Turtle Mound at Canaveral National Seashore

Turtle Mound is a prehistoric archaeological site located in the Canaveral National Seashore. Standing roughly 50 feet tall, Turtle Mound is one of the largest shell middens on the Florida coast. The turtle-shaped mound is made up predominantly of oyster shells - the remains from the prehistoric Timucuan people who existed five to six centuries before European contact. Visible seven miles out at sea, early sailors used Turtle Mound as a navigational device. Turtle Mound can be reached by hiking trails, which lead to the top of the ancient shell midden and provides an excellent view of the Atlantic Ocean. Open daily 6 a.m. - 7 p.m. in the summer and 6 a.m. - 5 p.m. in the winter.