Florida State Parks - “America’s First Three-Time Winner” Three-Time First “America’s - Parks State Florida ated 04/18 ated Upd and visitors to the Florida Keys. Keys. Florida the to visitors and National Gold Medal Winner Medal Gold National loridaStateParks.org/floridakeys F available along the trail serving both residents residents both serving trail the along available points, and bicycle and jogging paths are are paths jogging and bicycle and points, (305) 853-3571 (305) scenic overlooks, fishing piers, water access access water piers, fishing overlooks, scenic 3 La Croix Court, Key Largo, FL 33037 FL Largo, Key Court, Croix La 3 Educational kiosks, roadside picnic areas, areas, picnic roadside kiosks, Educational Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail Heritage Overseas Keys Florida use of the 23 historic Flagler railroad bridges. bridges. railroad Flagler historic 23 the of use Division of Recreation and Parks and Recreation of Division provide a mechanism for the preservation and and preservation the for mechanism a provide Florida Department of Environmental Protection Protection Environmental of Department Florida congestion, promote health opportunities, and and opportunities, health promote congestion, SM alternative form of transportation, help mitigate mitigate help transportation, of form alternative and continuous multi-use path, offer an an offer path, multi-use continuous and are to link communities by providing a safe safe a providing by communities link to are Largo to Key West. The goals of the FKOHT FKOHT the of goals The West. Key to Largo Keys Overseas Heritage Trail. Heritage Overseas Keys Recreation and Parks as part of the Florida Florida the of part as Parks and Recreation will traverse the Florida Keys from Key Key from Keys Florida the traverse will of Environmental Protection’s Division of of Division Protection’s Environmental of completed, this world-class, multi-use trail trail multi-use world-class, this completed, and are managed by the Florida Department Department Florida the by managed are and Transportation, and Monroe County. When When County. Monroe and Transportation, listed on the National Register of Historic Places Places Historic of Register National the on listed Protection, Florida Department of of Department Florida Protection, remaining 23 Flagler railroad bridges have been been have bridges railroad Flagler 23 remaining by the Florida Department of Environmental Environmental of Department Florida the by economically viable destination. Today all the the all Today destination. viable economically (FKOHT) is an ongoing project supported supported project ongoing an is (FKOHT) the wilderness of the Florida Keys into an an into Keys Florida the of wilderness the The Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail Trail Heritage Overseas Keys Florida The momentous occasion. The railroad transformed transformed railroad The occasion. momentous Overseas Heritage Trail Heritage Overseas of Key West for a weeklong celebration of this this of celebration weeklong a for West Key of Keys Florida The Ten thousand celebrants crowded the streets streets the crowded celebrants thousand Ten the press as the “Eighth Wonder of the World.” World.” the of Wonder “Eighth the as press the Key West where the project was heralded by by heralded was project the where West Key 22, 1912, Henry Flagler rode the railroad to to railroad the rode Flagler Henry 1912, 22, his Florida East Coast Railroad. On January January On Railroad. Coast East Florida his had begun construction on the Keys section of of section Keys the on construction begun had Canal, and South America. By 1905 Flagler Flagler 1905 By America. South and Canal, economic connection with Cuba, the Panama Panama the Cuba, with connection economic the sea that would promote a cultural and and cultural a promote would that sea the Henry Flagler envisioned a railroad across across railroad a envisioned Flagler Henry reflection. Before the City of Miami existed, existed, Miami of City the Before reflection. fishing, sightseeing, recreation, and historical historical and recreation, sightseeing, fishing, Linking Island Communities Island Linking Heritage Trail, providing opportunities for for opportunities providing Trail, Heritage component of the Florida Keys Overseas Overseas Keys Florida the of component he 23 historic Flagler bridges form a central central a form bridges Flagler historic 23 he T Florida Heritage Trail Heritage Historic Bridges Bridges Historic Southeast Southeast Overseas Florida Keys Florida Middle Keys Grassy Key to Spanish Harbor Key (Mile Marker 60 to 35) Upon arriving in Marathon, the trail continues past Curry Hammock State Park. This park of- fers a recreational area along the water and is popular for kayaking and kite boarding. Just past Curry