Long Key Florida

Long Key State Park

The Spanish named this island "Cayo Vivora" or Rattlesnake Key because its shape resembles a snake with its jaws open. In the early 20th century, Long Key was the site of a luxurious fishing resort that was destroyed during the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935. Today, visitors can explore this island by canoeing through a chain of lagoons or hiking two land-based trails. The Golden Orb Trail leads visitors through five natural communities to an observation tower that provides a panoramic view of the island and its profusion of plant and animal life. Some of the best bonefishing in the Keys is found here. Full-facility campsites overlook the Atlantic Ocean. Located at Mile Marker 67.5, 67400 Overseas Highway.

Long Key State Park now allows pets in our family campground. For more information on pets, please look on our park activities page. The weather is typically nice this time of year. To take advantage of the great weather, we have canoes available for rental by the hour or day. They can be used to explore Long Key Lakes, a mangrove lagoon; with its shallow waters, seagrass beds, and variety of marine life. The lagoon is an ideal place to view some of our wading birds.

Long Key consists of ancient coral reefs that were formed 100,000 years ago when the sea level was 20 feet higher. The vegetation is primarily of West Indian or Caribbean origin. A large variety of trees and shrubs are found, including species such as the gumbo limbo, Jamaica dogwood, poisonwood, mahogany and crabwood. The shallow waters around Long Key support an abundance of marine life including various fishes and wading bird species which may be observed in the mangrove lagoons.

http://www.floridastateparks.org/longkey/

See also:
• Long Key Fishing Camp