Beaches

Lovers Key is a 2.5-mile stretch of beautiful beach. along the shore of the Gulf of Mexico. It was selected as the #4 beach in Florida by the Travel Channel. A courtesy tram is available to the south beach where a gazebo, restroom and picnic area are located. A beautiful walk over two bridges takes you to the mid portion of the beach, which is left natural, with no facilities. The north beach is accessible through the north honor gate at Big Carlos Pass. We suggest you explore all three areas of the beach and discover their unique attributes.

Bicycling

Enjoy over 5 miles of bike trails including the Black Island Trail through a maritime hammock. Trail maps are available showing many interesting places and observation points along the trail. Bring in your own bicycles or rent them at our concession located in the main parking lot. For rental information, contact the park concessionaire at (239)765-7788.

Participation Requirements

Boat Ramp

A boat ramp is located in the park for direct access to Estero Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.

Canoeing & Kayaking

Canoeing and kayaking are very popular throughout the inner waterways and in Estero Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.  For information on renting canoes or kayaks, contact the park concessionaire at (239)765-7788.

Participation Requirements

Concession & Restaurant

Nature Recreation Management is the new concessionaire for Lovers Key State Park. This new visitor service provider offers kayak, canoe and bike rentals. Food, beverage and delicious ice cream are now available.

Fishing

Trout, redfish, snook and tarpon are caught seasonally. Castnetting for mullet in the bay is a popular activity.

Participation Requirements

Geo-Seeking

The Friends of Lovers Key initiated a Geo-Challenge in October. The challenge has seven caches; six with a riddle or a question that needs to be answered, and a portion of the coordinates for the final bonus cache. To find the cache, visit www.geocaching.com or www.navicache.com and search for all caches owned by loverskey. Visit the park and set out to discover the hidden caches. Bring the answers to the Ranger Station to receive your FOLKS Geo-Challenge Reward – a specially designed pathtag!

Testimonial #1: Our first cache today. On the way we saw dolphins!!! Very cool. Here we met some other cachers and we decided to do the next caches together. It has been a very nice day with you. Thank you.

Testimonial #2: Found the six caches associated with this one relatively easy this afternoon. Had a great time walking to this one, took a few photos of the birds and trees along the way and finally made it to GZ and made the find. Left a couple of TB that have been looking for a nice beach to hang out on. This was a fabulous series that didn't take too long to complete and also took me around a lot of different areas and features of the park. Very well done and one of my favorites. TFTH

Note: TFTH means "Thanks for the Hunt" in geocaching lingo.

Hiking/Nature Trail

The Black Island Trail is 2.5 miles of hiking or biking adventure through a maritime hammock along the canal banks of Black Island. There are a total of 8 miles of trails within the park including the beach.

Picnic Pavilion

Available to rent for weddings, reunions, company picnics and parties. Contact Nature Recreation Management at (239)765-7788.

Picnicking

Several picnic areas are set throughout the park. On the beach, the inner waterways or the backwaters of Estero Bay, you will be able to find the right spot to enjoy a picnic. Many of the picnic areas are equipped with grills and trash receptacles. Consumption of alcohol beverages is prohibited.

Playground

The Bayside four acre addition provides opportunities to visitors for recreation and relaxation. This state-of-the-art facility offers two playgrounds, nine pavilions, grills, volleyball court, restroom facilities and an additional field for flying kites and playing.

Restroom Facilities

Bathroom facilities are availabe and ADA accessible.

Shelling

Lovers Key is a 2.5-mile stretch of beautiful beach along the Gulf of Mexico. This beach offers some of the best shelling opportunities on the Lee Island coast. Please remember: you cannot take the shell if an animal still calls it home. Living shelling is prohibited.

Showers, Day Visitors

Outdoor showers are available at the bathhouses located at the south beach and the main parking area.

Swimming

Swimming is a popular activity in the Gulf.   The park boasts 2 1/2 miles of excellent beachfront.

Tours

The park staff and concessionaire offer a full array of programs that are sure to entice the adventurous side of you. Join the environmentalists as you discover the many interesting aspects of this nature lover's paradise. For more information please contact the park at (239) 463-4588. Nature Recreation Management is the new concessionaire for Lovers Key State Park. This new visitor service provider offers kayak, canoe and bike rentals. Food, beverage and delicious ice cream are now available.

Visitor Center

Two playgrounds, picnic shelters, grills and restroom facilities are available at the Lovers Key State Park Bayside Park. The park is located on Estero Blvd 1 mile north of the main park entrance.

Wildlife Viewing

Lovers Key offers one of the best birding areas in Southwest Florida. The park is home to many active Osprey nests, and two Bald Eagle nests.  Roseate Spoonbills, Snowy Egrets, the American Kestrel and other species are often observed feeding in the bays, estuaries and maritime hammocks.  With over 40 varieties of birds recorded, 17 of which are on the designated species list, Lovers Key is a birder's paradise.

The park is also home to other wildlife, such as Bottlenose Dolphins and West Indian Manatees.