Pelican Island, first National Wildlife Refuge & Florida gem

Last updated on January 13th, 2026 at 04:57 pm

Pelican Island is the nation’s first National Wildlife Refuge, created by President Teddy Roosevelt in 1903 in an effort to end the slaughter of pelicans, ibis and egrets for their plumage.

Hats with feathers were all the rage at the turn of the century, and poachers hunted many species of birds to the brink of extinction. Roosevelt signed an executive order in 1903, the first of its kind, that banned hunting on the island, viewed by conservationists as the last breeding ground for brown pelicans on the east coast.

While Pelican Island itself is off-limits to humans, the encircling wildlife refuge is easily accessible from State Road A1A, 14 miles north of Vero Beach and 4 miles south of Sebastian Inlet, with trails, an observation platform and extensive, informative signage.

The Centennial Trail in the Pelican Island NWR leads to an elevated pavilion with powerful scopes for seeing birds and useful bird identification signage. Even without bird sightings, it's a beautiful view. (Photo: Bonnie Gross) — The Centennial Trail in the Pelican Island NWR leads to an elevated pavilion with powerful scopes for seeing birds and useful bird identification signage. Even without bird sightings, it’s a beautiful view. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)

Visiting Pelican Island

Today visitors flock to Pelican Island to see a variety of birds, to learn about the history of the preserve and to hike miles of waterfront trails that immerse you in the beauty of the Indian River Lagoon and its islands.

A favorite among visitors is the Centennial Trail, a short ADA-accessible boardwalk whose planks list each of the 570 National Wildlife Refuges in chronological order. As you stroll the path, travelers looks for a refuges they’ve visited and see the names and locations of others they want to see one day. The boardwalk ends with the plank for the original, Pelican Island, and a stunning viewpoint in the observation tower overlooking the island

A boardwalk on the Centennial Trail list every National Wildlife Refuge in order of its creation, ending with the first, Pelican Island. (Photo: David Blasco) — A boardwalk on the Centennial Trail lists every National Wildlife Refuge in order of its creation, ending with the first, Pelican Island. (Photo: David Blasco)

Hiking at Pelican Island

The refuge offers two 3-mile loop trails around managed salt marsh and a Wildlife Trail that opens up refuge habitats to visitors.

pelican island national wildlife refuge map — Facilities map for the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge, located 4 miles south of Sebastian Inlet. (National Wildlife Refuge map)

Bird’s Impoundment Trail — 2.72 miles. Fishing is popular along this trail.
Joe Michael Memorial Trail — 2.54 miles. Popular birding trail around a salt marsh with an observation deck.
Wildlife Trail — 0.63 miles
Centennial Trail — 0.35 miles. Boardwalk and observation tower overlooking Pelican Island.
The refuge’s restrooms are accessible from the parking lot just off State Road A1A.

More than 30 species of birds currently use Pelican Island as a rookery, roost or feeding ground, and 16 species nest in the wildlife refuge, including pelicans, wood storks, several varieties of egrets and herons, as well as the double-crested cormorant, anhinga and the American oystercatcher.

The fall and spring migrations are a particularly good time to visit, but the refuge hosts an impressive variety of species year around. In fall, your can observe migrating birds coming here to roost for the winter. In the spring, you can watch them join the migrating flocks heading back north for summer.

On our January visit, we saw a few birds, but no more than at other locations aroung the bird-filled Indian River Lagoon. Still, the history, signage and views from the trails made our visit rewarding.

Download the Pelican Island Bird List (PDF)

pelican island Aerial of Pelican Island National Willdife Refuge Pelican Island, the first National Wildlife Refuge, has been cherished by bird-lovers for a century — Pelican Island (Photo: US Fish and Wildlife Service)

Kayaking around Pelican Island

Pelican Island itself is not accessible from the surrounding refuge, and you may not see more birds here than other nearby locations. While you are prohibited from landing on the island, you can get close to the island, in a kayak, canoe, paddleboard or small boat. Shallow waters restrict access by larger boats.

The closest kayak launch is on a road into the refuge at 11820 Jungle Trail, Vero Beach. There’s a sign designating it and it’s on Google maps too. Parking is limited.

Several additional kayak launch sites are listed below.

Paul Kroegel (1864 - 1948) was a boatbuilder and German immigrant from Chemnitz, Germany, who arrived in the Sebastian and became the first Pelican Island refuge manager. (Photo: US Fish and Wildlife Service) — Paul Kroegel (1864 – 1948) was a boatbuilder and German immigrant from Chemnitz, Germany, who arrived in Sebastian and became the first Pelican Island refuge manager. (Photo: US Fish and Wildlife Service)

How Pelican Island was saved

Initially, President Roosevelt’s declaration did little to stop the poachers, and protecting the pelicans that flocked here was a dangerous job. Two wardens were killed in Florida in those early years. Finally a local boat builder named Paul Kroegel came along, armed and ready to defend the island and its feathered inhabitants.

During the 1960s, this sanctuary once again faced a threat by man as developers moved into the area, seeking to purchase and build on the wetlands and islands surrounding Pelican Island.

pelican island national wildlife refuge — Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge (Photo by George Gentry/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Local citrus growers, commercial fisherman and sportsmen, aided by the Florida Audubon Society, convinced the state to expand the refuge to include more than 5,000 acres of diverse habitats on western Orchid Island and submerged lands in the Indian River Lagoon around the island.

