Grassy Key Trail

Grassy Key Trail is a 4.4-mile paved point-to-point section of the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail. It runs north from Key Vaca Wayside to where the pavement ends just beyond Guava Avenue. The path is nearly level and easy to follow, with tropical forest and later views over mangrove-lined salt ponds. Allow about 1½–2 hours to walk it one way; retrace the route for an 8.8-mile round trip or arrange a ride at the north end.

The route follows a straight bike path beneath a power-line corridor. US 1 stays in sight early on; farther north, trees line the path and screen some road noise and wind. There is almost no shade apart from one small rest stop. The paved surface makes this an easy walk, but the distance and exposure make it a better bike ride for many visitors.

North of Kyle Avenue, a bench and established access point look across pale, chalky tidal rock barrens toward mangrove-lined salt ponds. The pale rock makes a useful foreground if you stop for a photo. Just beyond Guava Avenue the pavement ends abruptly. Stop there; the wider bike route continues by a different connection to US 1, but the unpaved woods beyond are not part of this trail.

Key Vaca Wayside is the starting access for the full route. For a shorter walk, start at the separate Grassy Key trailhead south of Curry Hammock State Park and walk about 3.1 miles each way to the paved end. A small rest stop with benches and a habitat kiosk sits near that access; the Curry Hammock Nature Trail kiosk nearby marks a different, rougher hike. Restrooms and picnic facilities are across US 1 in the state-park day-use area, not on this route. Leashed dogs are allowed. Mosquitoes can be intense, and poisonwood grows along the path; its sap can irritate skin, so leave the trees alone.