Hammock, the rest stop at Grassy Key offers bicyclists and hikers a scenic trail through hardwood hammock and man- grove habitats. To access the next section, trail users can travel over the iconic Seven Mile Upper Keys bridge. This bridge has a narrow five-foot shoul- Key Largo to Long Key der and heavy vehicular traffic but is used often (Mile Marker 106.5 to 60) by experienced cyclists. Shaded in places by tropical vegetation, a Bahia Honda State Park is next and offers 15.5-mile multi-use trail runs by numerous some of the nicest beaches in the keys. The businesses and parks in Key Largo and nature trail to the historic Bahia Honda bridge Tavernier. A side trip to John Pennekamp provides a scenic overlook and photo oppor- tunity. On the south side of the Bahia Honda Lower Keys Coral Reef State Park provides a nice rest Big Pine Key to Key West stop and opportunity to learn about the coral Bridge is Spanish Harbor. This rest area is a perfect place for picnics by the large lagoon (Mile Marker 35 to 0) reef ecosystem. that was once a quarry for the Flagler Railroad. In Big Pine Key, keep an eye out for key deer, a Further south, a 20-mile trail section passes small species of deer found only in the keys. As through the islands that make up the Village the trail continues south, several more Flagler of Islamorada. While in the area, stop into historical bridges are open for trail users. The Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State historic Kemp Channel bridge has beautiful Park to learn about the geology of the Florida views and is popular with walkers, bicyclists, Keys. Side trips on the water can include and fishermen. Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park, Indian Key Historic State Park, and San Pedro The rest area and gazebo at the Saddlebunch Underwater Archaeological Preserve State keys is a perfect place to rest and learn about Park. Popular fishing spots in this area include the ecology of the keys. Another scenic rest the historic Channel 2 and Channel 5 bridges. area is at mile marker 6, Boca Chica, where spectacular sunsets can be experienced. Make another stop at Long Key State Park, a popular spot for bird watchers. Further down At the north end of Key West the trail splits. the trail, enjoy the views from the Long Key To the right, trail users can stroll along the palm historic bridge, Tom’s Harbor Cut bridge, and lined N. Roosevelt Blvd to Bayview park. To the Tom’s Harbor Channel bridge. These historic left, trail users will see picturesque views of the bridges are popular with fishermen, hikers, Atlantic as they wind around the island. While bicyclists, and other trail users. in Key West, be sure to visit Fort Zachery Taylor Historic State Park, the southernmost state park. Photo by John Moran US Key to Map: Map is not to scale TO MM SOU Eisting Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail TO K LGO or Alternate Path Dagny Johnson oat Ramp U.S. Highway Key Largo Hammock Chamber of Commerce Botanical State Park Trailhead or Rest Area Information Center Historic ridge-Fishing Mangroves MM 105 ridge open but gapped Islands Key Largo Pedestrianike ridge closed MM Mile Marker Adams Waterway visitors must seek alternate route Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Recreation and Parks John Pennekamp Coral Reef Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail Office (3) 3-3 State Park MM 100 FloridaStateParks.orgFloridaKeys Friendship Park Key Largo Community Park Florida Keys Community of Key Largo FLO BY MM 95 Overseas Heritage Trail Sunset Park Town of Tavernier MM 90 Plantation Key Tavernier Creek Founders Park Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park ATLT O MM 85 Snake Creek Long Key Historic ridge TO UPP Whale Harbor Channel Islamorada, Village of Islands KS GULF OF MO Toms Harbor Cut Historic ridge Wayside Rest Area Upper Matecumbe Key Toms Harbor Channel Historic ridge MM 80 Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park Tea Table Key Relief Channel Grassy Key MM 60 Conch Keys Tea Table Channel Grassy Key Rest Area Indian Key Channel Vaca Cut with pedestrian walk Lower Matecumbe Key Lignumvitae Key Channel Duck Key MM 75 Indian Key Historic State Park Channel Two Historic ridge City of Marathon MM 55 Channel Five Historic ridge ig Pine Key Crane Point Hammock Park MM 70 San Pedro Underwater Knight’s Key Rest Area Curry Hammock State Park Archaeological Preserve Little Torch Key Summerland Key Pigeon Key Historic Museum MM 50 GULF OF MO City of Layton State Park Historic Seven Mile MM 45 City of Key Colony Beach MM 65 Cudjoe Key No Name Key ridge Long Key State Park Spanish Seven Mile ridge TO LOW Harbor MM 40 KS Rest Long Key Historic ridge Sugarloaf Key MM 30 Area Veterans Park MM 20 MM 25 MM 35 Little DuckMissouri Historic ridge Marathon Community Park MissouriOhio