Long Key State Park Day-Use Area

Long Key State Park’s day-use area is its waterside picnic-and-swim stop beside Florida Bay. Covered chickee pavilions and tables sit over a shallow shoreline. I’d choose it for a shady break, a picnic or a paddle; it’s a poor match if you want a wide sandy beach.

Swimming and snorkeling are designated for specific areas. The water stays shallow over seagrass, and parts of the shore can feel soft or mucky underfoot, so think wading and shoreline exploring more than a deep-water swim. You can bring a kayak or canoe to explore the natural shoreline, but there’s no boat ramp.

Long Key was once a stop on Henry Flagler’s Over-Sea Railroad, completed to Key West in 1912. The island’s Long Key Fishing Camp grew into a luxury resort for anglers including Zane Grey, with a small railway carrying guests between the docks, hotel and bungalows. The 1935 Labor Day Hurricane destroyed the camp.

Herons, egrets and ibis are common along the park’s shore. The shallow grass flats hold mullet and snapper, and kayakers sometimes spot loggerhead or green turtles.