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Resources

Resources for exploring the area
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Exploring Islamorada

Islamorada is the “City of Islands,” and it’s here where you first feel like you’re driving through the Caribbean on US 1.

Called the purple islands (morada) by Spanish explorers, most of these islands still sport natural waterfronts and tropical forests, with resort hotels tucked under the trees.

Beach surrounded by mangroves Quiet Library Beach

The four major islands of this chain include Plantation Key, Windley Key, Upper Matecumbe, and Lower Matecumbe. It’s on Upper Matecumbe that you’ll find most services.

In addition to pocket parks and showy Green Turtle Hammock, Upper Matecumbe is home to the Hurricane Monument.

Trailhead sign in tropical setting Trailhead at Green Turtle Hammock

It is the final resting place of those who died in a tragic 1935 storm surge, many of whom were World War I veterans building on the Overseas Railroad.

The former railroad route is now largely the Overseas Heritage Trail, but this Keys-spanning bike path has a lot of driveways across it on most of the islands.

Monument flanked by coconut palms The Hurricane Monument

Much of Windley Key is occupied by Windley Key Fossil Reef State Park, an outstanding historic and botanical site showcasing the geology of the Keys bedrock.

Two “out island” state parks flank the channel separating the Matecumbe Keys. Lignumvitae Key is a wild sanctuary of tropical trees, while Indian Key illustrates an early settlement.

Walkways along ponds in tropical setting Walkways at Theater of the Sea also edge former limestone quarries

Trails and Parks in Islamorada

Shallow water with mangrove-lined islands beyond Eastern Continental Trail A hiking route spanning more than 4,800 miles along the East Coast, the Eastern Continental Trail spends nearly 1,300 miles crossing Florida from its southern terminus at the Southernmost Point in Key West.
Tropical forest in quarry Flagler Quarry Trail A short interpretive trail at Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park, the Flagler Quarry Trail leads you around the showiest of the quarries and the ruins of the railroad depot.
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
Green Turtle Hammock Preserve Green Turtle Hammock Nature Preserve On a wild sliver of Upper Matecumbe Key, footpaths wind through a rockland tropical hammock where a rocky crevice emits sulfur fumes and you must beware of crocodiles near the mangroves
Tropical trees in Florida Keys Hammock Trail Learn about the trees of the Florida Keys with a walk on the 0.6-mile Hammock Trail, a deeply shaded ramble in a tropical forest at Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park.
Agave plants Indian Key Historic State Park The original seat of Dade County, settled in 1836, lies in limestone ruins swaddled in a tropical forest within sight of US 1, but offshore. Indian Key takes a little planning to visit, but is well worth the journey.
A crooked tree branch Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park Wrapped in a dense blanket of mosquitoes, Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park is one of the United States' most significant botanical treasures, a virgin tropical forest home to more than a thousand lignum vitae trees.
Overseas Heritage Trail, Middle Keys 43.6 miles. With the most island-hopping of the ride, the middle portion of the Florida Keys delights with its aquamarine waters and coconut palms, a very tropical vibe.
Bike path under shade of tropical trees Overseas Heritage Trail, Upper Keys 26.8 miles. Through the most heavily populated part of the Florida Keys, the trail quickly leaves water views behind for tropical forests between residential and commercial areas.
Plantation Hammocks Preserve Plantation Hammocks Preserve Adjoining Founders Park on Plantation Key, Plantation Hammocks Preserve showcases some of the Florida Keys most interesting flowers under a generous canopy of well-established tropical trees.
Mangrove roots in quarry wall Windley Trail Winding through an ecotone where tropical forest meets mangroves, the Windley Trail is a quarter mile loop that ends up amid interpretation of quarrying history.

Articles

Toilet Seat Cut Kayaking Toilet Seat Cut In Islamorada (10/29/2015) On the Florida Bay side of Tavernier, a paddling trip to Toilet Seat Cut will have you laughing your way down the channel, as contributor Tamara Scharf explains.
Indian Key Indian Key: An unusual ghost town (8/9/2015) John takes a trip back in time with Florida Keys historian Brad Bertelli to discover the layers of history found on Indian Key, once the county seat of Dade County

NEARBY: Key Largo, Marathon | ALONG: Atlantic Ocean, Florida Bay, Overseas Heritage Trail | PART OF: Florida Keys