• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Florida Hikes logo

Hike Bike Paddle Camp Florida with authors Sandra Friend and John Keatley as your guides

  • Trails
  • Maps
  • Guidebooks
  • Search
  • Hike
    • Scenic Hikes
    • Loop Trails
    • Dog-friendly Hikes
    • Hikes for Kids
    • National Parks in Florida
    • Florida State Parks
  • Bike
    • Major Bike Trails
    • Paved Bike Trails
    • Off Road Biking
    • Biking Articles
  • Paddle
    • Canoe & Kayak Rentals
    • Paddling Destinations
    • Paddling Articles
  • Camp
    • Cabin Rentals
    • Car Camping
    • Primitive Camping
  • Florida Trail
    • Plan your Hike
    • Best Scenic Hikes
    • Best Backpacking
    • Section Hiking
    • Thru-Hiking
    • Trail Updates
  • Travel
  • Hike
    • Scenic Hikes
    • Loop Trails
    • Dog-friendly Hikes
    • Hikes for Kids
    • National Parks in Florida
    • Florida State Parks
  • Bike
    • Major Bike Trails
    • Paved Bike Trails
    • Off Road Biking
    • Biking Articles
  • Paddle
    • Canoe & Kayak Rentals
    • Paddling Destinations
    • Paddling Articles
  • Camp
    • Cabin Rentals
    • Car Camping
    • Primitive Camping
  • Florida Trail
    • Plan your Hike
    • Best Scenic Hikes
    • Best Backpacking
    • Section Hiking
    • Thru-Hiking
    • Trail Updates
  • Travel
Hammock Trail Windley Key

Hammock Trail

In a tropical hammock, learn about the trees of the Florida Keys with a walk on the 0.6-mile Hammock Trail at Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park.

Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park  |  Islamorada
( 24.949313,-80.596091 )      0.6 miles

Immerse into a dense tropical hammock and learn about the tropical trees of the Florida Keys with a walk on the Hammock Trail at Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park.

At 0.6 mile, it’s the longest of the loop trails in this state park.

Resources

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

Overview

Location: Windley Key, Islamorada
Length: 0.6 mile
Lat-Lon: 24.949313,-80.596091
Type: loop
Fees / Permits: $2.50 per person (includes 50 cent Monroe County surcharge)
Difficulty: easy to moderate
Bug factor: moderate to extreme
Restroom: at the visitor center
Phone: 305-664-2540

The park is closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Open Thursday to Monday, 8 AM to 5 PM. Please check in at the visitor center to pay your entrance fee before wandering the trails. You may also want to examine the exhibits and see a short film, which will clue you in on the importance of this historic site and its unique geologic wonders.

Guided tours are offered December-April on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 10 AM and 2 PM.

No bicycles permitted on trails. Collecting of fossils or plants is prohibited. You can, however, buy fossils in the gift shop to support the park. Avoid leaving the marked trails as the forest has a lot of poisonwood, one of the more common toxic trees in Florida.

Directions

Located 0.5 miles south of MM 85 on US 1 on Windley Key at 84900 Overseas Highway, Islamorada, the park entrance is on the bay side.

Hike

The longest of the loop trails at Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park, the Hammock Trail tunnels deep into a tropical hammock full of unusual trees, leading you along the edge of this coral rock island before slicing through its middle. As it does, it follows the ecotone between tropical forest and mangrove forest for a stretch. Two of the other nature trails in the park branch off this one, enabling you to make a variety of short loops. Given the persistent mosquitoes here, you may prefer to keep your walk short.

0.0 > All trails begin on the rock ledge behind the Alison Fahrer Education Center. Stop in there before you start your hike to pick up a trail guide. The trail system starts next to the antique channeling machine that cut the fossil slabs, and provides you a nice overlook across the Windley Quarry.

Windley Key Hammock Trail
Walking through the tropical hammock of Windley Key

0.1 > The Flagler Trail branches off to the right at a signpost. Stay left, continuing your walk through the dense tropical hammock. A few moments later, the Windley Trail branches off to the left at a signpost. Keep right.

You soon come across a sign pointing out a poisonwood tree. It’s an important one to remember. You don’t want to stray off these or any other trails in the Florida Keys because of this and other toxic trees. It has distinctive yellow-tipped leaves and oozing black spots on its bark that look like motor oil. Although the sap and fruit are toxic to humans, the endangered white-crowned pigeon feeds on its fruit. Watch carefully and you will notice these pigeons throughout the forest.

