Information
Landmark: Bahia Honda State ParkCity: Florida Keys
Country: USA Florida
Continent: North America
Bahia Honda State Park, Florida Keys, USA Florida, North America
Overview
Tucked away on Big Pine Key in the Florida Keys, Bahia Honda State Park draws nature lovers, outdoor adventurers, and history buffs alike, with breezy palms swaying over turquoise water.Spread across 500 acres, the park draws visitors with its white-sand beaches, lively water sports, historic landmarks, and cozy spots for camping under the stars.Here’s a closer look at what Bahia Honda State Park offers: its untouched beaches stretch wide under the sun, and the water stays so clear and shallow you can see tiny fish darting over the sand.The park boasts some of the Florida Keys’ prettiest beaches, including two main spots.Loggerhead Beach, tucked along the Atlantic side, offers soft white sand that warms underfoot and calm, shallow water perfect for wading.It’s ideal for families or anyone who just wants to stretch out by the water, listening to the soft lap of waves against the shore.Gentle waves lap at the shore, making it a perfect place to swim or spread out a blanket for a picnic.You might spot a sea turtle here now and then, shuffling through the sand to nest along the shore.On the Florida Bay side of the park, Calusa Beach offers a quieter escape, its glassy waters ideal for kayaking or gliding along on a paddleboard.This beach is one of the best spots to catch the sunset, with the sky turning gold over the calm waters of Florida Bay.Shallow water stretches out here, making it perfect for anyone who loves a calm, easy pace-like hearing waves lap gently against the shore.Bahia Honda State Park is perfect for water sports, with plenty of ways to get out on the clear, turquoise water-snorkeling or diving here takes you straight to Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary, a celebrated underwater haven.You can join a tour that takes you right out to the coral reefs, where bright fish dart between branching coral and sea turtles glide through the clear blue water.The park runs daily snorkeling trips to Looe Key, and its warm, shallow waters are perfect for beginners spotting bright fish just beneath the surface.Kayaking and paddleboarding are easy here-just rent your gear at the park and drift across the calm, glassy water whenever you feel like it.The waters around the park stay quiet and smooth, perfect for paddling past mangrove roots that twist into the tide.Kayakers can soak in the quiet beauty of the water, watching sunlight ripple across the surface as they scan for dolphins or slow-moving manatees.At Bahia Honda State Park, you can cast a line from the shore into salty blue water or drop it off the pier, and the fishing’s hard to beat.Visitors can cast a line for tarpon, snook, snapper, or trout, maybe feeling the tug of a silver snook in the morning light.You’ll need a Florida fishing license to cast a line here, whether you’re standing on the sandy beach or leaning over the rail of the old Bahia Honda Bridge.You can even head out for deep-sea fishing just a short drive away, where the air smells of salt and the waves slap against the boat.Bahia Honda State Park isn’t just about turquoise water and sandy shores-it holds pieces of history too.The most famous is the Old Bahia Honda Bridge, a rusted steel beauty built in the early 1900s by Henry Flagler’s Florida East Coast Railway.A hurricane battered the bridge, and it was eventually abandoned, yet its weathered planks still stand as a quiet witness to the island’s history.These days, the bridge draws people for fishing, sightseeing, and snapping photos, with sweeping views of the blue water glinting in the sun.Follow the nature trail as it winds up to the crest of the old bridge, where the sea breeze greets you and the Keys spread out in a wide, breathtaking view.It’s a gentle 0.4-mile stroll, and from the bridge’s highest point you can see the bay spread wide, the Atlantic shimmering beyond, and small islands dotting the horizon.Bahia Honda State Park offers some of the best camping around, with quiet trails and the sound of waves drifting through the night.The park has plenty of ways to stay, from 80 campsites where you can pitch a tent under the pines to roomy spots with full RV hookups, plus more comfortable lodging if that’s your style.Tall ferns and thick green leaves ring the campsites, giving them a quiet, tucked‑away feel.Each campsite comes with restrooms offering hot showers and a picnic table ready for lunch under the trees.You’ll need a reservation, which you can book through the Florida State Parks system-just a few clicks and you’re set.If you’d rather stay somewhere cozy, the park has six duplex cabins you can rent-each with a porch where you can watch the sun dip behind the trees.Each cabin sleeps up to six and comes with a kitchen, a cozy living space, and a porch where you can watch the bay shimmer in the afternoon light.These cabins make an ideal spot for families or small groups, offering a warm, wood‑paneled retreat right in the heart of the park.Bahia Honda State Park’s marina features 19 boat slips, a perfect spot for boaters to tie up and watch the water shimmer in the sun.At the marina, you can hook up to fresh water, plug into shore power, and have your tank pumped out with a low hum from the dockside hose.If you come by boat, tie up at the marina, then wander the park on foot or drift along its quiet shoreline.Beyond its water adventures, Bahia Honda serves up plenty of ways to explore on land-like pedaling the park’s 3.5 miles of smooth, sun-warmed pavement.You can rent a bike at the park, then ride past sandy beaches and out toward the sweeping view from the old Bahia Honda Bridge.The park stretches out flat and easy, so beginners and seasoned hikers alike can enjoy it without breaking a sweat.If you love hiking, the park has a 0.4‑mile trail where pine needles crunch softly underfoot.Follow this trail to the top of the Old Bahia Honda Bridge, and you’ll find wide-open views of the Florida Keys, with turquoise water stretching as far as you can see.The trail’s gentle slope makes it doable for nearly everyone, from kids to grandparents, and even a stroller rolls smoothly over its packed dirt path.Bahia Honda draws birdwatchers year-round, but winter’s the real show-migratory flocks sweep in, filling the sky with flashes of white and gold.Herons stalk the shallows, egrets flash white against the reeds, and pelicans wheel overhead, while osprey watch from the tall pines - all calling this park home.Birdwatchers often catch sight of these species near the park’s sandy beaches, in the shaded mangroves, and along the weathered span of the Old Bahia Honda Bridge.Tucked away in the Florida Keys, Bahia Honda State Park boasts some of the darkest skies around, perfect for watching stars spill across the night like pinpricks of silver.Twice a month, the park puts on stargazing nights, with rangers and members of the Florida Keys Astronomy Club pointing out constellations under the warm, salt-scented sky.Only overnight guests can take part, and they’ll spend the night gazing at stars scattered across a crisp, black sky.Bahia Honda State Park welcomes visitors every day, opening at 8 a.m. and closing as the sun slips below the horizon.It costs $8 per vehicle to get into Bahia Honda State Park-about the price of a couple of cold drinks on a hot afternoon.You’ll find it at 36850 Overseas Highway, Big Pine Key, FL 33043-right where the palms catch the ocean breeze.Bahia Honda State Park has a little something for everyone, whether you’re paddling a kayak over clear turquoise water, snorkeling among bright fish, pitching a tent under swaying palms, hiking shaded trails, or spotting herons along the shore.Whether you’re wandering across the weathered spans of the Old Bahia Honda Bridge, sinking your toes into warm sand, or soaking in the turquoise sweep of the Keys, this park makes for the perfect escape.
