Generated with sparks and insights from 2 sources

Travel Tips

Plan for a picnic and snorkeling to make the most of your visit. 1

Enjoy the sunset from the 'broken bridge' and consider staying in cabins or campgrounds on the beach. 2

Entry fee required; ideal for swimming and snorkeling. 3

Introduction

Activities

• 🚴 Bicycling: Popular pastime with paved roads; helmets recommended for all cyclists.
• 🐦 Birding: Excellent for observing wading birds and shorebirds, especially during low tide.
• 🚤 Boat Tours: Snorkeling tours to Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary available.
• 🏕️ Camping: Multiple campgrounds with various amenities, including RV and tent sites.
• 🎣 Fishing: Allowed with a valid fishing license; spearfishing and tropical fish collection prohibited.
• 🥾 Hiking: One nature trail leading to the top of the Old Bahia Honda Bridge.
• 🛶 Paddling: Kayak rentals available; personal kayaks and canoes can be launched from designated areas.
• 🏊 Swimming: Clear, shallow waters ideal for swimming; caution advised near Bahia Honda Channel.

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Camping

• 🏕️ Buttonwood Campground: Sites 1-48, accommodates large RVs to small tents, with electricity, water, picnic tables, and grills.
• 🏕️ Sandspur Campground: Sites 49-72, accommodates small camping rigs and tents, with electricity, water, picnic tables, and grills.
• 🏕️ Bayside Campground: Sites 73-80, primitive sites with picnic tables, grills, and water; no electricity.
• 🚿 Facilities: Bathhouses with restrooms and hot showers available; temporary mobile restrooms in Sandspur Campground.
• 🐾 Pets: Allowed on a leash (up to 6 feet) in designated areas; not allowed in cabins or on beaches.
• 📅 Reservations: Can be made up to 11 months in advance via the Florida State Parks reservation website or by phone.
• 🛥️ Boat Slips: Available for overnight rental, including water, electricity, and full use of park facilities.
• 🚗 Access: Bayside Campground and cabins have a vehicle height restriction of 6 feet 8 inches.

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Beaches

• 🏖️ Loggerhead Beach: Faces the Atlantic Ocean, shallow waters ideal for swimming.
• 🏖️ Calusa Beach: Faces the Florida Bay, features picnic pavilions and fresh-water showers.
• 🏖️ Sandspur Beach: Largest beach, runs along the southeast end of the island, with pavilions, restrooms, and showers.
• 🏖️ Activities: Sunbathing, swimming, and sandcastle building are popular activities.
• 🚩 Warning Flags: Pay attention to beach warning flags indicating swimming conditions.
• 🌌 Stargazing: Loggerhead Beach offers spectacular views of the Milky Way and stars at night.
• 🌊 Water Conditions: Water is usually clear; visibility may be limited by wind and waves.
• 🛟 Safety: No lifeguards provided; swim with caution.

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Wildlife

• 🐦 Bird Species: Home to endangered white-crowned pigeons, various shorebirds, and wading birds.
• 🦅 Hawk Migration: Variety of hawks can be seen during fall migration from mid-September to mid-November.
• 🦋 Butterfly Garden: Wings and Waves Butterfly Garden attracts various butterfly species.
• 🐢 Sea Turtles: Sea turtles can be spotted swimming beneath the surface.
• 🐬 Marine Life: Atlantic bottle-nosed dolphins and large rays are often seen.
• 🌿 Flora: Over 150 species of flora, including rare yellow satinwood and key thatch palm.
• 🌳 Tropical Trees: Trails lined with gumbo limbo, poisonwood, sea grapes, and Jamaica dogwood.
• 🦀 Crabs: Ghost crabs are commonly seen along the beaches.

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History

• 🚂 Henry Flagler: Built a railroad to Key West in the early 1900s, turning Bahia Honda Key into a tropical destination.
• 🌉 Old Bahia Honda Bridge: Originally part of the Overseas Highway, now a historic site offering panoramic views.
• 🌪️ 1935 Hurricane: Destroyed the railroad, leading to the bridge's conversion for automobile use.
• 🏞️ State Park: Became a state park in 1961, with the last private landowners selling their property in the 1980s.
• ⛽ Gas Station: The park once housed a gas station and was maintained by the toll bridge district.
• 🏝️ Name Origin: Named 'Deep Bay' by Spanish explorers nearly 500 years ago.
• 🛤️ Construction: The depth of the channel made Bahia Honda Key one of the most challenging sections of the railroad to build.
• 📜 Historical Significance: The park's history is closely tied to the development of the Florida Keys and the Overseas Highway.

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Visitor Information

• 📅 Hours: Open from 8 a.m. until sundown, 365 days a year.
• 📍 Address: 36850 Overseas Highway, Big Pine Key, FL 33043.
• 📞 Contact: For more information, call 305-872-2353.
• 🌐 Website: Visit the official website at Florida State Parks.
• 🅿️ Parking: Available throughout the park, including accessible parking spaces.
• 🛍️ Concessions: Gift shop, snack bar, and equipment rentals available.
• 📶 Wi-Fi: Free 24-hour Wi-Fi available at the concession building.
• ♿ Accessibility: Various amenities accessible to visitors, including campsites, restrooms, and a beach wheelchair.

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Travel Information
📞   Phone: (305) 872-2353
🌐   Website: https://www.floridastateparks.org/BahiaHonda
📍   Address: Florida 33043

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