Canaveral National Seashore Turtle Mound
Sound
On/Off
[ Date ]
05 05 2026
Turtle Mound is a prehistoric shell midden and elevated overlook within Canaveral National Seashore, where ocean, lagoon, marsh, and coastal scrub converge. One of the highest natural vantage points on Florida’s east coast, it offers expansive views across the layered landscapes of the Atlantic shoreline, Mosquito Lagoon, and surrounding wetlands.
[ Geographic Features ]
Estuary, Lagoon, Tidal Creek, Wetland, Shoreline, Watershed
[ Patterns of Land Use ]
Conservation Land, Public Park, Waterfront Access, Boardwalk
[ Data Set ]
9:00 AM EST
28.9304943, -80.8257062
74°F, Sunny
Wind 8 mph, East with gusts up to 10 mph
The boardwalk rises gradually through dense scrub and cabbage palms, on the way up to the top of Turtle Mound. The landscape opens in layers—lagoon to the west, ocean to the east, and a thick canopy of cabbage palms, tangled vines, and salt-tolerant brush stretching between. Wind moves first through the fronds, then through everything else, carrying the dry friction of leaves, the brief call of birds, and the soft, repetitive edge of water hitting shore. The boardwalk makes a narrow, deliberate line through the overgrowth, offering brief clearings where the landscape opens suddenly to light and distance. At the top, the view expands in every direction—a full horizon of water, marsh, and shoreline, where the park unfolds as far as the eye can see.
[ Plants ]
Lantana
Common Names: Common Lantana, West Indian Lantana, Red Sage, Yellow Sage
Botanical Name: Lantana camara
Flowering perennial shrub with clusters of bright orange and yellow blooms, commonly found in sunny coastal landscapes and disturbed edges.
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Lamiales
Family: Verbenaceae
Genus: Lantana
Species: L. camara
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Sugarberry
Common Names: Sugarberry, Hackberry, Southern Hackberry, Nettleleaf Hackberry
Botanical Name: Celtis laevigata
Native deciduous tree often found in coastal hammocks and transitional woodland areas, valued for shade and wildlife habitat.
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Rosales
Family: Cannabaceae
Genus: Celtis
Species: C. laevigata
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Coral Bean
Common Names: Coral Bean, Red Cardinal, Cherokee Bean, Cardinal Spear
Botanical Name: Erythrina herbacea
Native flowering shrub with striking red tubular blooms that attract pollinators and thrive in dry coastal scrub habitats.
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Genus: Erythrina
Species: E. herbacea
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Lime Prickly Ash
Common Names: Lime Prickly Ash, Wild Lime, Colima
Botanical Name: Zanthoxylum fagara
Thorny evergreen shrub common in coastal thickets and scrub, providing dense habitat and food for wildlife.
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Sapindales
Family: Rutaceae
Genus: Zanthoxylum
Species: Z. fagara
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Common Myrtle
Common Names: Myrtle, True Myrtle, Sweet Myrtle, Roman Myrtle
Botanical Name: Myrtus communis
Evergreen aromatic shrub with small white flowers and glossy leaves, often found in managed landscapes and coastal gardens.
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Myrtus
Species: M. communis
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Fox Grape
Common Names: Fox Grape, Slip-skin Grape, Wild Grape
Botanical Name: Vitis labrusca
Woody perennial vine that climbs along edges and fences, producing broad leaves and seasonal grape clusters.
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Vitales
Family: Vitaceae
Genus: Vitis
Species: V. labrusca
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Summer Grape
Common Names: Summer Grape, Pigeon Grape, Silverleaf Grape
Botanical Name: Vitis aestivalis
Native climbing vine commonly found in woodland edges and scrub transitions, supporting wildlife and seasonal canopy cover.
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Vitales
Family: Vitaceae
Genus: Vitis
Species: V. aestivalis