Flagler Quarry Trail

Flagler Quarry Trail is the short, yellow-marked loop through the old quarry at Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park. The standalone walk is about 0.2 mile, starting and finishing at the old channeling machine behind the Alison Fahrer Environmental Education Center. A ramp drops into the cut, then the trail follows the quarry and returns to the start. Allow about 15 to 25 minutes if you stop at the numbered markers. The distance is brief, but the footing shifts between roots and uneven rock.

This is the standalone yellow loop, listed at one-fifth mile. A longer 0.4-mile circuit includes a shared stretch of the separately marked Quarry Station Trail, so follow yellow markers for the shorter Flagler route. The extra walk is a good choice if you want more time among the quarries.

The walls expose Key Largo limestone, a fossilized coral reef formed nearly 125,000 years ago. Look for the shapes of ancient corals preserved in the rock and compare the rough natural surface with the straight cuts left by quarry machinery. Numbered stops explain what to look for.

The land was sold to the Florida East Coast Railway in 1908, and the quarry supplied stone fill for Henry Flagler's Overseas Railroad, completed in 1912. Afterward, it produced decorative key stone for buildings until quarrying ended in the 1960s. The old channeling machine beside the trail gives you a close look at the work behind the cuts.

The trail starts behind the Education Center, beside the channeling machine. Restrooms and a water fountain are at the center; picnic tables are spread around the park, though shady tables are limited. Trail access requires park admission. A powered Action Trackchair is available for the park's trails and quarry areas; ask staff whether it fits your needs for this route.