Windley Key Hammock Trail
Where mangroves and tropical forest meet

0.2 > The trail swings close to the mangrove forest that fringes this island. Were it not for the efforts of local residents, the tropical forest you are walking through now was slated to become a condo complex in the 1980s. Fortunately, considering their rich history and importance to wildlife, these 30 acres were preserved. You may encounter great golden digger wasps along this trail at certain times of year, as we did in June. According to a bulletin posted near the restrooms, “Great golden digger wasps are not aggressive and will not sting unless provoked.” We strongly suggest wearing closed-toe shoes while hiking here and not walking through any wasp swarms.

Hammock Trail Windley Key
Thatch palm thicket along the Hammock Trail

0.3 > Of botanical interest is a small hammock of thatch palms that the trail tunnels through. After another curve along the mangroves, keep alert for some plants and shrubs in the understory, marked with pink flagging. Some are cacti found only in the Florida Keys.

Windley Key Hammock Trail
Along the edge of the Russell Quarry

0.4 > One of the more fascinating geologic features thus far on the hike is the Russell Quarry, which unlike the others in the park is completely filled and ringed by the tropical hammock. The remains of an old homestead are here as well. The trail makes its way around a dropoff into a quarry pit, passing a bench.

Windley Key Hammock Trail
Junction with the Flagler Quarry Trail

0.5 > After you climb up a ramp out of the old quarry, the Hammock Trail meets the Flagler Trail at a T intersection. You can loop back to the trailhead in either direction, but if you haven’t been to the Flagler Quarry yet, it’s a must-see. Turn left. The trail soon descends into this quarry, which adjoined Henry Flagler’s Overseas Railroad route. You can follow the marked Flagler Quarry Trail along the quarry wall to your right, or continue straight ahead through the grassy open picnic area in the quarry’s center.

Windley Key Hammock Trail
An island of stone in the middle of the Flagler Quarry

0.6 > Passing a sign for the Quarry Station Trail, ascend up the limestone ramp to return to the visitor center.

Trail Map

Windley Key State Park Trail Map
The Hammock Trail is in RED

Website Photo Gallery

Category: Hikes, Loop Hikes, Nature Trails, Southeast Florida, TrailsTag: Birding, Botanical, Florida Keys, Florida State Parks, Geology, Historic Sites, Islamorada, Mangroves, Picnic, Tropical Forests, Windley Key State Park

Reader Interactions

Have an update? Contact us.

Primary Sidebar

SOUTHEAST FLORIDA

SOUTHEAST FLORIDA OVERVIEW
East Coast Greenway. Everglades National Park. Florida Trail

Big Pine Key. Biscayne Bay. Biscayne National Park. Boca Raton. Boynton Beach. Coral Gables. Davie. Delray Beach. Northeast Everglades Natural Area . Florida Keys. Fort Lauderdale. Fort Pierce. Hobe Sound. Hollywood. Homestead. Islamorada. Jensen Beach. Jupiter. Juno Beach. Key Biscayne. Key Largo. Key West. Marathon. Miami. Ocean to Lake Greenway. Overseas Heritage Trail. Palm Beach. Port St. Lucie. Redland. Sebastian. Stuart. Vero Beach. West Palm Beach

Our Newest Books

Discovering the Florida Trail

Florida Trail mini coffee table book cover of trail into palm hammock

A visual journey the length of the Florida Trail, covering more than 1,500 miles from the Everglades to Pensacola Beach. Hardcover, 196 pages. $24.95 + tax and shipping.

Order Now

Florida Trail Hikes

Florida Trail HikesThe best day hikes, overnights, and weekend trips on the Florida Trail. Full hike descriptions and maps, full color. 376 pages. $24.95 + tax and shipping.

Order Now


50 Hikes in Central Florida
Explorers Guide North Florida Panhandle
The Florida Trail Guide (third edition)
Five Star Trails Orlando
Five Star Trails Gainesville & Ocala

The Florida Trail

Florida Trail large coffee table book cover of trail down swamp causeway under ancient pines

Our history of the first 50 years of the Florida Trail, from its founding in 1966 to becoming a National Scenic Trail to volunteer efforts today.

Learn More

Florida Trail App

Guthook GuidesGuthook Guides Comprehensive logistics and offline maps for the Florida National Scenic Trail.

Get the App!

