Turkey Creek Sanctuary

Excellent place to spend time in contact with nature, disconnect, and relax. Lots of walking trails and photo opportunities. Highly recommended and a must visit in Brevard County. City has put a lot of effort to keep this reserve in pristine condition and accessible to the public.

So nice walking in this sanctuary especially in the cold weather. The wooden bridge or path walk makes it so easy to go around. The scenery is so nice and the place is so relaxing. We've seen a lot of turtles, too bad it got flooded and the river current was strong so we didn't see any alligators around.

Abundant fauna, beautiful and quiet trails, a place to disconnect from the routine, and connect with nature. Perfect for walking, mountain biking, or kayaking.

Perfect to enjoy with family and friends! We had a wonderful day with our family.

“Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson ―
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Abundant fauna, beautiful and quiet trails, a place to disconnect from the routine, and connect with nature. Perfect for walking, mountain biking, or kayaking.

“Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson ―

I'm happy, and my name is Happy or Happy The Fluffy. Woof!
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Sanctuary is part of the name for a reason. This natural reserve is a refuge from the daily grind right here in the Palm Bay city limits. Great for a nice walk on the boardwalk, or if you want to get some exercise, there are stops along the jogging trail with outdoor exercise stations.

A volunteer at the nature center helped us identify a bird we took a picture of, and there is a book to help you identify a bird by picture and a device that plays the sound each bird makes.

Wonderful place to walk and see nature, it's really cool to have a place like this in the middle of where we live. Well maintained boardwalks.

I needed a day in nature, and Turkey Creek Sanctuary did the trick! Okay, so I didn't spend the whole day (there aren't enough trails to go all day, well, I guess if you walked REALLY SLOW), but it was beautiful and quaint and peaceful. I think the heat kept most of the wildlife at bay (no alligators, though I definitely heeded the sign), but the insects and birds sang while the water gently flowed. Not a day trip, but a serene, peaceful couple of hours away... do it. You'll be glad you did!

Great park to walk, exercise or learn about local fauna. Boardwalk Trail, Exercise Trail & Nature Path Trail along Turkey Creek. Never disappoints.

AMAZING! What a great place for a family walk, a morning walk, an evening walk or a school field trip. The park is kept up and the trails are clean and inviting. Always something different to see! I can't wait to go back! The gift shop has really pretty and affordable gifts and all the money goes back to the sanctuary! Enjoy!

It was a very pleasant walk, a very quiet place, a time to relax and breathe fresh air.

Lots of improvements since my last visit couple years ago. It’s just a beautiful peaceful place.

This park is so beautiful, peaceful, and full of life! It’s so close to the city and very accessible to people of any ability. There are plenty of places to stop and sit down for a breather and there’s also an exercise trail. Seeing manatees, turtles and other wildlife is awesome. The nature is so full and green. We love coming here any time of day. The staff at the nature center are also very friendly and the gift shop has some cute items.

Turkey Creek is an amazing place to hike and walk. They also apparently do events occasionally according to Facebook, which includes a pretty decent range of them. Some of the boards have personal messages on them, and after years of not visiting and coming back to see mine still there, I'm personally very happy by my visit. Lots of shade too!

This is perfection within the Florida hiking/nature trail universe.

For those who love strolling on dirt trails through the woods, this is the perfect match! For those who prefer a less rugged hike, the boardwalk trail is extensive, and filled with beautiful sites. These trails go through multiple ecosystems, highlighting natural Florida at its best. More than likely, you’ll see several gopher tortoises in their natural habitats, and on a lucky day, at the creek overlook, the occasional manatee and very large softshell turtle. If you’re really, really lucky, you may see an owl or
bobcat (see my photos and videos - I was that fortunate on one of my many trips here)! Sometimes you’ll see massive Florida gar at the overlook as well. There’s also plenty of signage along the trails, identifying native vegetation, creating an educational experience for the whole family.

Don’t forget to stop by the information exhibit center. There you’ll learn about some of the local wildlife and Native American life of the past.

***** IMPORTANT:
Make sure you bring insect repellent – preferably deep woods off. DO NOT come
here wearing cologne, perfume or scented hairspray. Mosquitoes are ferocious, but even worse are the horseflies. They will devour you if you go in without any type of protection. I strongly suggest wearing sneakers. This is not the place to look cute and wear your Sunday best. Lol.

We loved this sanctuary. There was a great boardwalk that I was thankful for because we are from Michigan and are unfamiliar with Florida wildlife. There is a spot where the boardwalk ends and a trail continues next to a nice river, but we didn’t continue on the trail out of fear of stumbling upon alligators. We were probably being too cautious, but didn’t want to take chances with our small children. If you’re nervous out of state visitors like us, you can totally still enjoy this nice sanctuary by staying on the safe boardwalk. Indoor bathrooms available and a small gift shop with water/pop available to purchase. My kids did a fun scavenger hunt provided by the nice volunteer at the gift shop. Would definitely visit again.

So peaceful and serene. Awesome nature center, they even sell inexpensive bracelets and jewelry. Right next to library! I thoroughly enjoyed my time there.

My husband and I visit Turkey Creek at least 3 times a week. It's the perfect place to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday. The volunteers are friendly and the boardwalk is kept clean and safe. The other trails are great for longer walks. Lots of flowers, creatures and places to sit and enjoy!! Definitely a hidden gem in Melbourne!

Many parts of the paths were flooded, other not to bad! all in all I loved it!!

Beautiful trails! Hours of walking under the tree canopy with lots of nature and wildlife to see.

Loved this gem, we enjoyed the guided tour available along the boardwalk, make sure to scan the QR codes along the way, learned some fun facts and it provided a nice distraction from the heat wave. 😁