors Center to be sure it is open.

Remember if you've visited the area and have seen some interesting bird and wildlife sights, send us an email and we'll pass it along.

Thanks for visiting the Central Florida Bird Watcher's Web Site.

For a more complete listing of birds in the Central Florida area click here:  Central Florida Bird Lists