Parking
Use the paved lot at Plantation Tropical Preserve on Plantation Key; the village lists the access at MM 90.8 on US 1.
Overview
About Plantation Tropical Preserve Nature Trail
Why go
- A short route through a rare Rockland hammock
- Paved access and a Children’s Memorial Garden
Heads up
- No published trail map or official trail distance; nearby path branches are not clearly identified
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Overseas Highway map
Full mapElevation3–8 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
3 active Overseas Highway alerts
- CautionCoastal flooding across the Florida KeysMentions Florida Keys, referenced in this guideA Coastal Flood Warning remains in effect for the Upper Keys and Coastal Flood Advisories remain in effect for the Middle and Lower Keys until 5 a.m.Official details
- CautionNighttime lane closures on Seven Mile BridgeExpect possible nighttime lane closures on Seven Mile Bridge for FDOT’s rehabilitation project to repair and strengthen the bridge.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Overseas Highway Tour Guide
Your drive to Plantation Tropical Preserve Nature Trail, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Overseas Highway. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Overseas Highway audio tourRecorded for this trailhead
Plantation Tropical Preserve and Memorial Garden0:00 / 0:18
“You're nearing Plantation Tropical Preserve, a small park near Tavernier Creek protecting a rare patch of native tropical forest.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Overseas Highway Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Blond Giraffe: Pie on a Stick
- Wings Above the Water
- A Mouthful of Young
- Laura Quinn Wild Bird Sanctuary
- 136 audio storiesacross Overseas Highway’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Crocodile, Alligator, Manatee, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 26 trails, 88 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Plantation Tropical Preserve Nature Trail
A short walk through the preserveThis is a short nature trail through the preserve’s wooded hammock: about 0.
This is a short nature trail through the preserve’s wooded hammock: about 0.2 mile round trip as an out-and-back from the paved parking area, or roughly 15 minutes at an easy pace. The village lists the nature trail but does not publish a route map or mileage. This conservative estimate follows the principal footway mapped from the parking area; other nearby paths are not clearly identified as part of the named trail. Check the route signs before taking a branch.
A small piece of the Keys’ hammockThe preserve protects a rare remaining patch of Rockland hammock, the tropical hardwood forest…
The preserve protects a rare remaining patch of Rockland hammock, the tropical hardwood forest found in the Florida Keys. The grounds also include a Children’s Memorial Garden. This is a brief nature stop rather than a long hike or a viewpoint walk.
Access and amenitiesThe preserve is open from sunrise to sunset.
The preserve is open from sunrise to sunset. There is a paved parking area, kayak launch, gazebo and picnic tables, but no public restrooms. Dogs are allowed on leash.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Overseas Highway
18 sightingsCrocodileMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
255 sightingsAlligatorMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
55 sightingsManateeMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
70 sightingsCommon Bottlenose DolphinMost seen around 9 AMSighting map
51 sightingsBald EagleMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
1,120 sightingsKey DeerMost seen around 6 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Overseas Highway. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
