A spoil island like no other, Leffis Key is a key feature of a conservation area called Coquina Baywalk at the south end of Anna Maria Island, which also encompasses Coquina Beach.
Leffis Key Preserve has blossomed over the past two decades since our first visit. Invasive species were largely rooted out, and native plants now provide deep shade.
Tree canopy along a boardwalkFrom a 26-foot promontory in the center of the island, enjoy a panorama of Sarasota Bay similar to what ancient civilizations here saw from their temple mounds.
Trails crisscross this crest, connecting with a circular path at the base of the man-made hill. Radiating from that path, boardwalks lead to observation decks at water level.
One of the views from the high pointResources
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Overview
Location: Anna Maria Island
Length: 0.8 mile loop
Trailhead: 27.450817, -82.690650
Address: 2351 Gulf Dr S, Anna Maria Island
Fees: Free
Restroom: At Coquina Beach
Land manager: Manatee County
Phone: 941-748-4501
Open 8 AM to sunset. No dogs permitted. A bike rack is provided for cyclists. Mosquitoes can be intense here; prepare for them before you start your hike.
A large picnic pavilion adjoins one corner of the parking area. Restrooms are across Gulf Drive at Coquina Beach, which can be tough to cross.
Fishing is allowed from boardwalks with a Florida fishing license. Please do not ride bicycles on boardwalks or up the hill.
Directions
From US 41 (9th St SW) in downtown Bradenton, follow Manatee Ave (SR 64) west 4 miles to 75th St SW. Turn left and continue 2.3 miles to Cortez Rd (SR 684). Turn right and follow Cortez Rd 4 miles to Anna Maria Island. Turn left on Gulf Dr (SR 789). 1.1 miles south of the roundabout at Bridge St in Bradenton Beach, use the turnout on the left in front of Coquina Beach for Leffis Key Preserve.
Hike
Start next to the preserve sign in the parking area. The broad access path leads between walls of mangroves and sea grapes to a bridge over a flowing channel.
Cross the bridge to meet a trail junction in front of a bench. Bear right. Just before the next bench, a boardwalk tempts to the right.
Entrance pathZigzagging through a mangrove tunnel — a reoccurring theme on this hike — the boardwalk crosses the channel that flowed under the first bridge.
The channel empties out into Upper Sarasota Bay, where the boardwalk emerges from the mangroves to provide an outstanding view from a large observation deck.
Sarasota BayReturn along the boardwalk, pausing to inspect the trunks of the mangroves for mangrove crabs, and turn right in front of the bench.
A fork in the trail lies ahead. Take the one to the left, which leads uphill past an interpretive sign about the coastal ridge habitat.
Start of the climbIt’s a gradual ascent but noticeable, with water bars to keep the crushed shell trail from washing away.
Leveling off, the path reveals a chickee-topped picnic bench. That’s the high point, so continue uphill to savor the view.
View towards Upper Sarasota BayA second path leads to a similar bench with a view south across the bay, although it’s not as showy.
Three walkways descend from this promontory. Backtrack towards the one you climbed up here and take the natural surface path next to it.
Descending from the hilltopIt makes a gentle descent through the coastal hammock, coming to a T intersection with the broad loop around the island. Turn right.
Along this mangrove-edged corridor, the top of the hill is visible briefly just before a boardwalk at 0.3 mile. Turn left.
Boardwalk off the main loopCrossing a scrim of mangroves along the edge of the spoil island, it deposits the trail onto a shell berm passing a bench.
Another boardwalk begins, simply providing elevation over the surrounding salt flats. It meets another shell berm and resumes.
Salt flat boardwalkPass an interpretive sign after this boardwalk ends, confirming the surrounding habitat. A new low boardwalk leads into the mangroves.
Come to a three way intersection of boardwalks inside the mangrove forest and proceed straight ahead to the near overlook.
The light at the end of the tunnel is Sarasota BayIt’s obvious in contrast to the first observation deck this one faces east, with a nice sweep of bay and channel at your feet.
Turn around and turn right to follow the boardwalk to the northernmost observation deck, facing the distant bridges to the mainland.
Northernmost viewBacktrack to the three-way junction to follow the boardwalk straight ahead. The boardwalk, however, is anything but straight.
It meanders and curves through the mangroves, briefly depositing the trail on not-so-dry ground for a few strides through the tidal marsh past an interpretive sign.
Boardwalk ascending from the tidal marshCurving beneath the mangroves, note the shallowness of the water under the prop roots of the red mangroves and the bed of fallen leaves on the bottom.
Mangrove forests along bayfront islands serve as aquatic nurseries, protection for the young fry from predators in open waters.
Mangrove nurseryAt a half mile, follow a spur boardwalk out to the edge of the bay for another broad perspective on the main channel and islands to the south.
Return through the tangled forest of prop foots and pass an interpretive sign about this tangled forest. The boardwalk zigzags past a high marsh, a good spot for birding.
High marshSoon after, the boardwalk ends at the island loop. Make a left and walk past a bench. Within view of the ascent trail to the high point, another boardwalk tempts.
Turn left to follow its sharp angles out to the bay. It has a little niche over a tidal creek before it ends at the final observation deck.
Last perspective on Sarasota BayIn addition to the sweeping view of the bay, Longboat Pass between Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key is visible to the southwest.
Inspect the shallows here for more aquatic life in miniature: tiny crabs, fingerling fish, and itty bitty sting rays. Return along the boardwalk.
Shallow waters along the island’s edgeTurn left and continue past the ascent to the promontory to complete your circuit of the island.
Pass by the initial boardwalk you explored, and through the three-way junction at the bridge. Proceed straight ahead to exit to the parking area, completing this 0.8 mile hike.
To exit, continue across the bridge at the final junctionTrail Map
Explore More!
Video
A walk through Leffis Key Preserve
Slideshow
See our photos from Leffis Key Preserve
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