Bahia Honda State Park

Bahia Honda State Park lies on Bahia Honda Key in the lower Florida Keys, in Monroe County, about 12 miles west of Marathon. The Overseas Highway, US 1, crosses the island between mile markers 36 and 38.5. The park was founded in 1961, covers 524 acres and is managed by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

Henry Flagler's Overseas Railroad crossed the island on its way to Key West, built between 1905 and 1912. The Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 wrecked the line, and the old railroad bridges were later reused to carry the Overseas Highway. Part of the old Bahia Honda Bridge, with its steel truss spans, still stands beside the modern road and is one of the best-known sights in the Keys.

The park has about 2.5 miles of white sand beach, which was rated the best beach in the United States in 1992. The water is clear and shallow, and snorkellers see reef fish, rays, barracuda and sometimes small nurse sharks. Inland, the park protects rare plants such as yellow satinwood and the endangered small-flowered lily-thorn, and a colony of the rare Miami blue butterfly was rediscovered here in 1999; it vanished around 2010, and restoration work has since aimed to re-establish the species.

Facilities include a marina, picnic areas, a nature trail, bike paths, and kayak and snorkel gear rental. Campsites and cabins are available but are hard to book in winter, the busiest season. The Sand and Sea Nature Center has been closed because of hurricane damage.

The park opens daily from 8 am until sundown, and Florida State Parks charges $8 per vehicle for two to eight people, plus a Monroe County surcharge of 50 cents a head. Arrive early on winter weekends, when parking can fill. Bring reef-safe sunscreen and shade, as there is little natural cover on the beaches.

Sandspur, Loggerhead or Calusa beach?

The park has three main beaches. Sandspur Beach on the Atlantic side is the longest and widest stretch of sand. Loggerhead Beach is quieter and has rocky shallows good for wading and looking for small fish. Calusa Beach sits on the bay side near the old bridge, with calmer water, shaded picnic tables and an easy entry for children. Seaweed piles up on the Atlantic beaches after storms, which is normal for the Keys.

From the end of the park road a short path climbs onto a preserved span of the old Bahia Honda Bridge, the best viewpoint in the park, looking down on the channel where rays and tarpon often pass. A concession runs snorkel boat trips to Looe Key Reef, about five miles offshore, which has far more coral than the park's own shallows.