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Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail

 About Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail

A great blue heron near the ocean.

A NOTE FROM THE MANAGER

Anthony Knott, Trail Manager

The spring season brings ample opportunities to escape to the FKOHT and enjoy the mild weather of the Florida Keys. With enjoyable temperatures and light breezes, there are endless opportunities to take advantage of the natural surroundings on all our beautiful islands.

Our multi-use trail and bridges offer some the best cycling, walking, fishing, paddling and boat access anywhere. And, while enjoying these activities, connects users to all the wonderful things the Keys have to offer, including 10 state parks, state and federal wildlife areas and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

The FKOHT, a great way to experience the Florida Keys!

 

Additional Information

The Trail provides opportunities for bicycling, hiking, fishing, skating, paddling, snorkeling, swimming and diving. There are camping opportunities available at some of the state parks and some private campsites.

Cyclists, who travel at their own risk, may use the shoulders of the U.S. 1 Highway and bridges in the areas where there is no existing trail. Northbound and southbound cycling guides have been developed to aid experienced, skilled cyclists in navigating this developing trail. Please be sure to follow standard bicycle safety practices according to Florida law and use extreme caution along the bridges.

Fishing is allowed on many of the Trail’s historic bridges. Cantilevered fishing platforms have been added to the sides of selected bridges including the Channel Two Historic Bridge, the Tom’s Harbor Cut and Tom’s Harbor Channel Historic Bridges and the Long Key Bridge.

The Trail offers easy access to the rich kayaking and canoeing opportunities along the corridor, including sea kayaking within this designated segment of the Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail.

GETTING HERE

Key Largo (MM 106 to 90)
Shaded in places by tropical vegetation, a 15.5-mile paved trail currently runs by numerous businesses and parks. Side trips to John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Key Largo Community Park and Harry Harris Park provide opportunities for recreation and relaxation along the way to Islamorada.

Islamorada (MM 91 to 71)
Islamorada has 10 miles of existing trail along US 1. The Old Highway parallels US 1 south of Tavernier Creek Bridge, providing a less traveled shoulder as an alternate route through the Village. The trail ends at the highway bridges through the Village and must be crossed using the existing shoulder. The bike path ends at MM on Craig Key. To continue south, one must use the highway and bridge shoulders.

Founders Park and Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park are trailhead locations. Other State Parks in the area are Indian Key Historic State Park, Lignumvitae Key Biological State Park and San Pedro Underwater Archaeological Preserve State Park. The Channel 2 (MM 72) and Channel 5 (MM 70) historic bridges are popular for fishing.  

Long Key (MM 71 to 63)
About 3.5 miles of trail connect the City of Layton to Long Key State Park and the Long Key Historic Bridge. The trail continues across Long Key Bridge. Tom’s Harbor (MM 62) and Tom’s Harbor Cut (MM 60) historic bridges are popular fishing bridges which, in addition to the Long Key Bridge, have been retrofitted with cantilevered fishing platforms.

Marathon (MM 63 to 40)
An 11-mile bike path runs from Grassy Key through Curry Hammock State Park to the Seven Mile Bridge at the southwest entrance to the City of Marathon. The highway on the Seven Mile Bridge has a five-foot shoulder. Knights Key, at MM 47, is a trailhead for the FKOHT and part of the old Seven Mile Historic Bridge that leads to the island of Pigeon Key and its museum which features a rich collection of photographs and artifacts from the Flagler railroad era.

Lower Keys (MM 40 to 11) 
From the south end of the Seven Mile Bridge at MM 40, the trail will eventually traverse three historic bridges to Bahia Honda State Park, Spanish Harbor Historic Bridge and onto Big Pine Key, where there is a one-mile segment of existing trail. At this time, travel between islands in this area requires use of the highway bridge shoulders, which range from four to 10 feet in width. An alternate route, Old Highway SR 5A in Cudjoe and Summerland, provides a path away from vehicular traffic, however, the bridges connecting these islands must still be crossed by way of the shoulders. A section of the trail at MM 15 connects Lower Sugarloaf Key to Big Coppitt Key, MM 10, crossing the five Saddlebunch Historic Bridges.

Key West (MM 10 to 0)
There is a section of trail on Big Coppitt Key and the Rockland Historic Bridge that has been retrofitted for bicycle and pedestrian use. From Stock Island, at MM 5.2, the trail continues into Key West where travel around the City of Key West by bike is already well established. In Key West, there are many historic and cultural points of interest to explore including Fort Zachary Taylor State Park, Key West Botanical Garden, Bayview Park, Higgs Beach and the famous monument marking the Southernmost Point in the continental United States.

GET INVOLVED

  • For forms, information and benefits of volunteering visit Get Involved.

CONCESSIONAIRES

PET POLICY

  • Florida State Parks Pet Policy
  • Well behaved dogs are allowed on the trail with a maximum six-foot, hand-held leash. Owners are requested to walk their dogs near the edge of the trail, for the safety of all trail users.