Islamorada
The City of Islands, Islamorada is a chain of tropical islands in the Florida Keys stretching from Tavernier to Lower Matecumbe Key, with tropical forests and hidden beaches.
Key Largo
The northernmost of the populated Florida Keys and the first one reached when driving south along US 1, Key Largo has a hidden landscape of natural habitats along its shores.
Key West
The southernmost point in the United States, Key West has a long and storied history and a tropical vibe. Lush parks and gardens complement its better-known beaches.
Layton Trail
Florida Keys 0.2 milesAt Long Key State Park, the Layton Trail leads you on a quarter-mile exploration of mangrove forest and tropical hammock on the shores of Florida Bay.
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.
Long Key State Park
Florida Keys 1.4 milesA former coconut plantation and angler's destination, Long Key State Park is now a natural oceanfront outpost in the Florida Keys.
Overseas Heritage Trail, Lower Keys
Florida Keys 38.0 miles38.0 miles. Between Key West and Bahia Honda Key, this segment of the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail crosses many historic railroad bridges along mangrove-lined shores.
Overseas Heritage Trail, Middle Keys
Florida Keys 43.6 miles43.6 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.
Overseas Heritage Trail, Upper Keys
Florida Keys 26.8 miles26.8 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.
Paradise, Palms, & Mosquitoes
My first exploration on the hiking trails of Marathon lead to thatch palm hammocks: the Curry Hammock Nature Trail at Curry Hammock State Park, and the trails of Crane Point Hammock, including the beautiful Palm Hammock Trail.
Plantation Hammocks Preserve
Islamorada 0.6 milesAdjoining 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.
Snake Bight / Rowdy Bend
Flamingo 7.6 milesThe Snake Bight Trail in Everglades National Park leads you a wild place where tropical forests meet the mangrove shorelines of Florida Bay, where crocodiles cruise the saline shallows and mosquitoes thicken the air.