The old highway trail on Sugarloaf Key is a peaceful slice of paradise--until the bugs show up. The…read moreviews of the mangroves and water are stunning, especially at sunrise or sunset, but you'll want to bring bug spray and maybe a small fan to fend off the relentless flies. The trail is flat and easy to navigate, though a bit overgrown in places, which just adds to the whole "nature adventure" vibe. If you're not afraid to swat and walk, this spot is a quirky little gem. Bonus points if you can hike the whole thing without swearing at the mosquitos or getting attacked by the ubiquitous spider webs.

Great walking/biking trail. There's a few sunken cars in a lagoon near the end of the trail. Lots…read moreof flies so I would suggest traveling by bike.

From the uniqueness and bar scene in Key West, to the restaurants throughout the keys, to the State…read moreParks like John Pennekamp and Bahia Honda, to the unmatched diving/snorkeling and laid-back style of the keys lifestyle... But at the end of the day, this is one of my favorite places to spend time. Some people just don't get how special these protected areas are... or just how vast it is. The area is encompasses an area that is over 8 miles long on Sugarloaf Key (accessed from mile marker 17 and partially from mile marker 20) and includes a lot of spots that locals visit often including Burn Out Bridge (aka End Of The Road), Loop Road Trail, Sammy Creek Landing, Old Overseas Nature Trail (west end of Old State Road 4A), Jumping Bridge, and the Secret Beach Old State Road 4A passes through most of it and there are a few residences as well but majority of the area is mangroves and open water. There is plenty of area to support incredible wildlife; you may not see much of it visiting but after years of bicycling and walking all the trails and focal points I've been lucky enough to see plenty; come common and some rare to see... in addition to the common sightings like raccoons, snapper, tarpon and crabs, we've seen key deer, spoonbills, horseshoe crabs, bonnet head sharks, bald eagles and other birds of prey. Park at the corner of Old State Road 4A and Sugarloaf Boulevard and walk east past the vehicle barriers to walk to Jumping Bridge (its just what is sounds like) and if feeling adventurous then continue onto Loop Road Trail (stop at the open water areas for a dip in the water), find the Secret Beach and walk the nature trail to Burn-Out Bridge (and watch the boats travel between Sugarloaf and the Atlantic) ... Or drive past the intersection to the west and stop by Sammy Creek Landing... it's a park with a boat launch, decent fishing and a good spot to bring lunch/picnic.... Or go onto my favorite and drive (or bike) all the way to the west end of Old State Road 4A, park the car and continue onto the Old Overseas Nature Trail. It's a very long hike to the end but it is gorgeous with some areas in the shade (tree canopy over the trail creating a tunnel like experience) and a lot in the sun too; great views of the water and mangroves. For those that have sweet blood... bring insect repellent/lotion

Pretty place and private. Can be very hot though (of course) so bringing water is important. I was…read moretold there are sometimes dangerous snakes but I didn't see any.

This is one of the most amazing places I have ever seen! My husband & I decided we had to take a…read moreseaplane (Seaplane Adventures) to the Dry Tortugas while we were in Key West to celebrate our 25th anniversary because we didn't know when we would ever get the chance again. I am so glad we did!! After an incredibly stressful year, it was great to see my husband enjoying himself so much! This was definitely the highlight of his Key West trip! We were the second seaplane to land so we practically had the island to ourselves (other than the few people that had camped overnight). It was amazing wandering the fort, snorkeling (him, not me), and just enjoying the spectacular views with very few people around. If we get the chance to come back, we would definitely do it the same way!

Difficult to get to (take Seaplane adventures), but a gorgeous way to spend a day exploring the…read morefort, having a picnic with the tortugas and snorkeling ship wreck ruins. Theres a vibe here for sure and if youre sensitive to the paranormal, you'll definitely feel it. The park has a dark history for humanity and the folks who were forced to endure it. But today its the gorgeous national park with crystal clear water and beach time.

Bahia Honda State Park is located at Mile Marker 37 along US 1. (Mile markers are how you find…read moreeverything in the keys. There are 500 acres of park, plus an off shore island. There are 3 beach areas, a campground/cabins, picnic areas and boat ramps. It's very much a place to relax on the beach and take it easy. Bahia Honda is the tropical paradise that you probably imagine when you think of the Florida Keys. Bahia Honda's beaches--Sandspur, Loggerhead, and Calusa--are one of the biggest draws to the park. Each one is beautiful and worth a visit. Bahia Honda is a great place to swim as the water temperatures are typically warm and the water is shallow. See, it also depends on time of the year, like for us, Sandspur beach was full of seaweed. and i found loggerhead beach to shallow and it was really great to swim over there. while you are here, A fun thing to do is take the quick trail up to the old Bahia Honda Bridge that you can see from Calusa Beach and the very edge of Loggerhead Beach. This is the only trail here and it's a pretty quick walk. The walk is fairly short and you aren't allowed to go far along the bridge as it breaks off at some point. However, you do get to go up high enough to see Bahia Honda from above. The bridge has a great view of both of the beaches. Depending on time of day, you might get a different view. There is little to no shade on the beach. If you are wanting to stay all day, you might want to bring your own umbrella for the beach! Cost: $8 per vehicle, $4.50 for vehicles with one person, $2.50 for pedestrians + cyclists

