FKOHT Trails & Side trails

 

Upper Keys

 

Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park

Park at Pennekamp State Park or Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park. Ride four miles on the FKOHT north from Pennekamp to MM 106.5. Turn right onto Garden Cove Road and ride past Garden Cove (a nice Oceanside kayak launch). Follow the road around until it becomes Loquat Drive. Take this to the end and go right at Card Sound Road for 50 feet to park entrance on right. The first half mile of trail is paved then becomes 6 miles of backcountry dirt trail. Obtain backcountry permit at Pennekamp State Park to ride on this section.

Key Largo

Park at Pennekamp State Park (MM 102.5) or Harry Harris County Park (MM 92.8). There are numerous businesses and intersections along this stretch of bike path, so be careful! The path is on the Oceanside of US 1 from Pennekamp to the traffic light at MM 99 where it crosses to the middle of US 1. At MM 96.5 it crosses back to the Oceanside. At MM 92.8 turn onto Burton Drive and ride the bike lane 1 mile to Harry Harris Park. Activities here include swimming, boat ramps, picnic shelters & grills, ball fields, a playground and restrooms.

Islamorada

Park at Coral Shores High School (MM 90). The “Village of Islands” includes: Plantation Key, Windley Key, Upper & Lower Matecumbe Keys. Biking through this chain of islands offers many options. Besides the Old Highway which parallels US 1 on the Oceanside, there is often a bike path on both sides of US 1. Take your pick, but the Old Hwy is the most removed from traffic. Ride on bridge shoulders to cross between the islands. A very enjoyable section is the two-mile stretch along Indian Key Fill (MM 77.5 – 79.5) with views of both the ocean and bay as well as Shell Key, Indian Key, and Lignumvitae Key State Parks.

 

Middle Keys

 

Long Key Trail

Park at Long Key State Park (MM 68) or at the south end of the Long Key Bridge (MM 63). Ride one mile north into the town of Layton or 5 miles south across the Long Key Viaduct, over two miles long.

Grassy Key Bike Trail

One of the completed sections of the Overseas Heritage Trail located north of Marathon from MM 54-58. Bike trail traverses unique mangroves, marshes, coastal rock barren, and rockland hammock ecosystems. Look for migratory birds in the Spring and Fall. Park along the road shoulder on the Bayside at either end of this stretch.

Pigeon Key Bridge

Park in the parking area at MM 47 on the north side of the Seven Mile Bridge. The old bridge is open to bicyclists and pedestrians. Ride 2 miles out to Pigeon Key. Look for stingrays, sharks and sea turtles in the shallow water below. On the island are historic buildings and exhibits about Flagler’s Railroad. Guided and self-guided tours are available for a fee.

Marathon Beaches

Park at Sombrero Beach (end of Sombrero Beach Rd at MM 50) or Coco Plum Beach (end of Coco Plum Drive at MM 54). A two-mile bike path from Sombrero Beach leads to US 1. Cross to gulf side and ride on bike path to MM 54. Take two-mile bike path along Coco Plum Beach Road to end. These are two of the nicest beaches in this area – one is a manicured park with picnic pavilions, a playground with restrooms and showers; the other is a natural two-mile stretch of sand with covered picnic pavilions and a composting toilet.

 

Lower Keys

 

Saddlebunch Trail

One of the completed sections of the Overseas Heritage Trail, north of Key West from MM 11-15, this section of trail traverses five historical Flagler Railroad Bridges. The Saddlebunch Keys link six small mangrove islands offering great views of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic.

Big Pine Key & No Name Key

 From US 1, turn north onto Key Deer Boulevard.  After two miles, note the sign on the right for the Blue Hole. Bicycling is not permitted on the Watson and Mannillo Trails, but the public is welcome to hike and bike on any of the fire roads and other trails on refuge land, except for those marked with “Closed” signs. Managed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

As you head back toward US 1, turn left onto Watson Blvd. The road will curve to the left and take you to the bridge to No Name Key. Look for key deer but please do not approach or feed!

Cudjoe Key

At MM 22.7, turn Oceanside onto Cutthroat Drive and park at the corner of Look Down Lane. Cutthroat continues as a dirt road. Refuge lands begin at the gate, approximately 100 yards down the dirt road. Trail continues for approximately ½ mile and is open to hikers and bicyclists.  Managed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Upper Sugarloaf Key

At MM 19.5, at the Sugarloaf School, turn north onto Crane Boulevard. Drive to the gate that is across the road and park. The road continues for approximately 1.5 miles one way and is open for hikers and bicyclists. Managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Sugarloaf Key

 From the blinking light at MM 17, turn Oceanside onto Sugarloaf Boulevard. Continue approximately two miles to the stop sign and park along the road to the right. To the left, there is a trail beyond the gate which makes a loop. Managed by Monroe County.

For a longer ride, continue west at the stop sign for three miles. The road ends at a gate across the road and becomes an overgrown trail for approximately two more miles one way. This is open for hikers and bicyclists. Managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Boca Chica Beach

Park at US 1 and Boca Chica Road at MM 10.8. Ride three miles over two creeks to reach the Boca Chica Beach parking area. Continue by foot along beach or continue riding along the trail.

Key West Loop

Park at Smather’s Beach or Fort Zachary Taylor State Park. Ride along the sidewalk at Smathers Beach along South Roosevelt Boulevard. This will eventually turn into a sea wall as you go around the southeast corner of the island. Cross at the light where US 1 enters Key West and you are now on North Roosevelt Boulevard. Take a right at Palm Avenue and ride past the charter fishing boats. Take a left onto Eaton Street. (A right turn on Margaret, William or Elizabeth Streets will take you to the historic seaport.) Eaton Street will cross Duval Street (if you want to see this famous Key West shopping & drinking corridor go right or left to the end or park your bike and stroll)! At Whitehead Street take a left and follow to the end to reach the Southernmost Point. (A right on Southard Street will take you to Fort Zachary Taylor State Park if this was your starting point.) Continue along South Street to Reynolds Street and go right to see the Casa Marina, Flagler’s original Key West resort. Reynolds Street ends at Atlantic Boulevard. Go left to Bertha Street and take a right. You are back at Smathers Beach.

 

Biking/Hiking Trails Managed by Florida State Parks:

Key Largo Hammock Botanical SP – ½ mile paved & 6 miles backcountry trail

John Pennekamp Coral Reef SP – 2 ½-mile walking trails

Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological SP – ¾ mile loop trail

Lignumvitae Key Botanical SP – 2 mile walking trail (ranger-guided only)

Indian Key Historic SP – approximately 2 miles around historic streets

Long Key SP – 1- mile and ¼ mile nature trails

Curry Hammock SP – 1.5 miles

Bahia Honda State Park – 1.5-mile loop trail & walking path to old bridge

Fort Zachary Taylor Historic SP – 1 mile

 

 

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