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Coconut palms in front of aquamarine water with bridge beyond

Bahia Honda Beach Walk

A walk around the southern tip of Bahia Honda Key, this shoreline hike at Bahia Honda State Park provides scenic views and an up-close look at the historic bridge

Bahia Honda State Park  |  Florida Keys
( 24.6561, -81.2792 )      0.7 miles

Connecting Calusa Beach to the Atlantic Ocean, this easy walk along Bahia Honda’s shoreline takes you up and around the tip of the peninsula.

It goes underneath the massive historic Bahia Honda Channel Bridge for a closer look at its infrastructure.


Resources

Resources for exploring the area

South Florida: An Explorer's Guide 50 Hikes in South Florida Exploring Florida's Botanical Wonders Hiker's Guide to the Sunshine State

Disclosure: As authors and affiliates, we receive earnings when you buy these through our links. This helps us provide public information on this website.


Overview

Location: Bahia Honda Key
Length: 0.7 mile loop
Trailhead: 24.6561, -81.2792
Address: 36850 Overseas Highway
Fees: $8.50 per vehicle (includes county sales tax)
Restroom: Across from Calusa Beach
Land manager: Florida State Parks
Phone: 305-872-2353

No dogs are allowed on the beaches. Bicycles not permitted.

This is not an accessible walk as it follows the beach. You must climb two staircases along this loop.

Plants growing near ocean


Directions

 
The entrance to Bahia Honda State Park is along the oceanside of US 1 at the south end of Bahia Honda Key. Once inside the park gate, follow the park road to where it now ends at the parking area. Park in the main parking area near the marina.

Hike

Start your walk from the parking area by heading over towards where the channel leading to the marina defines the end of Calusa Beach.

This sandy strand is sheltered by the sweep of the island, and although it overlooks US 1, it didn’t used to be that way.

Arc of beach with coconut palms
Calusa Beach at Bahia Honda State Park

When we were kids, US 1 went right through the middle of the park on what’s now the park road, and up and over the old Bahia Honda Channel Bridge, balanced atop the railroad bridge.

Looking at the condition of that old highway now (which closed in the 1970s) from afar, it’s a terrifying thought that it WAS the highway.

But as you walk up Calusa Beach to the old bridge, you can admire its simplicity and complexity.

Old bridge stretching across horizon The old Bahia Honda Channel Bridge


Calusa Beach is often bustling. Stay near the edge and join the sidewalk that comes in from the parking area past the nature center.

Follow the sidewalk towards the old bridge. A staircase leads up to a flat area beneath the bridge.

1930 survey marker for bridge 1930 survey marker


From this flat grassy space, you can walk right up to the bridge and look through the fence to see the girders up close.

The old, rotting pipe is the original aqueduct that the Florida Keys relied upon back in the day for fresh water from the mainland. There is a new one in place under the new route of US 1.

Girders of old bridge with pipe Looking into the girders of the bridge


Walk down the stairs on the Atlantic Ocean side of the bridge, where picnic tables afford a place to stop and sit in the sun.

The crushed rock berm above the natural shore makes for a nice place to enjoy the sea breeze and look out over a swale of thriving bay cedars. However, there is no longer a beach here for swimmers.

Picnic table in filled area Picnic table by the breakwater


Continue along the crushed rock path as it parallels the ocean, enjoying the views. Look closely at the berm of the old highway for the new growth of wildflowers and salt-loving shrubs sprouting.

When the path comes up to the showers and restrooms, take a left to close the loop back around to the parking area.

Low plants with aquamarine waves beyond Bay cedars near the shoreline



Trail Map

Bahia Honda State Park Hiking Trails Map
This trail is the loop at the far left corner


Explore More!

Learn more about Bahia Honda State Park

Palms along iconic beachfront at Bahia Honda Key

Bahia Honda State Park

Long known for its natural beaches, Bahia Honda State Park continues to heal after the ravages of Hurricane Irma stripped much of its tropical vegetation

Bridge broken in middle above aquamarine water

Old Bahia Honda Bridge Trail

Stand above Bahia Honda State Park and take in a sweeping view from one of the highest points in the Florida Keys: atop the Old Bahia Honda Bridge, built in the early 1900s

Clumps of coastal vegetation on Bahia Honda Key

Silver Palm Trail

CURRENTLY CLOSED. Along the Silver Palm Trail at Bahia Honda State Park, you’ll meander through the largest grove of silver palms (Coccothrinax argentata) in the United States

Slideshow

See our photos of Bahia Honda State Park


Nearby Adventures

More worth exploring while you’re in this area.

Bike lane facing Caribbean blue waters in the Florida Keys

Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail

Spanning from Key West to Key Largo, this 108-mile linear state park corridor is an island-hopping slice of tropical paradise along the former route of the Florida Overseas Railroad

Key deer

National Key Deer Refuge

Established in 1957 to prevent the extinction of the diminutive Key deer, the National Key Deer Refuge spans 84,351 acres across 25 islands in the Lower Keys

Long Key State Park

Long Key State Park

Spanning shore to shore across much of its namesake island, Long Key State Park offers a bounty of botanical wonders across a variety of rare Florida Keys habitats.

Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden

Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden

With boardwalks and natural footpaths winding amid curated collections against a backdrop of natural Florida Keys habitats, the Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden is a delightful natural destination.

Trail Map (PDF) Reserve Campsite Official Website

Category: Beach Hikes, Hikes, Loop Hikes, Southeast Florida, TrailsTag: Bahia Honda State Park, Florida Keys, Florida State Parks, Historic Sites

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