It’s not rocket science. At the Enchanted Forest Sanctuary in Titusville, enter a world of enchantment along the Space Coast – massive magnolias, odd rocks - and keep alert for the blastoffs!

Once upon a time, sixteen hikers gathered together in a clearing surrounded by a true Florida oddity—rocks. Not just any rocks, mind you, but rocks that could dwarf a Chevy Nova. Not just any large rocks, mind you, but huge slabs of coquina, a sedimentary rock formed by the compression of tiny shards of broken seashells. And not just any huge slabs of coquina, but ones where natural processes drilled perfectly round holes through the rock—solution holes, a type of sinkhole.

We knew right then we were in a magical place.

Enchanted Forest Nature Sanctuary is a small preserve of incredible diversity, scarcely a mile west of the Indian River, south of Titusville. Purchased through Brevard County’s Environmentally Endangered Lands program, the area used to be a favored spot for dirt bikers and ATVs. Now fully fenced and staffed with volunteer docents, the deep forest, scrub, and coquina ridge are off limits to all but hikers. With names like Lime, Orange, and Magnolia, the trails lead you through a variety of habitats on both sides of the Atlantic Coastal Ridge, atop which you’ll find a coastal scrub habitat.

Guidebooks
50 Hikes in Central Florida
Hiker's Guide to the Sunshine State
Orlando & Central Florida: An Explorer's Guide