Explore More

Our recent park & trail updates in this region

Trail through tall grass and pines

DuPuis Loops 1 & 2

DuPuis Loops 1 & 2
Hiker in a dry cypress strand

Florida Trail, Ocean to Lake: DuPuis to Corbett

Florida Trail, Ocean to Lake: DuPuis to Corbett
Path through tall grass between pines

DuPuis WMA

DuPuis WMA
Hiking trail through pines and palms

Florida Trail, Ocean to Lake: DuPuis WMA

Florida Trail, Ocean to Lake: DuPuis WMA

Footer

FIND A TRAIL OR PARK

NORTHWEST FLORIDA
Apalachicola. Apalachicola National Forest. Blackwater River State Forest. Blountstown. Bonifay. Bristol. Cape San Blas. Carrabelle. Chattahoochee. Chipley. Crawfordville. Crestview. DeFuniak Springs. Destin. Ebro. Eglin Air Force Base. Fort Walton Beach. Freeport. Gulf Islands National Seashore. Madison. Marianna. Milton. Monticello. Mossy Head. Navarre Beach . Niceville. Panama City Beach. Pensacola. Ponce De Leon. Port St. Joe. Quincy. Sopchoppy. South Walton. St. Marks. St. Marks NWR. Tallahassee. Vernon. Wakulla. Wewahitchka

NORTH FLORIDA
Alachua. Amelia Island. Baldwin. Branford. Bunnell. Cedar Key. Chiefland. Dowling Park. Ellaville. Fernandina Beach. Flagler Beach. Gainesville. Green Cove Springs. High Springs. Jacksonville. Keystone Heights. Lake Butler.Lake City. Live Oak. Mayo. Macclenny. Micanopy. Olustee. Orange Park. Osceola National Forest. Palatka. Palatka-Lake Butler Trail. Palm Coast. Perry. Salt Springs. St. Augustine. Starke. Steinhatchee. Suwannee River Wilderness Trail. Suwannee Springs. Talbot Islands. Timucuan Preserve. Trenton. Welaka. White Springs. Williston

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

MULTI-REGION
Big Cypress Swamp. East Coast Greenway. Everglades National Park. Florida National Scenic Trail

CENTRAL FLORIDA
Apopka. Belleview. Brandon. Brooksville. Bushnell. Canaveral National Seashore. Christmas. Chuluota. Clearwater Beach. Clermont. Coast to Coast Trail. Cocoa Beach. Cross Florida Greenway. Crystal River. Dade City. Daytona Beach. De Leon Springs. DeBary. Deland. Deltona. Dunedin. Dunnellon. Frostproof. Geneva. Inverness. Kenansville. Kissimmee. Lake Mary. Lake Wales. Lakeland. Largo. Leesburg. Longwood. Melbourne. Melbourne Beach. Merritt Island. Merritt Island NWR. Mims. Mount Dora. New Port Richey. New Smyrna Beach. Ocala. Ocala National Forest. Ocklawaha. Orlando. Ormond Beach. Osteen. Oviedo. Palm Bay. Ridge Manor. Sanford. Silver Springs. Spring Hill. St. Cloud. St. Petersburg. Tampa. Tarpon Springs. Titusville . Walt Disney World. Weeki Wachee. Winter Springs. Withlacoochee State Forest. Withlacoochee State Trail. Yeehaw Junction

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
Bradenton . Charlotte Harbor. Ding Darling NWR. Englewood. Estero. Fort Myers. Immokalee. Naples. Pine Island. Port Charlotte. Punta Gorda. Sanibel Island. Sarasota. Venice

SOUTH FLORIDA
Arcadia. Basinger. Big Cypress National Preserve. Big Cypress Seminole Reservation. Clewiston. Everglades City. Fisheating Creek. Lake Okeechobee. Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail. Lake Placid. LaBelle. Lakeport. Moore Haven. Okeechobee. Pahokee. Port Mayaca. Sebring. South Bay

SOUTHEAST FLORIDA
Big Pine Key. Biscayne Bay. Biscayne National Park. Boca Raton. Boynton Beach. Coral Gables. Davie. Delray Beach. Northeast Everglades Natural Area. Florida Keys. Fort Lauderdale. Fort Pierce. Hobe Sound. Hollywood. Homestead. Islamorada. Jensen Beach. Jupiter. Juno Beach. Key Biscayne. Key Largo. Key West. Marathon. Miami. Ocean to Lake Greenway. Overseas Heritage Trail. Palm Beach. Port St. Lucie. Redland. Sebastian. Stuart. Vero Beach. West Palm Beach

  • Trails
  • Parks
  • Beaches
  • Gardens
  • Springs
  • Ecotours
  • Attractions
©2006-2021, Sandra Friend & John Keatley | Disclosure | Site Index | Work with Us | Advertise with Us
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy | Florida Hikes PO Box 93 Mims FL 32754| Contact