Historic Jungle Trail: The old road into the refuge

The Jungle Trail follows the shoreline of the Indian River Lagoon south from the Pelican island National Wildlife Refuge. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Historic Jungle Trail is a hard-pack sandy road built in the 1920s to serve citrus growers on Orchid Island.

You can enter the refuge via the Jungle Trail from Wabasso Beach Road. Go north on the road, which has a prominent sign, to take the slow and picturesque 8-mile road to the refuge parking lot.

The road is mostly used by bicyclists, hikers and joggers. The hard-packed sand makes it good for wide-tire bicycles and eBikes. The Jungle Trail, once lined with invasive Australian pines, has been planted over the years with oaks, palms and other coastal wetland species. You’ll travel along the shores of the Indian River Lagoon, but there are also gated communities visible through vegetation.

More kayak launch points in the area

Sebastian Inlet State Park – The launch ramp is located within the state park on the south side of Sebastian Inlet. Paddle south from the launch on the Indian River, across the open bay and around the first group of islands you encounter. Pelican Island is straight ahead on the east side of the Indian River. If you don’t have your own kayak, rent one from the Bayside Marina on the north side of Sebastian Inlet.

Main Street Park – Main Street at Indian River Drive, Sebastian. This is a busy launch area for motorboats. From the ramp, paddle south along a string of spoil islands. At the last island, turn east toward the observation tower in the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge.

pelican island green heron kennan adams Pelican Island, the first National Wildlife Refuge, has been cherished by bird-lovers for a century — Green Heron at the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge. (Photo by Keenan Adams / U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Wabasso Causeway Park – This park on the causeway to Orchid Island (SR 510) is three miles south of Pelican Island, but it makes an excellent base camp for your paddle in the region. The causeway features beaches, docks, boat launch and picnic pavilions. Paddle north under the causeway bridge to the north side of Wabasso Island, then veer east to the East Channel through the mangroves until you see the refuge’s observation tower.

Fishing and clamming near Pelican Island

Brown and white pelicans at Pelican Island NWR. (Photo: George Gentry, USFWS) — Brown and white pelicans at Pelican Island NWR. (Photo: George Gentry, USFWS

Fishing is permitted in the open water areas of the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge. The lagoon is a breeding ground for fish, and you are close to Sebastian Inlet, where game fish transit into and out of the lagoon.

Popular catches are redfish, snook, sea trout, and mangrove snapper.

Recreational shellfish harvesting is permitted within the refuge, although you cannot use rakes, and you must steer clear of commercially leased areas, which are marked. We have gone clamming in these waters many times with friends.

Leased areas for clam and oyster farming in the Indian River Lagoon are marked with stakes and buoys. Stay clear. They are privately managed and provide a livelihood for many area residents.

If you don’t have a kayak, you can access the refuge’s shallow clam and oyster beds from State Road A1A, just north of the refuge entrance. Wear socks and wade out into the mud. You can feel the clams beneath your feet, and the water is shallow enough where you can reach down and pick them up with your hands once you find them.

This is a broad, shallow area with acres and acres of clam beds, and you’ll have better pickings the farther out you wade. Bring a tube or a kayak to hold onto and just poke around in the mud with your feet.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission regulates recreational shellfish harvesting in the Indian River, so it would be prudent to familiarize yourself with the rules by visiting this web page.

Camping near Pelican Island

There is no camping in the Pelican Island Wildlife Refuge, but within a few miles there are several public campgrounds where you can pitch a tent or park an RV.

Boaters can camp on spoil islands in the Intracoastal Waterway. Spoil islands are the product of channel dredging, and most are overgrown with trees and vegetation. Some of the islands even have designated campsites with picnic tables and fire rings. No reservations needed.

Sebastian Inlet State Park., 9700 South Highway A.1.A., Melbourne Beach. 51 renovated campsites overlook the inlet for both RVs and tents. Shade is sparse. All sites have water and electric, but no sewer hookups. There is a dump station on site, and rest rooms with showers are convenient to all campers. A camp store sells the basics, including bait for fishing. Sebastian Inlet State Park is divided into two sectors. The campground entrance is south of the inlet, and it has its own boat ramp. Campsites are $28 a night plus a daily $7 utility fee. Book online at reserve.floridastateparks.org

Long Point County Park, 700 Long Point Road, Melbourne Beach. One favorite campground, Brevard County’s Long Point Park is one mile north of Sebastian Inlet State Park, just off State Road A1A. The campground is on an island in the Indian River, and a majority of the campsites are waterfront. Book online at brevardfl.gov

Read more about camping at Sebastian Inlet State Park and Long Point County Park.

Donald MacDonald Campground Park, 12315 Roseland Road, Sebastian. A very nice, wooded and shaded public campground with boating access to the Sebastian River. Although most of the campsites are improved with fire pits and picnic tables, only five have electric and water hookups for RVs. All are accessible by motor vehicle. This campground is not well-known or heavily used, so sites are almost always available, according to locals. Book online at secure.rec1.com

Read more about camping at Donald MacDonald Park.

Pelican Island, the first National Wildlife Refuge, has been cherished by bird-lovers for a century