This park has to be one of the best that the Florida Keys has to offer. I have always wanted to…read morestop here while visiting our friends that live in Key West and we finally had the opportunity. Bahia Honda means "Deep Bay" and refers to the deep bays of Bahia Honda Key. It is pronounced Bah -EE-ah Own da. It is 30 feet deep which makes it the deepest natural harbors in the Keys. It was established in 1961and is known for its history as part of Henry Flagler's "Overseas Railroad" and is now known as the Overseas Highway. In 1935 there was a huge hurricane that destroyed the railroad. What makes this park so unique is that it is encompasses an offshore island and it sits between Ohio Key and Spanish Harbor Key close to the west end of the Seven Mile Bridge. The park has 524 acres of lush beauty. It is open everyday of the year from 8am - sundown and the fee is $8 per vehicle. Clean restrooms and outdoor showers available. There is so many things to do such as snorkeling, swimming in the gin clear crystal waters, hiking out to the Old Bahia Bridge, birding, camping, boat rentals, a concession stand, rent a cabin, kayak, fishing or visit the nature center. We found parking easily and made our way out on the trail to the Old Bridge. The views from up here are panoramic. After viewing the bridge and the views, we really could not resist taking a dip at one of the beaches. The water was still warm enough to swim in November and it felt fantastic. What I love most about the state park beaches along the Keys are all the marine life you can view while swimming or just walking on the beach. No place like it! If I could give this park 10 stars I would, it is that incredible. Cannot wait to come back again.

Very nice state park, seems pretty new. Recommended for grilling ,cookouts, outdoor family time,…read morekayaking, etc. it has free parking, clean restroom facilities, water fountains (cold water), and the grills available at the park look practically new! Not much shade available, so you might want to bring canopy or umbrella..

This park is always so clean and perfect and love cooling off in the swimming hole! Lots of access…read morein and out of the water.

We were in Key West for one day on a cruise. Fort Zachary Taylor is about 1 mile from Mallory…read moresquare (near where you dock) so we walked. It's $2.50 if you walk in. The beach had nice sand but intermittent rocky portions. The grounds were really pretty, we enjoyed taking in some of the unique plant life that grows in this area. The fort was an added bonus. Ultimately this is a great combination of beach and history and I recommend stopping!

Absolutely gorgeous beach! It's very rocky though so wear water shoes!!!…read moreWe also got married on the east beach side and it was magical! Highly recommend! There is a snack shop with food and alcoholic drinks, bathrooms and a small souvenir shop in the middle of the beach.

This is an old quarry from the time when the railroad was built. It takes about 30 minutes to see…read moreit all. There are a few alligators living there. Lots of fish to see. There were some park employees on site who were a wealth of information. And it's free.

We didn't see any wildlife but enjoyed stretching our legs and that the trees were marked with the…read morenames of the trees.

This beach area is near the campgrounds of Bahia Honda, but was hit by Hurricane Irma in 2017. The…read morehurricane did quite a bit of damage as well as dispersed a lot of the sand. Both the beach and campgrounds reopened in 2022. This beach is also a long stretch of sand and is located just past Loggerhead Beach. I have heard great things, and in photos, it was great, but when we reached, there were lots of seagrass on the shore, like really a lot, and it was disappointing to see, so we turned back to Loggerhead Beach. Parking: Right on the beach, there is parking for 50+ cars.

The water was clear and it was great for shelling. One of the best beaches I've ever been to. Just…read morebe wary of the sand fleas they are bad in some spots.

Found this place online, and it is a great local beach for snorkeling. You have to be looking for…read moreit in order to find it, but its well worth a stop. It has extremely calm and clear water. Along the mangroves and large rocks, we were able to see several types of fish and crabs. Someone there saw a stingray but we weren't able to find it. Other people were fishing and grabbing hermit crabs. Note it is very rocky so flippers or water shoes are necessary. Definitely one of the best sports for snorkeling from shore we found in the Keys.

Hidden gem. Spent over an hour snorkeling here with no one else around. So many fish.read more

Enjoyed an afternoon ebike ride along the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail…read more The Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail is a 106-mile, multi-use path for biking, hiking, and skating that parallels the Overseas Highway, incorporating parts of the original Flagler Railroad and historic bridges. It offers scenic views, access to natural areas like parks and wildlife refuges, and is a linear state park with various services. While much of the trail is paved and safe, some sections require users to walk alongside the highway shoulder, especially on busier bridges like the Seven Mile Bridge. Highly recommended.

The Henry Flagler's East Coast Railways have been converted to be part of the trail. This trail…read morethat is parallel to the Seven Mile Bridge is partially complete with a new concrete sidewalk. Lots of people were fishing off of it today. There's a good sized parking lot too.